Mawsynram

A quaint village,65 kilometers from the capital city of Meghalaya, Shillong; is a paradise unexplored. It is also a silent contender to the 'most wettest place in the planet', where all the limelight goes to 'Cherrapunji', a much better known part of Meghalaya.

Through winding and twisting roads, we began our journey. uncovernortheast!!

A detour on the way , we headed towards the 'Lum Symper Sacred Grove'. We were taken aback by the sheer untouched beauty of this place.

The climb to the top of the hill was tiring, but the view from there was worth the effort.We could see spans of greens around us and not a soul in sight. Sparkling water bodies all around the place were setting a magical and serene aura . The cold wind blowing across was refreshing and we lay there for hours gazing at the blue sky, leaving all the worries of the world behind.

After that hike, we were famished and made a pit-stop at the 'Sincera Restaurant' in Mawsynram. We stuffed ourselves with some hot and delicious Chinese food, a perfect fit for the cold weather. We were quite impressed by their home delivery transport.

The spirit of the village was well showcased by the fancy fence around a plant. The quotes on the walls were the ones we were more in sync with.

After satiating our hunger cries, we set out to explore the place. A local told us to go to the 'Mawjimbuin Cave'. A small beach type area leads to a cave where rests an unbelievable sight.A set of stalactite and stalagmite, just opposite to each other. The rock formation mimics that of a 'Lord Shiva Linga'. From the stalactite, water drips on to the stalagmite. Its just beyond belief.

As the warning signs read on the ticket counter, we were also requested not to pour milk or any other liquid items on the rock formations as it may lead to erosion. I believe our readers will also follow the same. The responsibility of maintaining our heritage sites rest on us global citizens.

We headed towards the small markets of Mawsynram. There were only basic items to buy. The Church bells from the village prompted us to scout the area. We were invited by some beautiful Churches and a picturesque hamlet.

The setting sun reminded us that the magnificent day is about to end and we needed a place to crash. We asked around the village and decided to proceed to the 'Traveler's Nest' in 'Mawlyngbna'. Traversing through the forests for about 15 kms, we arrived at a pleasant surprise.

The place is at the middle of nowhere. A perfect feel of being in the lap of nature, undisturbed. 'Inda', the lovely hostess, showed us to our cottages.

The cottages were basic but comfortable. It can accommodate a maximum of 4 persons in one. There is no satellite TV or that on call room service in such remote areas. Everything else ticked the right boxes. You need to intimate the staff earlier for dinner. Do not expect prompt service as everything is made from scratch.

We gathered around a bonfire lit by 'Inda' & her friends and immersed ourselves in folklore of the local community.A little later delicious snacks were served. Stepping up in harmony with the fun atmosphere ,we danced through the night. A wonderful journey came to an end. A journey we would take in our hearts with us for our lifetimes.

VITAL STATISTICS :

Accommodation: Traveler's Nest , Mawlyngbna and also few home-stays are in and around the village.

Transport: It is advisable to hire a local taxi from Shillong or you can also drive down with your own car.

Refreshments: Sincera Restaurant , Mawsynram.

Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati.

Nearest Airport: Shillong.