Filled to the brim with mesmerising scenic beauty, Māwsynrām is the perfect place for you to break away from the binds of your monotonous life in quarantine. Apart from being the wettest place on Earth, it also has lush greeneries of the Khasi hills to soothe your soul. The year-round clement weather of this small village in Meghalaya makes it a perfect weekend getaway spot for nature lovers. By Angira KarWhat to see?
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Māwsynrām is Meghalaya is home to some of the country’s most magnificent caves and waterfalls. This small village has a special place in the hearts of religious tourists as it houses a stalagmite that looks like a replica of the sacred Shiva Linga, an abstract representation of Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. The 150-metre-long Mawsmai Cave is the perfect place for adventure lovers. The cave is well-lit throughout the day and the glistening of lights on the rocks bring out magical hues of nature in a striking manner — it’s a precious sight to behold. The Mawsmai waterfall is a seven-segment waterfall and also the fourth highest in India. Its breathtaking beauty is one-of-a-kind, making it a major tourist attraction here.
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Speaking of waterfalls, the Nohkalikai Falls—that flows from a gigantic height of 1,000 feet—is sheer natural magnificence. This spectacle, guarded by the Khasi Hill’s evergreen rainforest, then flows into a lagoon as blue as the morning sky. Another prime tourist spot is the botanical garden in Māwsynrām. This garden has exotic indigenous plants and a small aviary with a variety of colourful, exotic bird species. Dwarksuid, a charming pool with sprawling, rocky banks is unforgettable too, especially because the rocks take the shape of a lotus.
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Just a few kilometres from Māwsynrām lies a squeaky-clean village of Mawlyngbna. Its natural geyser and fossil rich lands attract a lot of tourists too. Mawlyngbna—also known as the ‘Edge of India’—has a lot of places to visit, despite being a small village. Think Umkhakoi lake, split rock, a pitcher plant garden, and the Umdiengkain waterfall.
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You can also plan a trip from Māwsynrām to Cherrapunji, another slice of paradise on this side of India. The town has numerous beautiful places but the Double Decker Living Root Bridge tops them all. This is the largest root bridge made of Indian rubber trees. This innovative fusion of nature and engineering rightfully attracts thousands of tourists every year. Krem Phyllut, another attraction here, is a spectacular cave in Cherrapunji comprising of two separate river passages within.
How to reach?
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The closest airport to Māwsynrām is the Shillong airport (also known as Umroi airport), located at a distance of 87 kilometres. There is a range of vehicles available at the airport that take you through the lush green landscapes and beautiful hills to reach Māwsynrām. If you are coming via Assam, you can also choose to land at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.
Those opting for road journeys, Māwsynrām is well-connected to Guwahati in Assam as well as Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. During the journey, cloud-capped hills and sprawling farmlands give you company. If you are visiting Māwsynrām via Cherrapunji, you need to take a detour at Mawngap on the route to Shillong. Māwsynrām is located approximately 81 kilometres from Cherrapunji and takes close to two hours and 40 minutes to reach by road.
Where to stay?
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The fun of visiting the wettest village of India should be paired with equally stunning staying experiences. At just a few miles away from Māwsynrām, you can find luxurious resorts, hotels and homestays. Polo Orchid Resort, Sohra Plaza, Pumpkin Cordial Lodge, The Crescent Hotel and Hesed House, are some of your options for a deluxe stay. Each of these accommodations come with a unique Meghalayan touch.
What to eat?
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Here you can easily find places that serve Chinese, Indian, Bengali and Punjabi cuisines. In fact, the in-house hotel restaurants also serve local Khasi cuisines that include dishes like pork rice. A must-try is sohra pulao, rice cooked with oil and vegetables without spices.
When to go?
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Monsoon is a great time to visit Māwsynrām. However, the ideal time to visit is during the summer months when you can run away from the scorching heat of your hometown to the fresh and peaceful mountain breeze, lush greenery, colourful flora and the thunderous waterfalls here.
Related: Here’s Why A Road Trip Through The Hinterlands Of Meghalaya Is No Less Than A Dream!
Bayar Jain
Senior Content Manager
Equipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi, and a post graduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing the next frame, dabbling in arts and crafts, or gushing over puppers and kittens.
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