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It was a nice night in the tent. Hearing the clouds thunder and the light shower at the night. But is must be awesome to be in the tent when the thunder storms pour in full flow. woke up at 6 am and got myself ready for the trek. Kept all my things at the Resort owner's office and Ride down past the Mawshamok village and took a left instead of heading towards Cherrapunjee. There my guide for the day Wessley Majaw was waiting for me. Parked the bike at a house he suggested. I had the map for the trek and prolly could have managed on my own. But i had read in forums about people loosing way. So Thought would go with the guide any way and also i can get pictures of me taken :D.
Wesely a very polite and humble 18 year old who has the dreams of the world and responsibility of 8 younger siblings. Passionate about his village, language. It was nice talk he had in the 5 hours of trek. Coming back we started of with a small walk on the road and then it was climbing down the steps all the way to the bottem of the valley. Half of it were of cement passing through the hilly villages, the peole of which have only the steps to connect with the outer world physically. Quite some development happening here. After more than half hour of climbing down steps then its turn of crud uneven stone steps which again descended to eternity. I never thought one could get tired of climbing down stairs. And here i was with hurting legs just with the climb down. And every step down have to go up later as well. Wonder how am i going to get up all the way back. Finally we reached the bottom of the valley. Have to cross a couple of big streams. No need to get wet there are couple of Wire bridges to cross. Prolly i would have been shit scared to walk on them but the with Wesley around who was sure of the bridge, went along and took some pix and posed as well. Wesley says in rainy season the water level comes almos to the bridge and its very scary walking with gushing water below. Guess all the scares of the place are mainly for rainy season when the path is slippery adding to the adventure. But right now is sunny and dry and trek is normal but for normal tiring. After two swaying wire bridges there it is the living root bridge. A smaller one across a big stream. Its fascinating how these locals plan ahead for these bridges which takes 10 to 15 years to engineer. couple of pix and we have to move ahead a lil and there it is the Double Decker root bridge the highlight of the trek. So soon i thought and i still not yet panting! Well i again i guess all this is reasonably ok when things are dry. None the less the this huge double Decker is very impressing and imposing. Has pretty clear stream going under. Could have taken a bath there but for couple of local women washing cloths there. Any way take lot of pix and go a little ahead in the trek path cross another wire bridge and look at the river path. Water a bit too deep for a non swimmer. So will be heading back now. Cross the root bridge and stop for a cool drink at a 4 room hotel in middle of the forest with a modest charge of 200. There were this couple from canada staying there from 3 weeks! Wonder how people from across the seas find these remote places. Geting back to the base of the valley already tired and no have the daunting climb of thousands of steps. Will take a couple of hours to go up and its nothing but steps and steps. Take rest very few steps and Wesley says i am going with medium speed and too slow either. We do the lazy climb, Wesley translates phrases in different dialects of the Khasi language. Huffing and puffing i reach the top, bid bye to Wesley and ride my bike back to the resort and took a detour to a view point before that. It was nice ride thourgh the forest opening up on the valley ridge. There was this long walk way along the ridge and no soul around. Was really tired and got back tot he resort.
With lot of questions as to now what ordered for lunch and caught a power nap on the table! was told i could use the tent for some more time to rest before i leave. After lunch i dive into the tent and nap away. Woke up only by 2.30 quite tired. Strangely i feel the calf muscles hurting more! The muscles coming into play while climbing down! with less energy i collect myself and its almost 3.30 when i start. A pretty slow ride and have to negotiate the road construction patch as well. Out at Cherra and its already 4.30 Have to get to shillong before night fall. Thought of checking out couple of local attractions before i leave. Not sure when i will come back here. First i went towards Mawsmai cave. Finding my way in the streets of Cherrapunjee villages, get to the entrance and ask an old lady in the shop to watch over my bike. Its supposed to be a quick 10 mis in the 150 meter cave. With my tank bag in hand i enter and its quite narrow and wet had to squeeze through some places. There was this big family with to petrified kids and they were taking eternity to console the kids and take them ahead. I was running out of day light and quit the walk and went out. Hopped on my bike and went towards Nohkalikai falls. After a couple of deviations from the main Cherrapunjee town. The road opens up to a fantastic path with the light green shallow hills on either side and pretty undulating. By now it was getting pretty windy and temperature dropping. Again quite a strange place and wanted to spend some time along the way but cant. Reach the view point and it was neatly barrierd enough not to give full view of the falls. A few steps after paying the toll, there is very dramatic thin falls falling for quite a height as if from a big tap! Here the valley wall is vertical through a gap of which the falls well falls!
Got back on the saddle for a scurrying ride to Shillong. Very little daylight left. It was pretty cold and all my gear was tucked deep in the luggage. Opening it means loosing more time. Put on the easy assisible rain jacket and some cotton in the ears, started riding and again the ride along the valley ridge was amazing in the evening lights. Just that is was more uncomfortable now. Leave the valley just as the night breaks and my HID's on to full glory. Reached the city and after some asking around for Laitumkhrah found the Yalana hotel and pretty happy with the parking went in for a room hope for a crash. But no rooms and was suggested a hotel nearby Prakash Hotel Quite dingy. Was looking forward for a comfy room but thought of trying out some where else. Over fone asked for room at another hotel on reaching there in the busiest street of Shillong GS road there is not private parking and have to park on the busy street!. With no choice rode back to Prakash hotel, but not before taking a wrong turn and wander away from the city climbing down a dark road with no exits and no people, no lights etc. Now have to do some planning tomm..
Again strangely i did not find Cherrapunjee photogenic or i was not able to take bettors pictures. Though the environment and ambiance around look very very dramatic on the eye when ever i frame a picture, it felt nothing special to look at. Was more and more inspired by the places around and same time frustrated not being able to capture the true image around. May be its just me but would really suggest visiting Cherrapunjee and all i can say is its very different, strange and awesome compared to other places one has traveled.
Wesely a very polite and humble 18 year old who has the dreams of the world and responsibility of 8 younger siblings. Passionate about his village, language. It was nice talk he had in the 5 hours of trek. Coming back we started of with a small walk on the road and then it was climbing down the steps all the way to the bottem of the valley. Half of it were of cement passing through the hilly villages, the peole of which have only the steps to connect with the outer world physically. Quite some development happening here. After more than half hour of climbing down steps then its turn of crud uneven stone steps which again descended to eternity. I never thought one could get tired of climbing down stairs. And here i was with hurting legs just with the climb down. And every step down have to go up later as well. Wonder how am i going to get up all the way back. Finally we reached the bottom of the valley. Have to cross a couple of big streams. No need to get wet there are couple of Wire bridges to cross. Prolly i would have been shit scared to walk on them but the with Wesley around who was sure of the bridge, went along and took some pix and posed as well. Wesley says in rainy season the water level comes almos to the bridge and its very scary walking with gushing water below. Guess all the scares of the place are mainly for rainy season when the path is slippery adding to the adventure. But right now is sunny and dry and trek is normal but for normal tiring. After two swaying wire bridges there it is the living root bridge. A smaller one across a big stream. Its fascinating how these locals plan ahead for these bridges which takes 10 to 15 years to engineer. couple of pix and we have to move ahead a lil and there it is the Double Decker root bridge the highlight of the trek. So soon i thought and i still not yet panting! Well i again i guess all this is reasonably ok when things are dry. None the less the this huge double Decker is very impressing and imposing. Has pretty clear stream going under. Could have taken a bath there but for couple of local women washing cloths there. Any way take lot of pix and go a little ahead in the trek path cross another wire bridge and look at the river path. Water a bit too deep for a non swimmer. So will be heading back now. Cross the root bridge and stop for a cool drink at a 4 room hotel in middle of the forest with a modest charge of 200. There were this couple from canada staying there from 3 weeks! Wonder how people from across the seas find these remote places. Geting back to the base of the valley already tired and no have the daunting climb of thousands of steps. Will take a couple of hours to go up and its nothing but steps and steps. Take rest very few steps and Wesley says i am going with medium speed and too slow either. We do the lazy climb, Wesley translates phrases in different dialects of the Khasi language. Huffing and puffing i reach the top, bid bye to Wesley and ride my bike back to the resort and took a detour to a view point before that. It was nice ride thourgh the forest opening up on the valley ridge. There was this long walk way along the ridge and no soul around. Was really tired and got back tot he resort.
With lot of questions as to now what ordered for lunch and caught a power nap on the table! was told i could use the tent for some more time to rest before i leave. After lunch i dive into the tent and nap away. Woke up only by 2.30 quite tired. Strangely i feel the calf muscles hurting more! The muscles coming into play while climbing down! with less energy i collect myself and its almost 3.30 when i start. A pretty slow ride and have to negotiate the road construction patch as well. Out at Cherra and its already 4.30 Have to get to shillong before night fall. Thought of checking out couple of local attractions before i leave. Not sure when i will come back here. First i went towards Mawsmai cave. Finding my way in the streets of Cherrapunjee villages, get to the entrance and ask an old lady in the shop to watch over my bike. Its supposed to be a quick 10 mis in the 150 meter cave. With my tank bag in hand i enter and its quite narrow and wet had to squeeze through some places. There was this big family with to petrified kids and they were taking eternity to console the kids and take them ahead. I was running out of day light and quit the walk and went out. Hopped on my bike and went towards Nohkalikai falls. After a couple of deviations from the main Cherrapunjee town. The road opens up to a fantastic path with the light green shallow hills on either side and pretty undulating. By now it was getting pretty windy and temperature dropping. Again quite a strange place and wanted to spend some time along the way but cant. Reach the view point and it was neatly barrierd enough not to give full view of the falls. A few steps after paying the toll, there is very dramatic thin falls falling for quite a height as if from a big tap! Here the valley wall is vertical through a gap of which the falls well falls!
Got back on the saddle for a scurrying ride to Shillong. Very little daylight left. It was pretty cold and all my gear was tucked deep in the luggage. Opening it means loosing more time. Put on the easy assisible rain jacket and some cotton in the ears, started riding and again the ride along the valley ridge was amazing in the evening lights. Just that is was more uncomfortable now. Leave the valley just as the night breaks and my HID's on to full glory. Reached the city and after some asking around for Laitumkhrah found the Yalana hotel and pretty happy with the parking went in for a room hope for a crash. But no rooms and was suggested a hotel nearby Prakash Hotel Quite dingy. Was looking forward for a comfy room but thought of trying out some where else. Over fone asked for room at another hotel on reaching there in the busiest street of Shillong GS road there is not private parking and have to park on the busy street!. With no choice rode back to Prakash hotel, but not before taking a wrong turn and wander away from the city climbing down a dark road with no exits and no people, no lights etc. Now have to do some planning tomm..
Again strangely i did not find Cherrapunjee photogenic or i was not able to take bettors pictures. Though the environment and ambiance around look very very dramatic on the eye when ever i frame a picture, it felt nothing special to look at. Was more and more inspired by the places around and same time frustrated not being able to capture the true image around. May be its just me but would really suggest visiting Cherrapunjee and all i can say is its very different, strange and awesome compared to other places one has traveled.
Me in the tent in the morning...
Din know there was a towel above till i took this pic..
This is my guide Wesley Manjav...
So we climb down now...
More and more steps...
The first of the wire bridge...
Weslay on the bridge..
Water under the bridge...
The Next bridge...
More water under the foot...
People use this for their daily business...
Me posing..
The first of the root bridge...
Now me on it...
The gaps are closed with stones and mud...
Now at the famous Double Decker root bridge...
Me on both the bridges..
From the other side...
A lil more ahead to look at the point of swim...
Din really feel like swimming there, being non swimmer...
some macro on the way back...
The village houses...
Ihe tough never ending climb up the valley....
Yeah i am all drained and just about carrying myself up...
A pretty church at the end of the climb...
At the view point detour parking lot...
Valley from across the Mawshamok village...
Way to Eco park which i did not visit due to lack of time...
The Mawsmai cave...
Some monoliths welcoming to the cave
The beautiful grassy hills along the way to Nohkalikai falls.
Me at the falls...
The fantastic Nohkalikai falls...
Some cloud play along the way...
3 comments:
Is that a Jackfruit tree near that bridge?? man its fully ripe and nobody bothered to pick! Strange..!! :D
Praveen,
I'm glad you came to our hills for your bike adventure. However, during your travels, many places have names that are unfamiliar to you. I have the correct spellings of some places you visited. Please do take the time to correct them.
Moshomok = Mawshamok
Nokhakali = Nohkalikai
Lyithumkrah = Laitumkhrah
Khassi = Khasi
All the best in your travels and I'm very happy to read your blog!
Take Care,
ZoLa,
Shillong.
Arun: Sure it is :P
Zola: Thanks for checking out my blog. It was fantastic days in Meghalaya. I apologize for the spelling mistakes. I have corrected them as you suggested. Glad that you dropped in.
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