Meghalaya

Travelling is seen as a passion or hobby for many people across the world. For others, it is a luxury and an escape from the hectic routine of everyday life. Going to new places, seeing new things, experiencing the atmosphere of a wholly different and lively location can often be therapeutic.    Following the same routine, every day which mostly includes commuting from home to work and work to home can become monotonous. To overcome this frustration, one needs to take occasional breaks and vacations, usually somewhere exotic.  A change from the daily routine where one can peacefully relax is very helpful to lead a normal and functional life. One should carefully plan their trip so as to get maximum enjoyment. Planning a fixed budget and choosing the correct hotels and destination spots is very important in order to have a smooth and satisfying journey. To choose the correct travel destinations in India along with the best deals, one can choose HelloTravel.com as their travel partner. One of the leading websites in the country about travel deals, HelloTravel.com connects us with the most professional travel agents from around the world in order to get the best offers on holiday plans.   Normally, people choose travel destinations in India situated in the mountains or near sea beaches when planning a trip to our country. For those specific lovers of travel and exploration, caves are often an interesting and mesmerizing spot to visit.  Caves in India have always been linked to our cultural history, reflecting our heritage in the best way possible. Exploration of caves is called spelunking in the United States of America or potholing in the United Kingdom, or simply caving. Caving is an outdoor sports activity, mostly done in groups to achieve maximum enjoyment and have an adventure trip.    In a country like ours, with a rich and beautiful history, cave carvings and paintings are perhaps the best sources of information about our culture and spiritual heritage.  Speaking of caves to visit, one cannot leave out one of India’s popular caving destinations - Meghalaya. A state in the northeast part of the country, its southern parts are rich in limestone forming multiple cave systems.    They are mostly situated in the region of the Garo Hills, Jaintia and Khasi Hills. These are among the longest caves in the entire world. The Krem Liat Prah caves in the Jaintia Hills are the longest caves in the country.  A few caves of Meghalaya include 

Meghalaya is a hilly state located in the North-East region of India. Meghalaya receives an opulent amount of rain almost all the year-round. Hence, the name Meghalaya depicts its reality which means abode of clouds. That means the place can provide relief from the heat across the country. Shillong is the capital of the Meghalaya, and also popularly known as the Scotland of the east. Though Meghalaya is preoccupied with the beauty of nature, however, the people here also stroll through the various markets, malls, and shopping spots developed over the past few years. The markets in Meghalaya are crammed with different tribal products mostly made of bamboo and wood. One can also find some hand-made articles such as hand woven shawls, trendy headgears, and some traditional dresses. The main market for shopping in Meghalaya is the Lewduh market and Police Bazaar. For a better understanding here is the list of some malls, shops, and markets of the Meghalaya.

Meghalaya is a hilly state in the north-eastern region of India. The name Meghalaya means ‘abode of clouds’ which is logically well-suited with the place due to frequent rain that can happen at any time and any part of the day. The place is rewarded with the breath-taking beauty of nature all around and hence, lots of tourists not only from India but, also from other countries of the world come here to experience the great canvas of the nature-filled with mesmerizing colors. A good footfall of tourists has also encouraged the development of various facilities such as world-class cafes, restaurants, and food places with the view of serving better. Cafes and restaurants here serve the best drinks and foods of the Tibetan Region with high-quality taste and standard. Meghalaya has many restaurants and food joints that are good and budget-friendly at the same time. Shillong in Meghalaya is a heaven for food lovers where one can find so many amazing cafes and restaurants which serve the most delicious dishes. Once you are in Shillong make sure that you try their local Khasi cuisine to get a feel of the authentic food of Meghalaya. Shillong -the capital city of Meghalaya is popularly known as the Scotland of the east due to its resemblance in terms of landscapes and culture of the people living here. This resemblance also helped in the emergence of lots of cafés and restaurants in the region. Here is the list of some of the finest cafes that you must try once you are here in Shillong. Here we have a list of some very famous cafes and restaurants that you must visit during your tour to Meghalaya.

Whenever we talk about the Indian food, we often miss to highlight the food from the North-East India. The dishes that originate from the North-East has rich blend of tradition and culture of the Seven Sisters state. Meghalaya also has the same traditional foods with distinct dishes like Narikol, Khapse, Khar, Zan or Gyathuk to gratify one’s taste bud. Here is the list of some of the famous and tasty dishes of Meghalaya, not to miss while travelling to Meghalaya.

Meghalaya became the 21st state of the Indian Republic on 21st January 1972. It is one of the seven sister states located in the North East region of India. The name ‘Meghalaya’ is a Sanskrit word which literally means the abode of clouds. It is a hilly state that can be categorized into three different parts- West Meghalaya Garo Hills, central Meghalaya Khasi Hills, and Eastern Meghalaya Jaintia Hills. Meghalaya is bounded by Assam on the north and Bangladesh on the south and west. Meghalaya is a very beautiful state which attracts lots of tourists every year. People here are very concerned about their environment and surrounding. They have been successful enough for preserving their environment and ecology really well by practicing the unique cultures and traditions over the ages. Living root bridges, crystal clear lakes, lush green forests, and humungous caves are some of the reasons among many for which tourists could not resist themselves by visiting this amazing place on the earth-Meghalaya. All these facts also tempted me too, and I packed my bag and visited this beautiful place for experiencing the deep bond between people and the nature of Meghalaya.   Meghalaya is easily accessible to the Guwahati as it is in very close proximity to the Guwahati Airport and affordable flight fares to Guwahati from all parts of India made it a happening weekend destination too. It is possible to take up a long weekend Meghalaya tour of 4-5 days by flying to and from Guwahati airport. So, I also started my journey in the hope of exploring some new places, meeting some new people, and most of all learning something new about life from Meghalaya.   I started my Meghalaya tour by taking up an early flight from Delhi Airport to Guwahati airport. The Gopinath Bordoloi airport in Guwahati is located on the NH-40, and once you exit from the airport, a right turn on the main road will take you to Shillong whereas turning left will lead you to Guwahati city. You can hire a taxi or also can try hitch-hiking for reaching Shillong. Private and shared cabs are easily available outside the airport Look for ML numbered-yellow number plates car and SUVs or you can also take up MTC bus services to Shillong Police Bazaar. The total distance between Guwahati Airport and Shillong is around 120 km. Also, unlike many other states in the North East, Indian tourists don’t require a permit to visit Meghalaya. The road journey from Guwahati to Shillong can be cover in just 3 hours as the road between these destinations is extremely excellent. On the way to Shillong, all shared taxis usually make a halt for snacks and food after entering the state border of Meghalaya at Nongpoh. During your stop in Nongpoh, you can try some fresh delicious pineapples and variety of pickles that can be picked up at the time of return journey. Now, when you will again start your journey after this small halt you will reach Shillong- the Scotland of the East and also known as the rock capital of India. The taxi will drop you at Police Bazaar, now from here either you can hire a local taxi or walk on your feet to reach anywhere in Shillong. Staying in Shillong is a costly affair in itself as the place is crammed with tourists all throughout the year. Although you can find some cheap and best deals of staying near the Police bazaar itself. I found my own stay and got into it for unwinding myself. It was evening now, and I decide to take a stroll around the nearby market. While moving around the city I encountered with few eateries where authentic Khasi food was being served and had my dinner from one among them. Places to visit in Shillong- The next day, I gorged onto the delicious breakfast served by the hotel and afterward decided to take a tour of the popular attraction in Shillong. I visited places like Ward’s Lake, Shillong Golf Course, Elephant Falls, Smit, Don Bosco Museum of Indigenous Cultures, archery at Siat Khnam, Mawphlang sacred forests. Etc. One can also visit the Umiam Lake Barapani which is a very beautiful lake with crystal clear water and clouds floating by, located at a distance of 15 km.   A visit to the wettest place on planet earth- Cherrapunji This was the second day of mine in Meghalaya which was planned to visit Cherrapunji also called Sohra which is known to be the wettest place on earth, The distance of Cherrapunji from Shillong is hardly 55 km and can be traveled in just 2 hours with the help of shared taxis and local buses plying all day from Bada Bazaar at the charges of 70INR and 0 INR respectively. Bada Bazaar is the main market to buy all sorts of fresh vegetables and fruits in Shillong. Buses and taxis will drop passengers to the main market near the Sumo taxi stand in upper Cherrapunjee. One can find the popular hostels for backpackers and other cheap options like dormitory option for budget travelers.   Popular attractions to visit in Cherrapunjee- I visited almost all the attractions in the Cherrapunjee. I started with the Dympep viewpoint that has fabulous landscapes of the canyons. Then I visited Rama Krishna Mission Ashram famous for its Tribal Khasi Museum. Next, the place was Nohkalikhai waterfalls which are the 4th highest in the world. Mawsmai caves is also a must-visit place in Cherrapunjee. Apart from these, if time allows also visit places as Dainthlen falls, Khasi Monoliths and 1846 built First Presbyterian Church before ending your day. I stayed overnight in Cherrapunjee as I had to go to Living Root Bridges on the third day of my Meghalaya Tour.   A visit to Living Root Bridges of Nongriat- I stayed at the dormitory in Cherrapunji on the 2nd night of my Meghalaya Tour as I had to explore and take up the most fascinating activity- the trek to the ‘double-decker root bridge’ of Nongriat village on the third day. There are two routes for the Nongriat village, the first one is easier that goes from Tyrna village which involves a descent of 3000 steps while the other is from the viewpoint of Nohkalikai waterfalls. After the trek, I reached the living root bridges which I have seen in pictures only before today. Living Root Bridges are bridges constructed by the villagers from the living tree roots using indigenous methods.  Tyrna is around 26 km away from Cherrapunjee and hence it is advisable to stay for at least one day in Nongriat to allow the knees to rest.   As I woke up on the fourth day in Nongriat I thought I woke up late that day, but later I realized that it is only 5 am in the morning. And this confusion aroused because here in North East the sun rises a little early than in plains. I started my journey back to Tyrna village after having breakfast at Nongriat. I hitched a ride with a vehicle from Tyrna which was going to Cherrapunji. It was my fourth day and day was scheduled to visit the Dawki River. You must have seen rustic boats floating on crystal clear water in photographs of Meghalaya on the internet- this is the same Dawki River. One can directly go to the Dawki river from Cherrapunjee without visiting Shillong. As I reached Dawki I was amazed by the crystal clear water of the river. It was so clear, even stones lying on the surface of the river can be seen clearly. Apart from the beauty of the river, the place was filled with various adventurous activities such as scuba diving, cliff jumping, fishing, snorkeling, rafting, etc. After enjoying at Dawki River I made my way to Asia’s cleanest village- Mawlynnong. The village was so beautiful and everybody was very conscious about the cleanliness of the village. I enjoyed the lunch with the villagers and the hospitality that I received from the villagers was something that we all should learn from the people of Mawlynnong. I didn’t want to come back from such a beautiful place, but I had to return back to Shillong till evening. As I had to finish my Meghalaya Journey the next day. I reached Shillong in the evening of the fourth day of my Meghalaya Odyssey and stayed overnight at Hotel Knight Inn. It was the fifth day when I was returning from Meghalaya. I took the shared cab for Guwahati Airport from the taxi stand at Police Bazaar. I was recalling all the destinations and memories that I lived here in Meghalaya while sitting in the cab moving towards the Guwahati Airport. Meghalaya is literally a place where people are so concern about their nature and in return nature also gives its fruit to the people there who are constantly preserving the lakes, forests, caves, waterfalls, and beautiful environment of this amazing hilly state.

Meghalaya may be nestled in the hills, however, its nightlife is buzzing all the year-round. Shillong- the capital of the state and also known as the Scotland of the East is the main hotspot for the stunning nightlife in Meghalaya. As one can find plenty of pubs and nightclubs here with serving Asian cuisines and the alcohol differs from the rest of the country where tourists and locals can hang out and party. Places in Shillong shut usually before midnight, unlike other metro cities. Hence, be sure to head out early to experience one in the area. Here are some of the fine places for experiencing an amazing nightlife in Meghalaya.

All year long is the  best time to visit  Meghalaya . Meghalaya can be visited throughout the year as the state has a moderate weather which is pleasant. The name Meghalaya means "the abode of clouds" in Sanskrit. The state of Meghalaya is rich in flora and fauna.