Cherrapunji
Overview
Attractions in Cherrapunji
Double Decker Living Root Bridge
Nohkalikai Waterfalls
Mawsmai Cave
Nongsawlia Presbyterian
Cherapunjee is in the State of Meghalaya in North East India. It is about 55 km from the capital city of Shillong. The heavy rainfall is caused due to the location; Cherapunjee is located on the Shillong plateau's southern edge. Monsoon-drenched air soars above the southern slope and cools rapidly, discharging huge amounts of condensed water.
The Landscape is spectacular. Meghalaya as a whole is a wondrous state with its undulating lowlands. In Cherapunji, the land suddenly becomes thickly forested with lush valleys full of waterfalls. The valley goes down sharply towards the planes of Bangladesh.
The route to take to get to Cherapunjee is Guwahati to Shillong and then onwards to your destination. A well-constructed four-lane highway connects Guwahati, Shillong, and Cherrapunji. It is a comfortable five-hour drive. Several taxi operators can drive you from Shillong to Cherrapunji.
The people in Cherapunjee are from the Khasi tribe, an indigenous ethnic group found in Assam and parts of Bangladesh. Most modern Khasis practice Christianity and follow matrilinear customs and traditions. The men take on the surname of their mothers and move in with their wife's family after marriage. Family homes and wealth are also inherited by the women of the family rather than the men. The youngest daughter is expected to take care of the family
A friendly people, the Khasis in the region are known for their love of music and dance. Flutes, wooden pipes, guitars, and metal cymbals are played during celebrations. They are resilient and try to work with the natural conditions that they live in.
The food of the region is based on what is available locally. There is a lot of rice, pork, and dried fish in their meals. A popular dish is a yellow-rice dish called "Jadot." It is made of red rice cooked with pork and a mixture of onions, green chilies, black pepper, and turmeric. An everyday meal eaten by the peasants is "Tungrymbai," made of fermented soya beans, pork, onions, black sesame, and ginger. The mixture is cooked and simmered for a long time to deepen the rich flavors and texture
Cherapunji is a nature lover's paradise. There are lush forests and cascading waterfalls to explore. It is the perfect place for a hike and a photographer's delight, with surprises around every bend and turn. The most wondrous sights are the Living Root Bridges, some of which are several centuries old. These clever structures are created by threading the rubber tree's roots found on the riverbanks into the hollow canes of the Areca nut palm and guiding them towards the opposite bank. After years of tending, the roots grow long and strong. The people then carefully connect these overgrown roots to the roots of trees on the other side. The structures form bridges that the local people use to cross the river, which get swollen and dangerous during the incessant rains.
Cherapunji, with its unique geographic features, is a perfect destination for adventure activities. Zip-lining is very popular with tourists. You can zip line at over 1200 feet and enjoy the splendorous vies of magnificent hills and verdant valleys. Nature camping amongst the greenery and rippling waterfalls is also a unique experience. You can stargaze at night through the dense foliage.
Cherapunji is truly a unique destination and should be on every serious traveller's must-do list.
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