Top 15 Places to Visit in Cherrapunji

All that talk of a wet monsoon will disappear when you visit Mawsynram, a village that's so wet that you'll have to keep changing clothes twice a day. Just kidding, though. Mawsynram is about 150 km from Guwahati by road and is surrounded by waterfalls within a 20km radius. The four most important — Mawsmai Falls, Cherapunjee, Nohkalikai, and Mawlyngbna can all be visited in one day itself. Planning a trip to Cherrapunji means booking your flights in advance — with InterMiles, you're covered. And even better, you earn miles on every booking, which you can redeem on your next trip.

Unless you're under five years of physical age (mental age is another problem entirely), you cannot go zip lining in the Mawkdok Dympep Valley. This valley is quite a lot like a parapet carved into the mystical Khasi hills, and is a major crowd puller. We suggest driving up to Mawkdok — in the monsoons, the fog is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Clearly, it is one of the best places to visit in Cherrapunji.

Cherrapunji is like a diorama of sorts. Like a thermocline, it provides a natural shield to a number of rare plants, animals and weather phenomena. It’s home to several waterfalls and orchards. And, it’s close to the Bangladesh border, which makes it a protected zone. In order to highlight the natural beauty of this state and to promote tourism, the Meghalaya state government has created an ecological retreat wherein one can get to know all of the mountain kingdom’s innermost secrets. It’s a great place to see in Cherrapunji with your family because along with natural beauty, it offers the right mix of science and history.

A visit to the Wakaba Falls makes for a special experience. Once you reach the head of the fall, you need to trek down a dangerous, 400-step stairwell which takes you all the way to the base of the waterfall. Wakaba is a cascading waterfall, meaning that instead of one, there are two gushing streams of water, one halfway down the descent, and the other, all the way at the bottom. It’s best visited in the monsoons, and this makes it to our list of the best places to visit in Cherrapunji.

Also Read: Best Time to Visit Cherrapunji in 2020 - Know Season, Climate & Weather

Dawki is on the Indo-Bangladesh border, and this precariously-located village is home to surprisingly calm environs. Angling and river boating are the most popular things to do. You can also go trekking, swimming and try your hand at landscape photography. Of course, you should not miss the fish snacks at the local market – this is a fishing town, remember, and that makes it one of the most relaxing places to visit in Cherrapunji.

Nongsawlia’s Presbyterian Church was built in 1848, and that alone makes it a historical treasure. It was built by Welsh missionaries during the British days, and is one of the very small number of British-era buildings still intact today. The church is quite close to the Cherrapunji post office, so we recommend walking down to the revered structure on a bright, sunny Sunday. Churches are always pretty, and this one makes for one of the best places to visit in Cherrapunji.

A 50-km drive from Cherrapunji reveals yet another surprise – Mawphlang. Part fairyland, part jungle-kingdom and very much a part of tribal history, Mawphlang was at one time a sprawling jungle kingdom which the people still protect with their lives. It’s a virgin piece of forest that is home to archaeological and ecological wonders, some thousands of years old. You will need permission from the local tourism authorities and a tribal guide to accompany you. Pack food, water and a good camera to make the most of one of the best tourist places in Cherrapunji

Laitkynsew is a bird-watcher’s paradise because it is the intersection point of a number of natural formations. From here, you can observe thousands of different species of birds, both native and migrant. The trek is steep, and the weather is at times treacherous (if you risk it in the monsoons), but the view is worth it. You’ll feel like Simba from Lion King when he sees the entire forest from his mountain throne. A number of eco-resorts organize birding tours, and to check into one, visit intermiles.com.

Khasi myths are full of spirits and demons felled by the bravery of tribal warriors. One such example is Kho Ramhah, which is a cone-shaped rock formation in Sohra, 10km from the Cherrapunji township. Legend has it that the rock imprisons an evil spirit, and anyone touching that rock will immediately be possessed by that spirit. That, and the spellbinding view from the rock face, makes Kho Ramhah one of the best places to visit near Cherrapunji.

Did you know that Asia’s cleanest village is near Cherrapunji? Mawlynnong, a tiny hamlet nestled in the craggy peaks of the Khasi range is famous for its almost-insane levels of hygiene. Smoking and plastic use isn’t allowed, and all the waste is collected in bamboo bins, which is then used for manure. Sewage is treated naturally, and that’s why the village is so spotlessly clean that you can walk barefoot without worrying about your feet getting dirty. Mawlynnong is one of the best tourist spots in the Cherrapunji area.

Today, we talk about sustainable living and green architecture as if they were new, but for the Khasi tribe, it’s a way of life. For thousands of years, they have been cultivating what is called a root bridge, by pruning the roots of a certain tree in a way that it became a load-bearing structure. Amazingly, the thousand-year-old bridge gets stronger day-by-day. The living bridge is approached via a narrow steel bridge. You have to watch your step here. Oh, and yes, if you’re planning a visit to these green structures, how about checking into one of the best resorts in the area. With InterMiles, all you need to do is to log in, make a booking, and start earning miles on every purchase made. The miles can be used to pay for your fuel, flights, hotel stays and for purchases made at the InterMiles store at InterMiles.com.

The Dainthlen Waterfalls, which translates to 'python' in Khasi, is at a 12km-long drive from the city center. According to an old legend, a huge python wreaked havoc in the nearby villages, when some brave men caught and killed it with a stone. That place is at the head of the waterfall. This natural formation can be approached by foot —you can even step into the water at some points along the shore. It's one of the lesser-known tourist places of Cherrapunji.

The Mawsmai Cave well is a small portion of a 750-km-long cave system that runs across three mountain ranges and two states. The Meghalayan cave systems are considered to be some of the longest in the world, and one of the first to be discovered is Maswmai. At Mawsmai, you will get to see an attractive arrangement of fossil designs on the cave walls — be careful where you step because the limestone cave is pitch-dark in some places. You will need a good day's rest after exploring the rugged caves. How about checking into a hotel via InterMiles? We have on our hotel platform a good selection of hotels, villas, BNBs, homestay, and more, and earn miles on your completed stays. With over 15 lakh partner outlets, InterMiles will cater to all your travel-related needs.

Krem means 'cave' in Khasi. Cave tourism is relatively new in Meghalaya, so chances of you being one of the few chosen ones to descend into one of the longest caves in the world are pretty good. It's quite like a tour, so you will need to wear good shoes, carry a torch and stay with the group. You also need to find the right cave guide, because exploring a limestone cave requires a working knowledge of geology and archaeology.

The Nohkalikai Falls, located at a height of 355 meters, also happens to be the fourth highest of its kind in the world. It feeds a number of rivers and is considered the most important source of water in the state of Meghalaya. While trekking up to this cascading beauty, watch out for slippery rocks. And, once done, don’t skip a visit to the Bada Bazar in the evening, where you can buy handmade tribal handicraft items. Nohkalikai happens to be one of the most sought-after places to visit in Cherrapunji.

So, now that you know that best places to explore on your trip to one of the destinations that receives the maximum rainfall in the world, visit InterMiles.com and start booking your flights and hotels today and make your trip memorable, comfortable and rewarding.

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