Top Things to do in East Khasi Hills District
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Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya
Discover the best top things to do in East Khasi Hills District, India including Double Decker Living Root Bridge, Rainbow Falls, Umiam Lake, Mawsmai Cave, Nohkalikai Falls, Mawphlang Sacred Forest, Roots Bridges, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, All Saints Church.
Restaurants in East Khasi Hills District
1. Double Decker Living Root Bridge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 794 reviews
Reviewed By ugenb
Need to be fit to reach here and go back kn the same day. If you have any doubt on your fitness, then please stay back at Nongriat. 1. Location - In Nongriat, Cherrapunjee Meghalaya is where the famous double decker root bridge resides. 2. How to get there - From Cherrapunjee (aka Sohra) get down to a village called Tyrna. That's where the trek starts. 3700 steps/2 hours take you to Nongriat village, where the famous double decker living root bridges are. 3. Entry fees - 20 bucks for double decker. 4. Other attractions - Serenity pool (30 minutes before rainbow falls) and Rainbow falls (50 minutes) after crossing the roit bridges. 2.5 hours further uphill from Rainbow falls will take you to the famous "Nohkalikai water falls." This is an information that I collected from a group that had travelled from Cherrapunjee and they later confirmed me that they had reached. As per them, the trek is tough because the path is rough and not well laid out like rainbow falls. 5. Food - Plenty of options are available till double decker bridge but there isn't even 1 shop till the rainbow falls. 6. Overnight options - Homestays with options of rooms and dorm are there at Nongriat (double decker ). 7. What to do there - Photography, dipping legs in the natural pool and hike to Serenity pool and Rainbow falls. Also, you can roam around the village. 8. Temperature - Since you are coming downhill from Cherrapunjee, the altitude drops and you are at river level. So it gets very hot and humid during summers and pleasant during winters. I travelled in Nov but still I sweated a lot. 9. Communication - Till Tyrna, a reseved Alto/800 will take you 400 to 500 bucks from Sohra. For any further details, let me know. 10. The trek path - well laid out roads. You will cross 3 hanging bridges that are over clear rivers. A 5 minute detour will take you to a single root bridge. This diversion comes after 30 minutes. For any more information please let me know.
2. Rainbow Falls
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By GlobetrotterJoy1988 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Well , This might look as a simple waterfall , with the bluest of water I have seen here in Meghalaya , but reaching here was not that easy for us. Of course for professional trekkers this may seem easy peasy , but for us it was hard. Pretty hard. The trek started from a Village called Tyrana . It is approximately 80 kms from the village we were staying in (Mylim). So we started early and reached Tyranna by 8.30. We were one of the first few travelers for that day who attempted this trek that day. Hardly 5-6 cars were there in the Parking Lot. Guides were there , Charges were 600 upto double decker and 1000 upto Rainbow falls. We were poor and informed enough not to take a guide as we knew it is a straight pathway towards double decker. The journey Began. We did stumble at the first few steps as there were three or four directions where the stairway was leading to. But noticing a few villagers and asking them made it easy for us. It was a straight climb down stepping with small steps. Looked easy. You will find a couple of shops enroute that provides water , Amul drinks and fruits such as pineapples , cucumbers. Price is reasonable. After walking down approximately 40 minutes , the stairs started to vanish. En route we met many villagers who greeted us , few bag packers who were returning from the trek. They were exhausted obviously because they were climbing upwards. After an hour we reached the end of the mountain and had to cross a wire bridge. This bridge was strong enough to hold multiple passengers. The river below was splendid. We did spend some time in the river only to realize that we were getting late. But what to be done , the journey , the river , the clear water , the sounds of cricket everything seemed so heavenly. Anyways we started again. Encountered another bridge and another mountain , this one was even stronger and higher . Just after crossing this we reached The Single Decker Root Bridge. We all were damn hungry but only one of us decided to go for it and have the widely available lunch there , Maggi. We sat there for good ten minutes watching the Single decker . Then we started and withing 10 minutes we reached Nongrihat Village , where the double decker is located. Just by the side of the root bridge , you will find a natural swimming pool. We had our swimming clothes with us and decided to jump in. It was wonderful. The chilly clean water , the fishes kept tickling us , and we were having the time of our lives. Seeing us other travelers got inspiration and jumped in too. We completely lost the track of time till one of us reminded us that we have miles to go. So we got up and started trekking again. This is where things get exciting , the walk able roads were vanished by now , mostly we were walking on uneven soils or climbing rocks . Another wire bridge came en route. I happily stepped in only to realize that this was much different than the previous two. Immediately asked my friends to stop and come one by one. As I walked in , the bridge started shaking with the minimum wind blow that was there , as I stepped ahead I saw many iron wires were replaced by mere bamboo sticks and in some places I had to jump as wires were completely missing at the footrest places. After about 80 meters I reached the other mountain. It was scary , Then there was another small but firm hanging root bridge we had to cross to move forward. It was easy , but right after crossing that we saw a plain road , the only difference was that it was much narrower and I actually had to close in my feet to accommodate myself in the lane and to move ahead. By my side was deep valley downwards. I was afraid and thought of giving up. But decided not to. It is true that mountains teaches you things that classrooms can never do. Never giving up is a lesson I was taught again and in a much better way. I moved ahead. By this time I lost my friends who were behind me. I waited for 20 minutes but saw no trace of them , hence started moving again. After few minutes saw a beautiful waterfall by my side and thought of that to be the rainbow falls. But I was mistaken this time. Decided to wait there for my friends , after about half an hour they joined me. We again started walking. Reached what looked like a dead end this time. A bridge and ahead of it a straight steep mountain that seemed not possible to climb. But we did see a traveler coming down from there and a arrow sign signaling the rainbow falls ahead . With heads held high we started. This time we could not walk , literally had to climb every 5 minutes to move ahead , it was about one hour of climbing up and down later I reached to the view point from where this photo was taken. I have reached the rainbow falls. Friends were a bit behind again. But this was not the end of it , climbing down to reach the falls was challenging too. However seemed easy for us. Then we reached the bluest and cleanest of waterfall we have ever seen. There is a rock and a ladder , you have to climb the rock to see the rainbow crossing the falls. It was heavenly to witness. All this effort seemed worth it. We stared an stared and wished that the time would stop. We had the greatest time bathing in the falls , swimming and splashing water on each other. We realized that we have to return only when clouds took over and it seemed that it will rain heavily . We started heading back , one of our friends had lost his footwear and was walking barefoot , it was very brave to say the least. Heavy rainfall started , now you can realize how hard it was to return the same way with pouring cats and dogs. I shared my slippers with the friend was was barefoot for time to time. All the travelers who were returning with us decided to stay back in the Nongrihat village , but we four decided to climb all the way up to our car. Rain soaked soils , leaf covered surprising rocks , and those weak wire bridges made it very tough , but we made it through , we were exhausted to the core but did not give up and returned to our car by 6 in the evening. It was a memory I will cherish for lifetime.
3. Umiam Lake
4. Mawsmai Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 764 reviews
Reviewed By 18manishm - India, null
There are two caves here. One is recently found and one is old. Both of them worth a visit. They are in almost their natural state and still well lit. It was an adventure for children and they enjoyed it very much. One caution though: people who have spine, knee or hip problem or are physically unfit should not go through it.
5. Nohkalikai Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 583 reviews
Reviewed By Kunal_Bhowmick - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
One of the largest waterfall in Cherrapunji region...however, it can be best viewed during monsoon season...as it is a natural spring...
6. Mawphlang Sacred Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By ComfortYatri - Ahmedabad, India
This is a must visit tourist attraction in Meghalaya. Journey is bit long but not strenuous. When we reached there, in our front was a vast stretch of open land and on its one end was vast tall green canvas as if someone has drawn it to the scale in straight line. It was sacred forest. Our special guide for the place had to lead us to its entrance which otherwise is most likely to be missed. And inside that lay a unique very vast jungle. Tall tress, road wet all along, chirping of birds all through, orange size lemon trees, different species of mushrooms, spectacular variety of trees, no ray of sun, pin drop silence, big hanging branches of trees, places where local heads occasionally visit to pray and make offerings to jungle God. We were warned not to take out even the smallest of leaf from said jungle. Legend has it that whosoever dared break said rule, soon was condemned to some unknown illness and ultimately paid with his/her life. So we did enjoy lemon juice of freshly plucked lemons inside jungle but the party had to be over then and there. one has to be there to believe and enjoy what really said Sacred Forest has to offer. After visiting said place, we met with visitors at Kaziranga who were part of tour group arranged by one reputed tour operator. We asked whether the said place was on their itinerary and... you guessed right. IT WAS NOT. After returning home, we checked with some other colleagues and friends who have recently visited Meghalaya about their experience of this awesome place. To our surprise they did not know about this place and one of them was one who is an avid traveller and explorer of the places. So my suggestion to the readers is - do include Mawphlang sacred forest in your itinerary when you visit Meghalaya. Good luck.
7. Roots Bridges
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 248 reviews
Reviewed By nishitapatwardhan - Mumbai, India
Although we would have loved to have done the double decker root bridge - we were short on both time and stamina so this one was a much easier one to get to - it took us a painless 10 minute walk down steps and a little more painful 15 minute walk up after ! We went in Feb - not really the best time to visit but this natural marvel was still breath taking with just a stream under verses a gushing river ! A visit to the neighbouring Mawlynnong Village known to be the cleanest in India can be done easily from here - if short of time skip the village but definitely do the bridge !!!
8. Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 686 reviews
Acclaimed as one the finest museum in Asia on the promotion of indigenous and tribal cultures, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (DBCIC) or Don Bosco Museum as it is popularly known is a major tourists' attraction that provides a glimpse of the rich and multi-cultural lifestyles, history and traditions of the indigenous peoples of North East India. The museum, showcasing many galleries, gives an insight into the beautiful and diverse cultural richness of the eight States of India's North East under one roof. The Museum, run by the Salesian of Don Bosco of the Catholic Church, houses and documents the various indigenous cultures, arts and crafts of North East India.
Reviewed By LailaFreddy - Pune, India
A real mix of cultural heritage, history, tribal customs, beautiful displays, and a spectacular rooftop view.
9. Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 158 reviews
Reviewed By IvorVaz - Mumbai, India
It isn't hard to figure why The Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians (popularly referred to as Cathedral Church here) is one of the major tourist attractions in Shillong. Perched on a hill, the Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches. It has high arches and stained glass windows which add to its grandeur. Directly below, carved out of the hill is the Grotto Church (which gets all decked up and strung in lights for Christmas - the best time to visit the city). It has been accorded status of a pilgrimage centre, with services every Wednesday the year round. It's got a huge campus that houses a school among other institutions. Give it an hour to stroll around and explore - you won't be disappointed.
10. All Saints Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By SatyendraGarg - Port Blair, India
This time I enjoyed the beauty of the church from inside. Definitely it is old British church which has been done very elegantly. There is display of excellent woodwork. There is description of its history. Glasswork done inside is wonderful.
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