A Trip Where Meghalaya Mesmerised the Gupta Family- A Thrillophilia Review
It was almost 9 am when we reached the Laitlum Canyon. We had planned to spend a good two to three hours there and even breakfast was packed hot, all ready to be munched at the spot. It was a mini family picnic, you could say. I looked at my husband, his eyes glimmering with memories of the past…
Bridging the past and the present
My husband was really moved emotionally when we landed in Guwahati. The journey to Shillong from there was one of immense pleasure and peace. We were mostly lost in our own worlds, soaking in the feeling of coming to the mountains…that too the ones of the Northeast.
This was the first trip to the mountains for our 4-year-old daughter, and we could see in her eyes that she was stunned to see the scenery there. She would gape at the valleys with open mouths and wide eyes, smiling now and then whenever she saw a bird.
Coming back to the Laitlum Canyon, when we reached the place early in the morning, it was all clad with clouds. It seemed that we were standing on a cliff below which there was a sea of clouds.
Then within 20 minutes, as the sun brightened all the more, the fog and cloud subsided, revealing a scenery as magical as the most beautiful imaginations of paradise. The lush green valleys sprawled below, with some clouds still rolling down the slopes of the mountains into the middle of the valley. We could see small houses and a faint line of a river that snaked its way through the village. Slowly, the sky got bluer, and the temperatures got comfortably warmer. And that is when my daughter said,
“Ma, I don't want to go back to Mumbai. There are too many people and too many buildings. Here, there are playgrounds all around!”
My husband smiled and nodded in agreement, I could see he also felt the same way.
The world seemed so beautiful at that moment, I had everything I ever wanted. My family, a lovely life, and a beautiful view of the mountains all around.
Witnessing the Real Meghalaya
The day we went to Cherapunjee, we discovered what it truly feels like to live in Meghalaya. It is a heaven carved out of nature. There were waterfalls all around, the mountains echoed the bird songs, the bright greenery soothed the eyes, and the open sky urged our hearts to let loose and fly…
The gorges of the Mawkdok Dympep View Point appeared to be a green carpet laid out to welcome us to the ancient land of Meghalaya, and the Seven Sister Falls imprinted a scenery in our minds that superseded any other place we had ever visited together.
I personally would never forget the view of the Elephant Falls and the Nohkalikai Falls which is known to be one of the largest plunging waterfalls in the country.
The day had a lot of things in store for us, but to cover it all without getting our breaths knocked out, lunch was important. The guide suggested, “I know the perfect place, you can try some authentic dishes there. I am sure you will love it.”
The guide and my husband both had bonded well over the last few days. They talked about the life of the villagers, the government schemes that helped them, possible scopes of improvement, and the hidden spots in the region where one can go to spend some serene time.
My husband used to share what he learnt from his guide, from the off-beat meadows and picnic places to the waterfalls not known to the greater world. Our guide painted a realistic picture of Meghalaya with his stories and enriched our understanding of the place much more than sightseeing did.
Anyway, for lunch, we had jadoh, red rice, pumaloi and minil songa. Then we paired it with rice beer to wash it down. As for our daughter, we got some nice sweet lemonade.
With filled bellies and a satisfied heart, we were again on the move. This time, the next stops were the Mawsmai and Arwah caves. What we saw there, surprised us to the core…
Fossils.
Billions of years old fossils spread out like flies in both the caves. The rock structures also had a unique shape, creating an ambience that made geographical history come alive right before our eyes.
Popular yet not-so-known
The Nongriat trek, also known as the double-decker living root bridge trek, confronted us with the lifestyle of the locals and life in the forests. These natural bridges formed by the roots of rubber trees were one of the major connections between the tribal villages residing in the forests.
The villagers use these bridges to transport food and other essentials. But what we saw beyond this bridge was even more beautiful- we walked further into the forest where the trees were closing in on the routers and the sky was barely visible through the canopies of the trees. It was cold, but we still pushed through the bushes and walked along the river to reach one of the most mesmerising falls in the country- the Rainbow Falls.
I did not think my daughter would be so agile and suited for this terrain, but she was trekking even better than her father and the native guide!
Our visit to Mawlynnong was great, and so was the other trek to the single-decker living root bridge in Riwai. We also saw the famous balancing rock which has stayed the same forever despite hundreds of cyclones and storms.
And then finally, we reached Dawki.
Gratitude
My husband whispered in my ears, “I want to take you somewhere as a manner of thanks”
“Thanks for what”
“For creating the opportunity for us to bond and unwind together, all over again, after a long time.”
He took my hand, boarded a boat, and all 3 of us sailed off.
The cliffs towered on both sides of the crystal-clear river whose bottom pebbles were also visible. My husband said, “The right side is India, and the left side is Bangladesh. Can you find any difference?”
I had no clue about this information, and it startled me.
The place did not look like a border, a site of conflict and security. It rather seemed like a place of harmony, peace, and unparalleled beauty.
We had our flight from Guwahati, so we had the chance to visit Kamakhya temple once. There I prayed for the wellbeing of my daughter and for the chance to go on such trips every year.
I loved the way this trip turned out, and thanks to Thrillophilia for planning all the days perfectly. Looking forward to more experience with you all, hopefully, next year!
Read More: Thrillophilia Meghalaya Reviews