We got up refreshed after a fitful sleep, breakfast was complimentary with the regular breakfast items, poori with chole curry was very appetizing and we relished the tasty fresh fruits, bread, butter and omelet with hot coffee and tea
We then started for elephant falls located about 12 km away at the out skirts of upper Shillong .
The original Khasi name for the falls translates to "the three-step waterfall" still used locally. The name originated in the British era when the Englishmen spotted a giant rock that looked like an elephant near the fall. Unfortunately this rock was destroyed in 1897 due to an earthquake.
Very near the entrance was a stall with costumes and jewelry of the local Khasi people, on paying some amount one can hire and don them with the help of volunteers there, my sportive hubby was at their desk even before I blinked my eyes and bingo there we were posing for the photos, very healthy looking Khasi couple indeed ,L.O.L!
We started to descend the steps and lo behold I found a sign board saying PM Modiji had once visited these falls and of course I had to get a snap with Modiji even if it was just his photo .
The first fall of Elephant Falls with 30 steps is an example of a horsetail-punchbowl waterfall and was very broad and quite hidden among trees, the second fall looked as small as a puddle and in the winters and drier months is said to look inconsequential.
Going down the steps I noticed a quaint dust bin made of bamboo, people in Meghalaya are good in conservation and recycling and we could see lot of boards urging people to save the mother earth
The third fall was the tallest, has 30 to 40 steps , came into view suddenly and was a beautiful sight to behold with the sun rays reflecting on the crystal clear water falling over the sharp rocks, its sides bordered by lush green ferns.
The third level was quite deep and the steep, slippery flight of stairs was wet due to people stepping into the water, using the steps to climb back and was difficult to navigate, however each level of the fall were facilitated with benches to rest and relax.
It was worth going down as we could see the water cascading down and collecting at the bottom forming a small pool which had few ducks swimming and cavorting and busy discussing among themselves why all these stupid people huff and puff up and down the falls everyday
Our next visit was to Cherrapunjee also called Sohra in east Khasi hills district the place once said to be the wettest point in the world and is now replaced by Mawsynram which holds that distinction. Sohra still holds the all-time record for the most rainfall in a calendar month and in a year, I still hold fond memories of that place as we unfailingly got a MCQ on Cherrapunjee in school days.
We stopped at the famous Duwan Sing Syiem view point on the Duwan Singh Syiem bridge known for its waterfalls, caves and viewpoints, it forms the entrance to Cherrapunjee tourist circuit
There were beautiful Khasi ladies cheerfully sitting and selling hot corn, their cheeks red with the cold winds blowing, we went down a few steps and lo behold a scenic panorama unfolded before our stunned eyes
The V shaped wavy green hills and valleys, the dense forests, the meandering falls and rivers make this view point a spectacular site and I felt as if we are about to step into the heavens, Meghalaya has that peaceful beauty with its serene surroundings
To our shock we were stopped by a tiny but fierce looking lady carrying a tiny infant in a sling who demanded that we buy tickets to go down further down the steps
We of course bought the tickets and went down and had good views of the hills around us, we could hear a faint sound of a waterfall and were told that if we climbed down a little more we would reach the waterfall but I suddenly remembered the theory of what goes down has to come up and wisely decided to stop and just look around the pristine mountain views which were breath taking ,we could see people deftly slipping down the mountain slopes on zip lines
Quite a lot of local girls obviously on a picnic were taking snaps in their traditional outfits and of course I had to take one with a charming girl
There were a few small shops and a cafeteria opposite the viewpoint where the visitors can partake tea & snacks and purchase wooden show pieces and local handicrafts.
Our next visit was to the Nohkalikai falls which is 1115ft tallest plunge waterfall in India .These falls are fed by the rainwater collected on the summit of a comparatively small plateau, as we had gone in January the falls were not heavy but scenic
The falls collected into a plunge pool with water of an unusual shade of green, one can trek down to the pool but the route is not very well maintained,
The view of the water fall was stupendous ,we felt as if we were viewing a tall sky scraper made by the mighty nature
We stopped to buy some condiments which were in plenty, I was stunned to see huge pieces of cinnamon
Local legend exists about a woman named Ka Likai a widow who was left with an infant daughter, Ka Likai married a second time for the sake of her daughter but her 2nd husband conceived an intense hatred for his little stepdaughter, and killed the infant in cold blood and cooked her flesh and served to the poor mother who was so famished from her labours that she fell upon the dish of cooked meat and ate it till she was satiated
Realising what had happened in her absence, she finally ran right off the edge of the plateau, plunging to her death, the waterfall from which she leaped was named Nohkalikai Falls as a grim reminder of the tragedy that had befallen the unfortunate Ka Lika, it was sad to learn about this gory tale
We next visited the Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, started almost 90 years back between Sohra Bazaar & Nohkalikai Falls area ,it is worth a visit to see the excellent work being done for propagating education and culture in the North Eastern parts of India
The museum was very well maintained and depicted the cultures of local tribes through models and artefacts, a school was being run, there was a large playground, and a modest temple built in memory of Shri Ramakrishna ,I always find Ramakrishna Ashrams very peaceful with their meditation halls ideal for offering prayers.
The food was wholesome and hygienically served and the women were very warm and liberal with the servings ,the wash rooms were cleanly maintained , it was there that I learnt the term Khublei a greeting in Khasi, literally meaning ‘God Bless’
Cherrapunji is home to more than 200 caves and we decided to include the Mawsmai Cave in our itinerary.
We were just entering the caves when we met a couple speaking in telugu, guessing we are also telugu people, the man told us that the cave may prove difficult for us to go through, his wife was wearing stilettos and so I thought no wonder they couldn’t ,for trekking either in hills or cave exploring one has to wear sturdy shoes
Once we bought the entry ticket we walked through a walkway, the entrance was quite big, the cave is formed out of limestone and features stalactites and stalagmites, the journey in the caves is a thrilling experience for those with an interest in geology.
While the caves are quite large for the most part, they are dark in certain places and there are also spots where we need to squeeze and crawl through crevices.
While returning we stopped at the Seven Sisters Waterfall, Nohsngithiang, named after the 7-sister states .it is said to tumble down the Khasi lime stone hills and segment into 7 streams that all cascade together to create a magical sight, the waterfalls are at their best during the monsoons when the flow of water is stronger, we could see only a trickle of the water and the cliffs around looked rather forlorn without their mighty falls
By the time we returned to Shillong , it was getting dark but I desperately wanted to see the cathedral of Mary Help of Christians which is the earliest Catholic Cathedral church, it is a blue and high-arched cathedral
One in three people in Meghalaya are Catholic so all through the day and stay we could hear church bells lending this otherwise chaotic city a feeling of harmony and peace. As per 2011 census, Christianity is the dominant religion in the city, followed by Hinduism and Islam
We had to climb up a short stretch of steps to reach the quaint architectural beauty, the church is built in the Gothic style and has intricate architecture, it exuded a warm, welcoming spirit and its stained glass windows shone in the dark.
Tired but peace fully restored I went back to my hotel to rest for another day to tour
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