Transforming Visions, and Perceptions- A Duo on the Meghalaya Trip!
We were two girls travelling to Meghalaya from Bangalore. For both of us, it was our first time to the destination.
Before this, we had never opted for an all-girls trip, and I must admit, it has been an unforgettable experience. We were a bit sceptical as to how the place would be and how the journey would play out, but we discovered that we know very little of India and its diverse cultures, which is why we had this underlying fear regarding the trip.
Upon meeting our driver at the airport, this fear subsided, filling us with more confidence and thrill. He was our guide as well and seemed like a decent person with a wide base of knowledge about the place.
Since we had enough time, we could visit the Barapani that very day before we checked into our hotel. That was the first stop of the journey, and we got quite hopeful about the rest of the trip after witnessing the spectacular natural beauty of the place.
Meghalaya is indeed a mesmerising place, with greenery and mountains all around. It was a treat to our eyes and souls, breathing the fresh air and driving farther away from the pollution and the honking of the cars, like that in Bangalore.
We were at peace.
Then started our adventure of a lifetime
The next day, we were to visit some waterfalls and caves on the way from Shillong to Cherrapunjee. We saw the Elephant Falls, the amazing three-tiered Wei Sawding Falls, the Seven Sisters Falls and lastly the Nohkalikai Falls.
All these waterfalls demanded short or long hikes before making themselves seen, and each of them was well-protected by thick covers of forests. This is what gave us a more relaxed and spaced-out feeling during the trip.
Then came the Mawsmai and Arwah caves, the mysterious ancient caves that hold years of secrets and stories. They were famous for being rich in fossils, and some of them are displayed right there. You can see the fossil pieces through the lit-up interiors, which altogether gives a very interesting experience.
Our guide was so nice that he accompanied us to all the places, telling us about the history and the cultural tales related to each place we visited. He also ensured that we reached every tourist point safely. Whenever he encountered any issues on the road, he would take a de-route and drop us well in time to the desired places.
Next up, we went to our much-awaited Nongriat Trek- the double-decker living root bridge. It was a long trek, but absolutely worth it. The visual of the double bridge made with living roots sent chills down our spine.
We “successful” people need to learn from these places and people, that happiness does not always come from money. This trip was proving to be a life lesson for me and my friend both, we had never explored such a part of the world before. Yes, we were young, but we realised that we were also unknown to a lot of things and that is why such pangs of fear invaded our minds before the trip. The simple fear of the unknown.
Experiences that count
The day after, we went to the Dawki Village. But on the way we took a stop in Mawlynnong Village, Asia’s cleanest village. And to be honest, after seeing the village we were like, “This can compete with the Korean aesthetics that people all around the world talk about so much!”
It was not just clean, it looked neat and well-planned. Perhaps it was not planned, but the locals had maintained the village in such a way that the impression it had on us was unparalleled.
Then finally we reached Dawki and were too excited to see the crystal-clear transparent waters of the Umngot River. But unfortunately, since we were travelling in August and it was raining so much, the water was not as calm and clear as we expected.
Definitely, the rain made the water a bit muddy. But we still took the boat ride, just for the experience of it, and we had a great time enjoying the serenity of the place.
On the last day of the trip, we woke up to a beautiful sunrise in the East Khasi Hills. Later that day, we were to head to one of the most famous waterfalls in India- the Krang Suri Waterfalls. So, after munching on some delicious Pumaloi and Pukhlein, we set out through the magical landscapes of Meghalaya for the final round.
The Krang Suri Waterfalls were truly amazing - such a picturesque sight! The waterfall seemed to have enchanted the entire place, and everything around it looked so happy and elated. We also felt the vibe of the place and got super thrilled to take a bath in the small pool the waterfall had formed.
To wrap up, we visited the Litlum Caves, where Rock On 2 was filmed. We sat there in silence. After so many days of relentless fun and activities, that day we seemed to have found our inner selves.
We sat still, without talking, looking at the clouds changing shapes in the order of the winds against the green mountains. All of a sudden, our driver came up to us and asked us when to leave as the sun was setting and soon the dark of the evening would fall.
Honestly, we did not want to go.
The Credits
On our way back, we went to the Kamakhya Temple in the morning to pay homage and then boarded our flight.
Upon reaching, we received a call from Thrillophilia for feedback and review.
They had done a mind-blowing job, we never faced any issues regarding the management, communications, traders, food, accommodation, or anything. Upon this, our GEO was always in contact with us, through WhatsApp and calls, asking us accounts for daily updates and experiences. Overall it was a very well-planned itinerary, and we both loved it.
Thank you for keeping us safe and offering us such a great tour of the place. The people we met changed our perception of Meghalaya completely. Hopefully, we never cease to have such adventures where we grow and learn together!
Read More: Thrillophilia Meghalaya Reviews