MEGHALAYA, the abode of clouds
MEGHALAYA, the abode of clouds
SANDIPAN K GOSWAMI
Known as the Abode of the Clouds, Meghalaya is famous for being the wettest place on
earth. But it’s so much more than that! With lush green meadows, rivers clear as crystal,
pine-covered hills, gorgeous waterfalls, lakes and majestic forests, this mesmerising state
in the Northeast is truly a Nature lover’s paradise.The state is not just an abode of natural
scenic beauty but also a cradle of the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the Khasi,
Garo Jaintia tribes. Meghalaya is one of the cleanest states of India. Blessed by the rain
Gods and abundant beauty, it is the responsible embracing of nature by the locals that
has kept the state in a pure and serene condition. While the other larger states of India are
failing in their “Swachh Bharat” bid, Meghalaya has always been on top of the cleanliness
quotient. And the dwellers of Meghalaya need to be applauded for such a feat. It is no
wonder that Meghalaya is one of the most popular summer tourist destinations in India.
And tourists travelling to this state, engulfed by white buoyant clouds and lush greenery,
just love their stay amidst a clean and pristine environment. Today, we take a look at
some of the clean and unique beauties of Meghalaya.
1. Mawlynnong
The cleanest village in Asia, Mawlynnong village is also known as God’s Own
Garden and for the right reasons. It is a village in the East Khasi Hills District of the
Meghalaya state in North East India. It is notable for its cleanliness. In the year
2003, Maylynnong was awarded the title of the cleanest village in Asia by Discover
India. Alongside cleanliness, the village has achieved a lot including a 100 percent
literacy rate and women empowerment scenario that the rest of the world can only
dream of. All the waste is constantly collected by the locals in bamboo baskets
which are used later as manure for their crops! Another impressive fact about this
village is: here the usual Patriarchal hierarchy is not followed. The females are
responsible for most important duties.
2. Umngot River
It is the cleanest river in India. Umngot River is so clean that one can spot even the
smallest stone lying in the river bed! The river is entirely maintained by the local
villagers and they believe that anything that might pollute the river is cleaned up as
soon as possible. Dawki is situated 35 KM away from Mawlynnong and boasts of
a scenic landscape. The road journey towards Dawki is blessed with mesmerising
beauty. You would be enthralled by the drastically changing landscapes, where the
hills suddenly change into irrigable plain lands. There are points along the road
where you can view the Bangladesh border.
3. Root Bridge
The villagers of Nongriat have used roots of two Ficus trees to construct a natural
bridge.villagers saw two trees expanding their roots in an unusual manner and
they decided to help mould it into a transportable strong bridge. But, to view this
rare natural wonder one has to trek for about 1.5 KM, from the base town of Tyrna.
Not only this, 3000 steps have to be hiked to reach the bridge. Once you reach the
living roots bridge all your tiredness would be quickly replaced by joy. The bridge is
surrounded by a dense canopy and the sun rays burst through them to land on the
water of the brook that flows below the bridge. You can witness the sparkling
waters that contrast ideally with the green surroundings.
4. Nohkalikai Falls
Nohkalikai Falls, unlike others, is a true blessing of nature to Meghalaya. The
waterfall is located in Meghalaya, near Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on
Earth. It is India’s tallest plunging waterfall. The waterfall takes a 340 metres dive
from the plateau into a pool below. A viewing gallery at the top of the waterfall
gives you scenic views of the cascade and the deep plunge pool. The pool, which
resembles a lagoon, changes colours from aqua to blue to green depending on the
season.
5. Umiam Lake
Umiam Lake is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Meghalaya that is situated
about 15 km from Shillong. It is more easily recognised as Bara Pani, and covers
an area of about 220 sq km. The surrounding Sylvan Hills and green Khasi pines
add to the majesty of this vast lake, which was created when the Umiam river was
dammed to store water for hydroelectric power generation. Though it was initially
established as a dam or a reservoir, it is now a popular tourist attraction. It is also
known for water sports and adventure facilities such as kayaking, water cycling,
scooting and boating. Since the lake boasts picturesque and panoramic
surroundings, it is often compared with the beautiful lakes of Scotland. There is a
lovely garden near its shores called the Lum Nehru Park. Apart from being a
popular picnic spot, the park is also known for its orchid house, aviary and
sprawling lawns. It is dotted with huge pine trees on either side and has a lot of
space
So that was about Meghalaya. Although this place was not a popular tourist destination a
few years ago, it has started attracting Nature lover’s attention now. Meghalaya sees
considerably more footfall now as compared to the past.
SANDIPAN K GOSWAMI
Class: VIII, South Point School
