Ambling in the Abode of Clouds

Photo 1 : at Tyrshi falls
Photos 2,3 : at Shillong peak

It was the last day of our trip. We stopped at Umiam lake again for taking some photographs as the weather was clearer than that on the first day. We also moved towards Guwahati a little bit to go the other side of the lake. Finally, we reached Shillong airport to board the flight for Kolkata.

We’d like to share a couple of words about this trip. We heard that Meghalaya is a very mineral rich state. Almost everywhere we saw rocks were being cut. We’re not specialists on environment, but this definitely creates a visual pollution.

We’ve always kept a pride in the deepest corner of our mind that every tour of ours has been a success. We’re blessed that this tour was no exception.

Before coming to Meghalaya, we had a snobbish attitude. We have always believed that the Himalayas are very beautiful, and any place that gets his touch has to be beautiful. But there are no snow-capped peaks here, not even any high mountain. So the mountain views offered here must be modest – that’s what we had thought earlier. But we’re proved wrong, and our belief is reinforced that anything that gets a place in the lap of the Himalayas is definitely worth viewing. We definitely loved Meghalaya. The Sohra circuit particularly is worth a second visit.

Accommodation

Shillong :
1. Stay in Guest house, Keating Road, Police Bazar. 0364-2223965 / 2302027 / 2504396. One night stay at a double bedroom in the basement, Rs.1100
2. Zion guest house, Lower Lachumiere, near Barik Point. 0364-2500316 / 09206043770. Three bedroom on the fourth floor, Rs. 1000

Mawlynnong : Tree house, double bedroom Rs 1500. Booking : Miss Shailin, Shillong, 0364-2502420.

Cherrapunjee : Eco Park guest house, lower Cherapunjee, triple bedroom Rs.900. Booking : Mr. Sangma, 098628-20540

Food

Shillong :
Suruchi – serves good Bengali food.
Baba’s hotel on GS Road near Police bazaar : We didn’t order any food there, items are a bit expensive.
Delhi Mishtann Bhandar : good for snacks. We tasted the famous jalebis. They are tasty, but fried in dalda (hydrogenated vegetable oil) – so fine for one time consumption.

We learnt it here in Shillong that there's a difference between Chow and Chowmein (other than the last four letters) - the former is fried while the latter is steamed.

Car : non a/c Maruti 800

Pick-up from Shillong airport and visiting Bishop and Beadon falls, Golf course, Wards lake : Rs.2000

Shillong to Tamabil – Dawki – Riwai village – Mawlynnong on day one (approximately 125 km as per Google map), Mawlynnong to Cherra on day two (app. 80 km), Cherra sight-seeing on day three, Cherra – Dainthlen falls – Elephant falls – Shillong on day four (app. 90 km) : Rs.13000

Don Bosco museum – Mawphlang – Sweet falls – Shillong peak (app. 100 km) : Rs.2000

Nartiang – Tyrshi falls – Shillong (app. 90 km) : Rs.1800

Shillong airport drop (app. 35 km) : Rs.1000

Last but not the least, the person without which this tour wouldn’t have been a success : Mr. Pradip Modak, 09863087418. He drove himself and acted as a guide also. And there’s no prize for guessing which one is him in the next photo.

Once more

For the butterfly and moth pictures!!!!

How lovely they camouflaged!!!

Khublei Shibun, Duronto Jajabar.

Loved the trip log - thanks a lot for sharing. Will try to make it here soon!

Khublei Shibun, niknik, and do visit Meghalaya - you'll love it.

Nice pictures of butterflies & thanks for sharing the logistics details. Really appreciated.

Ronak.

Khublei Shibun, Ronak. Hope that this will help you plan your pending tour to Meghalaya.

Hi Mousourik!!

It seems you had a great time at the 'Scotland of the East'.

When I was younger, I along with my friends used to indulge in bike race from Guwahati to Shillong, just to have some 'Khoi' meaning 'Betel nut' in Khasi.

Would just like to add a few points here which would be beneficial to people when visiting meghalaya:-

1) While climbing the Shillong peak, one should visit the 'Potato research center' on the way.

2) While going down hill from Peak, do stop on the left side of the road and have the local vegetables being sold by local women. The Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Cabbage, Radish etc. sold by those Khasi ladies are 100% organic and taste the best according to me and many others. This of course if you're game to carry them to your destination.

3) While on the way from Guwahati to Shillong or vice versa, do visit the 'Strawberry village' or 'Sohliya village' near Umsning. The strawberry fields are in full bloom here and a treat to the eye.

4) The Meghalaya homemade 'Fruit wine' is simply great. It's an exotic alcoholic drink prepared from the local organic fruits. The fruit wine in Meghalaya is made right from Peaches, Plums, Apricots, Strawberries, Pineapples etc to even Ginger. Wine lovers who visit Meghalaya must definitely try these homemade drinks.

Many more tips but I do not intend to Hijack Mousourik's thread

It's a great travelogue with some great pics. I hope you do visit again

Your trip report will be of great help, not only to me but also to other Imers in planning a trip to Meghalaya. I guess I will be making a trip to Meghalaya only in 2013 or 2014. Long time to go.

Ronak.

really fresh and green travelogue .... was long waiting for a meghalaya trip report and thanks for putting such a quality report.

style_guru, Khublei Shibun for your appreciation.

Yes, we saw the potato research centre, but didn't know that it's worth visiting.

On the Guwahati-Shillong road, we travelled upto Umiam lake from Shillong and then took the detour for Shillong airport. We're not sure whether there's this strawberry village on this stretch. But we looked for strawberry in Shillong proper and managed to get some from last year's stock. However, their taste was not so good.

Do you think that at the confluence of the Ganga at Gangasagar, you'll find only the water from Gomukh ? Every river, every strem has its own contribution to make the river the Ganga. So there's no chance of hijacking this thread, it'll rather be enriched by your valuable inputs which will perhaps inspire us (and many others) to revisit this region, as you intend.

Khublei Shibun, aditiban, for your right-from-the-heart appreciation.

@style_guru, as mousourik has mentioned you will not be hijacking his thread, you are free to (infact we Imers will request you) to post as many tips as you want. This will be really helpful to all of us.

Ronak.