Freeing the Wings- Thrillophilia Review of Rosh’s Solo Journey to Meghalaya
There is a certain kind of freedom in planning things on your own and doing things without the help of others. Yes, sometimes it sure does feel lonely and alone, but that is the beauty of it- no one to answer to, no one to restrict you.
Yes, freedom can be scary, but as the Mountain Dew advertisement preaches- Darr ke aage jeet hai- it can also be a boon in disguise, especially for women.
All these things bombarded Rosh’s mind when she booked her umpteenth solo trip, this time to Meghalaya with Thrillophilia. She knew the ways around these thoughts, and she knew how to handle them. So, with an unbeatable aura and a straight face, she landed in Meghalaya with much confidence- it was such a rare sight and quite a satisfactory one.
The journey through the Abode of Clouds
‘Abode of clouds’, that is the meaning of the name “Meghalaya’ in Sanskrit. When the cotton-ball-like clouds roll their way up the slopes of the Khasi Hills, or when the waterfalls gleefully make their way around the lush rainforests of the region, nature smiles.
After all, it's all her work of art.
When Rosh reached this enchanting land, she was awe-struck. It was not her first time visiting the North-East, she had travelled to Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam before, and this time she wanted to cover Meghalaya.
But the landscapes of Meghalaya were unlike any other she had witnessed before, there was an underlying essence of mystery and ancient natural treasures, communities, and traditions that were completely new to her.
Thanks to Harsh and the team of Thrillophilia, she was informed at least a little bit about what to expect here, and what areas she would cover along with the group. But the reality was much bigger, and it opened its arms to Rosh as if asking her to get to know Meghalaya better.
And so she did.
Talking with the driver and guide, she found out about the local lifestyles and belief systems of the place. Not only was the cuisine unique, but their folk traditions, music, instruments, dance forms, languages, and social construction were entirely different. Also, the presence of various tribal villages inside the forests intrigued her a lot.
She tried the sticky rice, red rice, and bamboo rice here, coupled with Soh Pyrshong and Khar. But cravings for comfort food do not offer a person relief even if the options are low- so she headed out in the quest of finding some Laccha paratha and Chhole (chickpeas) in Shillong, and to her surprise, she found one restaurant. Thanks to the friendly nature of the locals there, the quest did not pose much difficulty.
What did, was the Nongriat Trek.
To adventures amidst natural marvels
The morning they were about to set out to the double-decker living root bridge trek (Nongriat trek) the clouds were growling and getting darker. A bit sceptical, their guide asked them to start early so that they had enough time to reach, even at the slowest possible speed. Walking up the designated paths directed with arrows made out of wooden planks, with carvings indicating the route, the atmosphere and the colour scheme of the surroundings changed.
With bright sunshine and birds chirping, the forest looked lush green and happy. But as the clouds started to get darker, the forest seemed to enter a zone of performing serious rituals, with the winds blowing stronger and the forest getting restless.
Then all of a sudden, there was a downpour and they had to stop. It was expected in July, but witnessing a storm in the middle of a forest- worth it.
After about 15 minutes, the rainfall stopped and they started on the trail again, this time it was more slippery and dangerous, so everyone had to tread carefully. Finally, when they reached the living root bridge, they all were mesmerised to the core. It was a rewarding sight- witnessing the world-famous Living Root bridge.
Visiting the Elephant Falls and the Mawsmai Cave was also an unparalleled experience. Created due to the effects of water erosion, it was exciting for Rosh to squeeze and climb her way through the narrow passages and holes to explore the Mawsmai cave. And for the Elephant Falls, she found it to be extraordinarily beautiful.
Then came the day to reach Dawki- Asia’s cleanest river, and Mawlynnong village- Asia’s cleanest one, till date. Boating in the clean waters of Dawki was something Rosh had seen only on Instagram and Google before, but doing it herself was an empowering feeling.
The guided tour facilities of Thrillophilia proved to be a gem of an inclusion, without that, Rosh knew, it would be hard to get hold of these insights.
Takeaways
The same day, one of the members of their group had her birthday. Resources were limited and the time was of crucial importance, so the on-ground staff of Thrillophilia arranged for a local homemade cake!
The cake tasted delicious, and the birthday girl was elated at this gesture. So, she ordered Chubitchi (a local drink) for everyone! The drink was available and it was served to them right before dinner, which got them all merry and warm. It was the last day before they headed back to Shillong, and they wanted to celebrate it to the fullest.
On the way back to Shillong, they covered the Krang Suri Waterfalls and the Laitlum Canyon. And finally, they were taken to the popular Kamakhya Temple. The spiritual ambience of this ancient temple and the rich mythology and legends related to the place was almost blood-curdling to learn, but so fascinating at the same time.
Especially as a woman, Rosh felt very overwhelmed to be here. And there was just one thought in her mind: Women can be much more than they are. They embody ideas of creating something the universe runs upon.
This trip with Thrillophilia surely had Rosh swirling over this destination. So, when she posted a review for the same, she said: “Overall very happy with the way Thrillophilia organised everything. Thank you Harsh and Thrillophilia team”.
As for Thrillophilia, they had received another booking from Rosh within a month…this time, for the Andamans- another thrilling destination with loads of mysteries to uncover.
Read More: Thrillophilia Meghalaya Reviews