Best of Meghalaya
Best of Meghalaya
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Day 1
Arrival Guwahati Arrival into Guwahati Airport and the transfer to the hotel will be arranged for you. You will be booked at the Taj Guwahati or similar for a stay of 1 night. Dinner will be at the hotel
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Day 2
Guwahati to Shillong After breakfast, check out by 8 am, and transfer from Guwahati to Umden. Drive duration is 2hrs 30mins with a stop at Nongpoh to refresh.Spend a few hours with the local women who are still practising rearing and spinning of indigenous Eri silk yarn also known as ahimsa silk. You will get to try your hand at flattening the cocoons for spinning, watching a hand spinning and natural dyeing workshop. Please note the drive is partially over road that is in poor condition. A local lunch and then a visit to their co- operative shop ends this experience. Continue towards Shillong (drive duration 2 hours) and check into the hotel by early evening refresh. Dinner will be at a local café or restaurant You will be booked at the Hotel Windermere Shillong or similar for a stay of 2 nights.
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Day 3
Shillong Morning after breakfast set out for the day by 9 am. First visit the Don Bosco Museum focussing on local indigenous people and culture. Enjoy the sky walk here too to get a bird’s eye view of the city. Then visit the Cathedral and All saint’s church. The latter is one of the oldest churches in Shillong and a great example of colonial Assam type architecture in the north east. Today the lunch will be at a private residence. Visit the home of a food enthusiast where we have arranged for you to sample a glass of local fruit wine and enjoy a home-cooked delicious meal, best described as a contemporary twist to traditional Khasi cuisine while you interact with your hosts. Afternoon visit the grounds where the antiquated game of teer (local archery) is held and join the locals to place your bets. Please don’t disturb the archers while their game is on. Later a guided walk-through bara bazaar and police bazaar. Bara bazaar is one of the oldest and biggest open flea market in the region that attracts local farmers and cottage industry enterprises. Tonight, we will dine in one of the small Jadoh shops (these are little restaurants set up by local women who are addressed as kong, meaning elder sister) Overnight in Shillong.
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Day 4 - Shillong – Shnongpdeng – Mawlynnong - Cherrapunjee
Check out early this morning or a packed breakfast, and drive towards the border of Bangladesh to Shnongpdeng village. (approx. 3 hours) Near this village flows the crystal-clear waters of the Umgot river. Enjoy a traditional boat ride here, followed by a zip lining experience and a simple lunch. From here we make our way towards the lovely village of Mawlynnong, considered as the cleanest village in Asia. We will take a quick walk around the village and have a cup of tea. Finally, we drive towards Cherrapunjee (approx. 2 ½ hours). Check in at the hotel and relax. You will be booked at the Jiva Resort or similar for a stay of 3 nights. Dinner and overnight at the property.
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Day 5 – Cherrapunjee
Start out after breakfast by 8.30 AM for the trek to the famed double root bridge near Nongriat. Total duration ( both ways) 4hs 30 mins -5 hours. A snack will be provided. Please note the trek is moderate up and down hill but it is over many stone steps and hard on the knees. For those with knee issues please consider this. For those who are unable to do the trek, we will arrange for a guide to meet you at the hotel to see the local market and some of the sights around. You will then proceed towards Laitkynsew or mot village and do a short walk to the Umkar root bridge located here. It will transport you to the fairy tale land of the Grimm brothers. Spend some time exploring it. Lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant or hotel near here so that both groups can meet and have lunch together. Afterwards have lunch in a local restaurant. Post lunch, we will visit the Welsh missionary settlement and watch the sunset over famed Nohkalikai waterfalls. There is a sad tale behind the name given to the tallest plunge waterfall in India, listen to the story there. Evening relax at the property. Performance by a local band in the evening. The living roots bridges are human ingenious created using the roots of the Indian rubber tree to create bridges across the cliff side for easy access which are now over 100 years old. Good walking shoes are a must, carry a waterproof jacket too and a light change, water bottle in a back pack. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
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Day 6-Cherrapunjee – Mawkma – Cherrapunjee
In the morning we drive towards the village of Mawkma (apprx 45 mins) to enjoy and explore the various pristine waterbodies around here. This will truly allow you get a feel for this wonderful state. We have chosen a lesser known but very scenic spot for you. Take a dip in the crystal-clear natural water pools or under a waterfall with a life jacket. A simple lunch will be prepared for you near one of the spots while you relax, swim or just soak in the place. Post lunch we spend an hour exploring Arwah caves, again a destination with fewer footfalls, interesting fossils and the walk to the entrance is definitely the highlight. Evening enjoy sunset overlooking the lights in Bangladesh that lies below in the plains. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
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Day 7 -Cherrapunjee – Mawphalang - Umiam lake
After breakfast, check out and drive to Umiam lake, with a stop at Mawphlang to visit the Mawphlang secret grove ( approx. 1 hour 4 5mins) Spend about an hour and a half exploring the forest that is so enchanting, with its rich variety of exotic flora, which has a great significance here. Please note nothing can be taken out of the forest and we request you to abide by this sentiment. Enjoy lunch in a tiny local restaurant run by locals or a private home here before you continue towards Umiam lake. Check into the hotel by tea time and watch the sun set over the lake. You will be booked at the lovely Ri Kynjai hotel (Forest view) for a stay of 2 nights.
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Day 8 -Umiam lake – Mairang – Umiam lake
After breakfast, drive an hour to Kylan rock for mild trekking as your guide will explain the local folklore attached to the rock. You will also visit Khudoi waterfalls. Both destinations are off beat and away from the usual tourist map but very scenic. Have lunch in a local restaurant in Mairang before returning back to the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure. We recommend you go for a short walk to the water’s edge through the pine trees or visit the park near the lake where sometimes water sport activities are offered. (optional) Overnight and farewell dinner at the hotel
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Day 9 -Umiam lake - Guwahati airport
Check out after breakfast and drive down to Guwahati (approx. 4 hours). We depart at 9 AM to Guwahati airport. (all flights to be booked post 3 pm) ** Return home with wonderful memories **