Meghalaya - In Nature's Hand - 6D/5N

Our day started very early in the morning (2 am). Had also put a big plan on how to reach the airport for the flight at 6 AM. For a few people in the gang, the journey started much ahead from Pondicherry itself. They picked me by 3 AM and reached Airport by 4 Am. We had a quick meet and greet session amongst ourselves. Had a Brief introduction and started our journey as a gang.

The flight was delayed by an hour. The bus pick up from boarding gate to the flight was very jovial, it took 20mins between them. Flight landed on Guwahati airport and we are greatly disappointed with the weather, it was also burning with 31° C.

We boarded the traveller (We have already booked a Tempo Traveller vehicle for our entire journey) and our first stop was to a hotel for our breakfast. Everyone got shocked on seeing the price of South Indian food items but we had no option. We started our journey towards Shillong. The highway was neat and picturesque, also the climate begun to descend with some drizzles. We stopped on the way to buy some fruits and had a photo session as well.

Our next stop was at Umiam Lake with an awesome climate. The place was so scenic and we spent time playing on the banks of the river. By the time we got back, rain started pouring.

We then reached to the hotel for quick refreshing. After 2 hours of rest, we headed to the Police Bazaar by walk for shopping and dinner. That place was too crowded and everyone was literally dashing to walk there(Beware of pick-pockets). We roamed around the place and we entered a sweet stall which had tiffin as well. Completed our dinner and returned back to room by car.

The destination today was Dawki and we reached there by noon. Had a boat ride on the lake for 1 hour, there we had a stone which acts as a border between India and Bangladesh.

To our bad luck, the river was not so clean and not visible clearly. Missed the beauty of transparent Dawki river The experience of being on the border between two countries (India and Bangladesh) was awesome.

Due to humid, we asked the driver to take us for any waterfalls nearby. He then dropped us in another 10 minutes near a waterfalls and when we enquired for the name he said no name given nu. It's name is Bophill/Borhill Waterfalls. The falls view was awesome from the overbridge nearby.

After a pleasant stay, we started to Mawlynnong village. Visited the single root bridge as the first spot. It was a combined effort by human and nature in building/preserving the root bridge.

Next visit is to the Asia's cleanest village, Mawlynnong. As per the promotions it was neat and clean, looked more like a shooting spot and not a real village as we expected.

Then our journey to Cherrapunji started. In the go, we visited a viewpoint, Arwah caves and Dainthlen Falls.

During the ride, the driver stopped for a tea near a viewpoint. When we enquired the name, he mentioned as Suicide Point, we all were laughing why did he stop us here. It was a nice valley viewpoint with mist-covered and slight drizzles.

Arwah Lumshynna Caves, the way to reach the entrance was mind-blowing. Mist covered the whole area. I hope it was the first time am going to experience a walk inside the cave. Water flowing inside the cave covering our feet and also water drizzles from the top. We initially followed the places were lights are placed. And the guys started to explore some unattended path, we waited for some time they had not returned back. Others also headed there but are directed to a dead end. We ended up with an awesome experience with mostly wet.

Actually, the cave was to display the shells of the extinct species, I have learnt it from the hoarding displayed at the entrance.

That day is about to end and we have missed many places scheduled. The driver said that he will cover those places tomorrow morning and now we will go to the resort.

While going the way, he has taken us to the Dainthlen Waterfalls. It was a great surprise and we had a mindset of going back to the room. The drive to that place was scenic, foggy and waterfalls big/small everywhere. That too was raining well. The view of water falling from the top was awestruck. The whole place is full of water and with rain made it so pleasant.

We started our day earlier in order to cover the places missed yesterday. Climate was pleasant to start the day.

Our first stop was Wah kaba - Latara Falls, due to much mist we are unable to view the waterfalls. Spent only few minutes and we started back.

Our next stop was NohKaLikai Falls, the view was spectacular with light drizzles. The water gets carried away by the wind before it reaches the land. Smoky mist covered the whole valley in minutes.

We then reached the eco-park, had just went to the view point and found nothing interesting. It looked like our local park with walking area. We then skipped the place in no time. Next destination was Seven sister Waterfalls.

Due to monsoon, there were more than 7 waterfalls flowing down. Nice to see such kind of water flowing from the mountains for the people from Tamil Nadu.

Then we reached to Mawsmai caves, this cave was quite difficult to explore compared to Arwah caves. Here the paths are very narrow with water spilling everywhere. We need to bend down and move within, distance was small and we covered easily. There was cave2 nearby and we started moving in. It has to be climbed up and down, crawl and move kind of. This is the best one of all the caves.

The journey to our much awaited destination begun, Double Decker Living Root Bridge. The vehicle dropped us at the parking slot, we packed each of our bags to descend. Journey started and it was quite sunny.

Everyone started with a good pace and as time goes the pace reduced with their health. On the way, we visited a single root bridge. There was a stream of water in the way, we all freshned up and drank some of it.

Continued the travel and we reached the homestay after 3 hrs. Got the rooms and we enquired for falls to bath nearby. Got freshned up and went to the falls. The water was so cold and we entered one by one. The place was quite secluded and it was nice.

As usual got up early and went to the root bridge for a photoshoot. Due to yesterday's descent experience, we started our journey at 7. It was a rainy morning and the climate was pleasant to start the trek.

We then reached the parking slot in 3 hours and it was a memorable one. Everyone's dress was drenched with sweat and took rest for sometime. Driver was on time and we boarded the traveller.

Our next destination is Elephant Falls, it was a 3 storeyed falls. A view point on each layer of the waterfalls, it was good. Highlight of that venue, was trying out the Khasi tribal dress. Everyone changed to that attire and took the snaps.

We then reached to Air Force Museum nearby, spent some time in it. Few prototypes of the missile and aircraft were available.

Everyone felt hard that it's the last date of our journey. After taking the breakfast, we started our return journey from Shillong. We have not planned to visit any places for the day.

We again witnessed the change in climate from cloudy in Meghalaya to sunny in Assam. We have headed to Assam. Driver took us to a Science Museum. It was fun watching the physics, chemistry, biology, maths experimental models. It also had a aquarium which has very typical kind of fishes.

Then we went to a hotel for our lunch and then reached the airport by 5pm. We bid adieu to the driver and took a group photograph.

We then entered the airport and were bidding adieu to each of us. It was a lifetime memorable experience for everyone.

This trip is a great experience of positivity from the external world. Every people whom we met and every place where we visited gave a sign of compassion and love. It was a great leap in our journey which happened till date.

Experienced how a proper plan with apt people would make a great impact on the trip. This doesn't end without sharing our experiences to the friends and neighbours.

Happy Travelling...!