The state of Meghalaya is a treasure trove when it comes to traveling in India, it is almost like a secret. This northeastern state is referred to as the Abode of Clouds and the scenery in this place is so magical that it is like nature has weaved a dream. Meghalaya offers an adventure experience like no other with its enigmatic caves, cascading waterfalls and the famous living root bridges of the world. You have been waiting to find your next vacation and it is time to clear your bag packs and fly to this heaven.
Why Meghalaya?
In contrast to the numerous tourist hotspots, which are filled with tourists, Meghalaya makes you feel that you are experiencing a pristine beauty. There is more air, more green in the hills, and any spot seems to have some story to tell. Meghalaya is a place that can offer you something no matter whether you are a nature lover, a person who loves adventure or a person who just wants to get away from the city and its noise. Out of shadowy limestone caverns that wait to be discovered, to roaring falls that make their own music, to villages whose bridges look alive–no, really alive–this is one such place that keeps on surprising.
Caves of Meghalaya: The Lost World.
The state of Meghalaya is frequently referred to as the capital of caves in India, which is due to the widespread system of caves made of limestone and sandstone. These caves are a whole new world to those who love adventure.
Mawsmai Cave (Cherrapunji): This is the best tourist cave. It is lit up indoors and will show you the wonders of the earth below, in the form of stalactites and stalagmites. It is long enough to be easy to start with and at the same time it is short enough to be magical enough to arouse curiosity.
Siju Cave (South Garo Hills): This is the cave of the braves and is called the Bat Cave. It is an adventure with its great limestone formations and bat colonies.
Liat Prah Cave (Jaintia Hills): One of the most impressive caves, it boasts of being the longest caves of the entire Indian region and the playground of professional cavers.
These caves are not simply thrilling to explore, just because they are natural works of art with a gallery of millions of years to view.
Waterfalls: Meghalaya Music of Nature.
When you talk to locals about what the Meghalaya region is most associated with, they will probably mention waterfalls. The rainfall is most of the year, so the state is filled with waterfalls which appear like they have just jumped right out of a fantasy book.
Nohkalikai Falls: This is the highest plunge waterfall in India, and occurs near Cherrapunjee. There is nothing more memorable than watching the water fall 1,100 plus feet in a pool of turquoise water.
Seven Sisters Falls: These falls are also found in Cherrapunji and they are spectacular as viewed at a distance. Seven different streams running down one beside the other–what could be more poetic?
Krang Suri Falls (Jaintia Hills): This one has crystal-clear blue waters, and is best suited to a good dip or even a simple rest in the pool.
Elephant Falls (Shillong): This is a three-level fall that is highly photogenic and easy to reach since it is present in the capital city.
Meghalaya has a rhythm to each of its waterfalls, and it is a natural symphony of the land.
Living root bridges: architecture of nature.
Meghalaya is perhaps most interesting and surprising with its living root bridges. They are not artificial but made by nature with the help of Khasi and Jaintia tribes during centuries. The roots of rubber fig trees are well tended and wrapped over streams up to the point that they become strong enough to support the weight of people.
The best of all, Double-Decker Root Bridge (Nongriat): This bridge is situated near Cherrapunji and it is a wonder. It is not easy to walk to see it, one has to go through more than 3,000 steps, but the payoff is one of the awe inspiring views of the ingenuity of nature.
Other Root Bridges: Villages of Khasi and Jaintia Hills have single-level root bridges, each one is unique and worth visiting.
It is surreal to walk on these bridges and it feels like you are walking on a living structure, growing stronger, with the passing of time.
Planning Your Adventure In Meghalaya.
It has made it easier to travel to Meghalaya. The state capital of Shillong is well linked to the major cities in India through flights to the nearby Guwahati airport in Assam. It is a scenic three hour drive, starting at Guwahati to Shillong.
In order to enjoy your trip:
Best Time to visit: October to April is the best month to visit the region because of the pleasant weather which is favorable in trekking and sightseeing. Waterfalls are at their best during Monsoons (June to September) and may make the transportation difficult.
Stay Options: Ranging in price, Meghalaya has accommodations of all their budgets; be it the boutique homestays by warm locals, or luxury resorts with a view of the hills.
Travel Tip: Never forget to carry a raincoat–it is the kind of cloud that surrounds this place that gives a visitor a jolt.
You can also save more by booking your flight tickets in advance, particularly when flight deals are cheap over the internet. The processes of flight booking are no longer a burden since platforms such as HappyEasyGo provide you with less time to worry about the logistics and more time to plan your adventures.
Why Meghalaya is on your Bucket List.
Meghalaya is unique in a very diverse country like India, and the raw and soulful relationship with nature. The caves bring you into unknown depths, the waterfalls calm your mind and the living root bridges teach you patience and unity with nature. It is not on a tour list, it’s a destination to visit, a journey that makes you feel humbled and inspired.
Then the next time you are on a hunt to seek out something different, skip the common tourist routes and venture to Meghalaya. It only requires a flight booking, some curiosity and the desire to allow nature to astonish you.
Final Word
Travel does not necessarily involve luxury and checking it off a list. It is at times about finding stories written by rivers, roots and rocks. Meghalaya is such a place–of primitiveness, of loveliness, of the most human kind. Standing before the thunderous Nohkalikai Falls, crawling through Mawsmai Cave, over the Double-Decker Root Bridge, you’ll be able to tell one thing: this land does not just present you with beauty but it makes you feel it.
So what are you waiting for? Book a low fare flight, take a flight ticket and allow HappyEasyGo to become your companion in discovering the wonders of Meghalaya. And the flights are not the end, after all, it is when you land that you can start the real adventure.