With uncountable waterfalls, over 1500 caves and roughly 100 living root bridges, the state of Meghalaya has proven to be a natural playground for the adventurer at heart. A playground almost seems to be an understatement for a place with so many natural wonders but what we know is that if you grew up in this “Abode of Clouds”, no amusement park in the world would fascinate you as much. In this edition, we will take you through the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya with the hidden gems in the outdoors being the key focus. From volcanic caves, to fossils from a million years ago, to unexplored bridges made out of living tree roots, gear up for a trip of a lifetime in this action-packed chapter!
Start your journey from the plains of Guwahati and make your way up into the hills of Meghalaya. Winters around here get pretty cold so you will want to make sure you are well equipped The first night is the only night that you will be staying in a township- in the capital of Shillong (How could you possibly come all the way and not check out the rock capital of India?). Spend your time exploring the food and music that we will be recommending (years of trying things have gone into this list). Spend your evening at leisure.
Overnight at Shillong
Get ready! Your action packed trip to the hidden gems of Meghalaya has begun. Today, you will be starting your day early as we take you to explore one of the offbeat caves of the region. Our local experts will take you on a guided caving experience that lasts for roughly 3 hours.
. Remember all the stalagmites and stalactites you learnt about years back? If not, we’ll tell you all about it anyway.
After you get out of the cave, make your way towards the village of Mawlyngbna where your adventure continues. On reaching, grab a quick lunch before and make your way to the magnificent split rock. Learn more about the village’s exploration of fossils (from a time when Meghalaya was under the sea) from our local guides while you walk the talk with them.
Finally, end your day with some kayaking on the Umkakhoi before making your way to your camp for an evening of leisure around the bonfire.
Overnight in Mawlyngbna
After an early breakfast, make your way towards Mawphlang , home to some of the most well-known sacred groves of the state. After you explore the forest with our local expert, start your hike on the David Scott Trail leading to Lad Mawphlang, where you will be walking beside the Umiam River. This full trail is a beautiful stretch of over 100 kilometres of which you will be covering 17. Named after a British administrator who came to the North-East of India in the year 1802, the David Scott Trail is one of the oldest marked trails in the region that is still in use.
With the sound of the river accompanying you as you pass through sacred groves, monoliths, meadows, fields, natural pools and bridges, this hike is suitable for people of all ages and is highly recommended for the Nature Lover. On completion, drive to your stay in Sohra for an evening of leisure.
Overnight in Sohra
Wake up as and when you like. This day has been kept aside for you to absorb all that you have experienced over the last few days. Spend the day resting and just enjoying where you are. Sohra is a beautiful destination with a lot to see- from waterfalls to caves and of course, all the gorgeous views you can witness from there. Post an early lunch, our local guides can take you to some of our hidden gems in the area. Alternatively, you are most welcome to walk around and spend some time to yourself by a stream nearby.
Overnight in Sohra
After a relaxed breakfast, prepare yourself for another day of adventure. There are over 100 living root bridges in Meghalaya. Staying true to exploring paths off the beaten trail, our local guides will take you to the lesser known root bridges in a magical place called Mawkyrnot. In the one and half hours that it would take you to reach the end of the trail, Shnongpdeng that any nature lover would cherish.
There’s a lot to learn from the age-old culture of building these root bridges in Meghalaya. Our local guides are working to conserve the bridges in these villages and they would be the best resources to tell you all about these natural wonders that speak volumes about the culture of the Khasi community. Once you are done exploring Mawkyrnot, hike back to your vehicle which will take you further up to Sohra, where you will be spending the night.
Overnight at Shnongpdeng
Wake up to a dreamy river outside your tent after a night of camping under the stars. Grab breakfast and get your swimwear out again. It’s going to be a day of water activities- from kayaking to cliff jumping, the offerings of Shnongpdeng are guaranteed to keep you immersed throughout your time there. Consider the day a picnic as you frolic around the Umngot River.
As the day comes to an end, make your way to Pongtung where you can spend the evening at leisure.
Overnight at Pongtung
After breakfast, bid goodbye to the hills and make your way back to the plains of Assam. The drive will take 5 and a half hours. You can choose to carry on to your next destination or take a flight or train back home.
Whichever way, we shall look forward to having you back for more experiences around North East India.
Farewell!