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The abode of clouds- Meghalaya mesmerises every wanderer


The magic of Meghalaya spells at the onset of the journey from Guwahati. The highway to the capital of Meghalaya with lush green mountains on either side, hamlets surrounded by areca nut trees, and the pristine view of manmade Umiam lake make your 3-hour car ride truly blissful.

Undulating and pine-fresh mountains of the Khasi Hills must have reminded the officials of the British Raj of “Highlands” and they named Meghalaya as the Scotland of the east.

Shillong has a long colonial past. It’s a delight to unearth the old-world charm of the city on a bracing wintry walk. After a light drizzle, the city looks green, fresh and wet. Steep streets wind past the stone wall of colonial bungalows; coniferous trees and flowering bushes sooth your eyes at every turn.  

Low and sprawling, with wooden frames and corrugated tin roofs, these traditional “Assamese” houses perfectly suit the wet climate. Though the relentless march of urbanisation goes on at the fringe, city’s trove of heritage buildings, parks and lakes create a timeless illusion of the good old days.

Cathedral of Mary, manicured lady Hyderi park and elephant waterfalls dot the landscape of the city. The state is dominated by Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes. But there is a sizable population of Bengalis from Sylhet district of Bangladesh and Assamese reside here peacefully.

Khasi is the official language written in English script. For an outsider, the messages on hoardings often baffle them as they could read the line but fail to understand the meaning.

Cheerapunji and Mawsynram share the crown of the wettest place on the earth with a staggering 12 meters of rainfall every year.  While trudging up the winding roads of Cheerapunji, soak in the panorama of velvety- green hills cradling deep, mist-obscured valleys, which explode into spectacular waterfalls called Seven Sister falls when the rains come down.  The neatly kept traditional Khasi houses line the quiet roads with curious children peeping out from the windows.  On the way to Mowsmai caves, the row of monoliths stands tall to share the glorious past of the land.

There is a certain neatness to the entire state. It is said that Khasis as a culture take pride in being immaculately neat and clean. And it is no coincidence that Mawlynnong is South East Asia’s cleanest village and it is located in Khasi Hill district.

The abode of clouds is inviting you to drape its pristine beauty. Come and get enthralled.


The Scotland Of East



 Old Charm Is Still Alive

Traditional Khasi Attire

Cheerapunji

Khasi Home

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