WISDOM

Tawang Monastery | An Incredible Place of Peace and Solitude

2022-12-31T23:59:00.010+06:00

A magical charm is always present in every village situated in the valleys of the Himalayas. As the frosty wind sweeps over the snow-covered villages, an unearthly atmosphere created takes the mind to eternity. Such a spectacular township situated in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh is known as Tawan. This city is well-known for its culture, history, and great aesthetic monasteries. Among the monasteries, Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery and is situated in the valley of the Tawang Chu.

Front view of Tawang Monastery

The full name of this ancient monastery is Tawang Galden Namgyal Lhatse. "Ta" means horse, and "wang" means chosen. Furthermore, "Gadan" means paradise, whereas "Namgyal" means complete victory. And "Lhatse" means divine. It is the Tibetan language, and the meaning of this monastery's full name is "A site chosen by the horse is the divine paradise of complete victory".

During 1680–1681, the monastery was laid the foundation stone by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso to fulfill the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso. The monastery has associated with the Gelug school of Vajrayana Buddhism and had a religious coalition with the Drepung Monastery of Lhasa up to British rule in India. Its main building is three stories high, and the area is enclosed by a long compound wall that is 925 feet high. There are 65 residential buildings within the complex for monks, students, and guests. The library of the monastery has rich with ancient scriptures like Kangyur and Tengyur.

Painting of Palden Lhamo

Ancient myths:

This monastery has several mythical stories. According to the first legend, the 5th Dalai Lama wished to establish a monastery, and the wish was assigned to Merag Lama Lodre Gyatso. So, he set out with his horse to find a perfect spot. After much searching, Merag Lama Lodre Gyatso could not find any suitable place and was too tired to walk. So, he went into a cave and prayed for a perfect place. When he came out of the cave, he found that his horse was not there. After a while, he saw that his horse grazed near an abandoned palace built by king Kala Wangpo on a hilltop. The place is known as Tana Mandekhang. He considered it a divine dictation and decided to establish the monastery there. Mera Lama established the monastery there in late 1681 with the help of the local people.

A second legend is associated with a Buddhist saint known as Terton Pema Lingpa. He was a treasure hunter at an early age and came newly built monastery to work. The young Lingpa was desperate to have found nothing and took shelter in this monastery. Day by day, he felt a great attraction to spiritual life and became a monk. One day two young travelers came into this monastery and wanted to initiate. Lingpa gave them proper initiation and named them "Tamdin" and "Wang" respectively. Thus, the place came to be known as Tawang.

The third legend revolves around the white horse of the Prince of Lhasa. This celestial horse attracted everyone towards him. One day people were searching for this horse and found it at the present location of the monastery. It was grazing at that time. Later then, the people of the Monpa region started to worship the horse as well as the location. Further continuing this practice, local people built the monastery.

The final legend talks about a female deity named Palden Lhamo. Apart from Lord Buddha, this monastery is also home to the goddess who is equivalent to the Hindu goddess Kali. Moreover, Palden Lhamo's appearance is also similar to devi Kali's. She has flaming eyes, and black is the color of her skin. She wears a dress made of tiger skin and has a garland of skulls around her neck. Like Lord Shiva, goddess Lhamo has a moon disc on the top of her head.

According to the myth, she used to live in Sri Lanka as the consort of a demon king. Although the king practiced human sacrifice, goddess Lhamo was against this evil act. So, she fled to Tawang from her kingdom and found peace in the non-violent principles of Lord Buddha.

A wise person in front of the Monastery

History:

In Tawang, the Naingmapa, known as the Black Hat sect of Buddhism, had been dominating the region long before the arrival of the Gelug sect of Buddhism. The Nyingmapa community could not accept the new influence of the Gelug community and regarded them as enemies. They even show hostility towards the founder, Mark Lama. Not only the Black Hat community but also the Drukpas community in Bhutan did not like the Gelug community. Moreover, the Drukpas sect had a close relationship with the Nyingmapa sect. So, it was the cherished dream of both communities to control and dominate the Gelug community as well as Tawang. Kppining in mind strategic location and defense point of view, Mark Lama built the monastery like a fortress structure.

Around the mid-eighteenth century, the East India Company had its greedy eyes on the monastery. The company took over the area and made two treaties with the Tawang Monastery in 1844. On 24 February 1844, the company charged an annual fee of Rs 5000 from the Monpas for the return of Karlapara Duar. The company then entered into a second deal known as ShardukPens on 28 May of the same year. In that agreement, the local people had to obey any orders of the British administration and paid an annual fee of 2,526 rupees and seven annas. To collect monastic contributions, officials used to travel the plainest paths of Assam. From 1874 to 1875, Pandit Nain Singh Rawat, an Indian explorer and trigonometrical surveyor, visited the monastery several times. He said that the monastery had a parliamentary administrative form known as Kato. It did not depend on the parliamentary Dijonpan (head of the gold monastery) and the Lhasa government. Chief lamas of this monastery were members of the parliament.

Before 1914, Tawang was under the control of Tibet. According to the Treaty of Shimla of 1913 to 1914, British Raj acquired the area. Moreover, Tibet had ceded some part of its territory with the whole Tawang region to the British Raj. Since then, it has become an integrity part of India. However, China which has captured the whole of Tibet claims that this area is a part of China. To occupy the area, China had declared war against India in 1962. On 20 October 1962, Chinese troops attacked the Indian army from the northeastern border. The Indian army had to retreat and Chinese forces had been occupying Tawang with the monastery for six months. Some people believe that the reason behind this aggression was different. When Chinese troops began occupying Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet in March 1959 to avoid genocide. First, he had come to Gorsam Chorten to take a short rest then he took shelter in the Tawang Monastery for a few days before proceeding to Tezpur. Despite the strong protest from china, the Dalai Lama visited Tawang Monastery after five decades. On 8 November 2009, he arrived at the monastery and received emotional greetings from the local people. The Tawang monastery also greeted him with much fanfare and adulation. He also visited Tawang Monastery in 2017. (He is a great soul, and only morons can protest against him. It is my personal opinion.)

This monastery is currently home to more than 500 monks. Today the monastery runs more than 17 gompas in the West Kameng district. Two independent dzongs known as Darana dzong and Sanglem dzong control the monastery. And each dzong is led by a head monk. Sanglem dzong, known as Telung gompa, was built in the early eighteenth century while Darana dzong was built in 1831. These dzongs mainly work to collect taxes and propagate Buddhism among the Monpa and Sherdukpen. Today the resident head of the monastery is Galsi Rinpoche. The monastery has huge cultivated land in different areas like Soma and Nerguit. Local farmers cultivate the land and share their harvest with the monastery.

Inside view of the Monastery

Architecture:

The entrance has a colorful gate structure known as Kakaling. Near the stone wall, this aesthetic gate has been built in the shape of a hut structure. There is a beautiful Kakaling feature mandala on the roof. And the interior walls have many paintings of deities and saints. The ninth mural of the guardian godhood of Bon religion is located in the southwest corner of the south wall. He is also known as the protector of the Tawang region. There is an open gate to the south of the main gate of Kakaling.

The northern wall gate that has two huge doors is the main entrance of this monastery. The outer wall length is around 925 feet and heights vary from 10 to 20 feet. Another massive gate is situated on the southern side of the monastery and has two giant doors. People believe that the 5th Dalai Lama gave a roll of thread to measure the exact area of this monastery.

This triple-storied monastery looks like a large mansion and has a large assembly hall, ten rooms for additional activities, and 65 residential quarters for students, Lamas, and monks. The monastery has a well-decorated school with a large center for studying Buddhist culture and has its water supply facility.

Ground floor of the monastery is used for different functions like special ritual dances. Many paintings of Thangkas Buddhist deities and saints have been decorated on walls. Curtains painted with Buddhist symbols have been pended from the balcony.

Dukhang built in the time of 1860 to 1861 is the main temple of the monastery. An 18 feet statue of Buddha situated on the northern face of the assembly hall is in a lotus position. This Buddha statue has been installed over a platform and extends up to the first floor. A special silver casket positioned next to the Buddha statue holds a thangka of the goddess Palden Lhamo, a guardian deity of the monastery. According to the myth, the running blood from the nose of the 5th Dalai Lama was used to draw the painting of Palden Lhamo’s thangka.

Library:

The monastery has a great collection of ancient scriptures like Gyetengpa, Doduipa, Mamtha, Kangyur, Tengyur, and Zungdui in its library situated on the second floor. However, termites have destroyed some precious scriptures. This monastery has its printing press. Special papers made by local people and wooden blocks are used for printing religious books.

Ritual Dance

Nuranang Falls | Jung Falls | Tawang | Arunachal Pradesh, India | All You Need To Know

2022-11-27T06:54:00.006+06:00

An elusive ambiance is always present near a waterfall where every wisp tells an incomparable story. And the falling water that has been from a complex system tries to enlighten everyone about its amazing peregrination which is so precious to fountain lovers.

Front view of Nuranang Falls

Nuranang Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in part of Arunachal Pradesh and is yet unknown to many travelers. This spectacular waterfall located 2 kilometers away from the small hill town of Jang of Tawang district is about 100 meters in height. As there is a small hydroelectric power plant for generating electricity, tourists are not allowed to enter some portions of this area.

Visitor is enjoying the falls

The waterfall's name came from a local Monpa tribe language (a girl named Nura). The place is emotionally significant for many people. According to legends, a wonderful dream had been woven between the local girl Nura and a brave rifleman Jaswant Sing Rawat awarded a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra during the battle time in 1962. At the time of the Sino-Indian war, Jaswant had been serving in the 4th Battalion, 4th Garhwal Rifles.

Due to the continuous attack by the Chinese forces, the higher authority of the Indian Army had wanted to retreat their troops from the position. But Jaswant Sing Rawat refused the command and decided to protect his motherland alone. Although his regiment had left him alone, he was not alone on the battlefield. The innocent girl Nura who had a dream to live a beautiful life with the soldier and her sister Sela had been raising their hands for him and played an incomparable role to protect their motherland. However, a war gives nothing but destruction. Like many wretched, their pathetic love story had not seen a happy ending due to the war. Local people say that Jaswant Sing Rawat had killed many Chinese soldiers before giving the ultimate sacrifice. Before the killing, Chinese forces had captured Nura where Sela had lost her life due to the grenade explosion on the battlefield.

Nuranang river

To show honor for her bravery, the state government of Arunachal Pradesh has chosen this name for the waterfall and the river.

Although the waterfall is renowned for its glorious name Nuranang, it also knowns as Jung Falls, Jang Falls or Bong Bong Falls.

The fall is situated at a height of 6000 ft above sea level and is dotted with lush green nature that can help you to soothe your mind. As the melting snow from Sela pass is the primary source of the waterfall, the winter season is the best time to visit the waterfall. During this time, the water level in the fall is in leaps and bounds.

Vertical view of Nuranang Falls

This spectacular place belongs to a restricted area. Therefore, visitors have to bring all legal documents. Moreover, foreigners have to bring special permission from the Indian high commission before visiting the place. To reach the Nuranang Falls, visitors should come to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh first. Now you can hire a four-wheeler for Jang town. The distance between Tawang to Jang is about 60 km, and the journey will take more than 2 hours.

Visitor is enjoying the view

Borhill Falls | Pantumai Jharna | Dawki, Meghalaya, India

2021-11-15T21:44:00.006+06:00

Near the Indo- Bangladesh border, a spectacular waterfall known as Borhill can be seen. The waterfall has three layers only beheld on the Indian side. However, the last layer can also enjoy from Panthumai, a border village of both countries. As the water of the falls is coming down around a hundred feet high, the burble of the waterfall can be heard from afar way. This water is enriching an eye-catching bluish river well known as Piyain. To watch the waterfall, Bangladeshi people often flock on the banks of the Piyain located northeastern side of Bangladesh.

Front view of Borhill Falls

The waterfall has several names like Bophill falls, Pantumai falls, and Mayaboti Jharna though it is only called Borhill falls in India. Some people believe that the name of the fountain came from the river Piyain whereas others say that its name came from village Panthumai.

Borhill Falls

During the monsoon, the water level of the fountain gets by leaps and bounds. And it looks tremendous. To meet dear Piyain, the heavenly white stream is destroying all adversity in front of it and is falling toward the river. However, the waterfall is dry in the wintertime. According to the local people, a plane had crashed by hitting a big rock of the fountain and drowned at the river in the time of 1944 during the Japanese war.

On the Indian side, if visitors want to see the beautiful waterfall, they have to come to Dawki by hiring a cab or sharing a sumo service. As there are lots of beautiful places like living root bridge, Mawlynnong village, sky viewpoint, Shnongpdeng, and waterfalls, it is better to hire a cab for a whole day. Moreover, the picturized hilly road from Shillong to Dawki gives an amazing feeling that is hard to explain in words.

A visitor is enjoying the falls from the truss bridge

As the road condition is not well, it is anything but difficult to go there from Bangladesh. First of all, visitors have to come to Pantumai village near Tamabil outskirt of Sylhet. From the village, tourists have to hire a boat known as a dingy. They can only see the waterfall from a far away.

This is a border area. So, visitors should control their curiosity and should not try to cross the border without legal permission.

Gorsam Chorten | Largest Stupas | Zemithang Valley | Arunachal Pradesh India

2021-09-29T07:06:00.005+06:00

A significant monument in the most beautiful valley of the Himalayan region is Gorsam Chorten that is considered one of the oldest and the largest Stupas in South Asia. It is situated near the Nyamjang Chu river in Zemithang valley.

All-seeing Buddha (Gorsam Chorten)

The unbelievable structure was constructed by a monk called Lama Sangey Pradhar. According to the local fable of the Pangchen, another name of Zemithang valley, there has a lot of miracle stories regarding the monk. The infant age story of the monk is one of them. Usually, mothers of Pangchen have taken their babies with them in working place. Baby Lama Sangey Pradhar mother was not exceptional. One day his mother had laid him a bit of distance from her working-place and was working when the incident happened. When he had started rolling towards the gorge, suddenly a monkey came to rescue him. Since that miraculous incident, people have started to call him "Sangey Pradhar" which means deliverance by a divine enlightened monkey.

Joy moment of a visitor

Before the construction of Gorsam stupa, the place was the kingdom for evil spirits. To ease the villagers from these evil spirits, Lama Sangey Pradhar had decided to build this stupa. He had gone to Boudhanath in Kathmandu and made a miniature model of the stupa using radish.

He successfully built the replica of Boudha Stupa when he came back from Kathmandu. It was taken almost 12 years to complete. Based on the assumption of native people, the stupa was constructed in 1200 AD, although there is little written evidence regarding the year of construction.

Moments of flashy stream enjoyment

The meaning of Gorsam is rock bridge. Before the construction of the mega stupa, there was a rock bridge to cross the river.

Native people believe that this all-seeing Buddha always protects them from all evil power. The place is also emotionally significant for locals and Tibetan as the 14th Dalai Lama had firstly rested there after fleeing from Tibet.

Resting place of 14th Dalai Lama

From prehistoric times, the Gorsam Chorten Kora festival is celebrated every year to bring peace and prosperity for every living being at the Gorsam Chorten. The Kora that means orbiting is an indigenous language. During festival time, the stupa is decorated gorgeously by colorful prayer flags and lights. By wearing a unique type of dress and mask, devotees perform traditional dance. Local as well as many overseas people celebrate the festival with joy and pomp.

Visitor with all-seeing Buddha

Although the festival is celebrated every year, the sacred door of the stupa is opened only after an era. There are only three such stupas in the world. One is stood here where the other two are located in Napel and Bhutan respectively.

Meditation cave

Meditation place for monk

In Zemithang valley, there are a lot of hidden places using for meditation purposes. In the recent century, some ancient caves have been discovered. Moreover, two prayers halls, Gonchung Tsamkang and Gorsam Tsamkang have been constructed under these caves. Gorsam Tsamkang is situated near Gorsam Chorten where Gonchung Tsamkang is at half day trekking distance from Zemithang circle hade quatre.

Front view of Monastery

According to natives, there is a lot of fable stories regarding the place. Lama taking dew drops story is one of them. Many years ago, people of Zemithang had noticed that in the early morning a monk came out from Gonchung cave to lick dewdrops on the leaves. However, they could not find anyone when they had gone near the cave. To catch the monk, women of Kharman village spread a strong ara, a special type of local wine, on the leaves in the evening. When the monk came the next day to take dewdrop, he got drunk and fell asleep. Finally, villagers caught him and made him the village Lama.

Nohkalikai Falls (Sohra) | Mesmerizing Waterfall In India

2021-08-06T00:36:00.004+06:00

Nohkalikai waterfall situated almost 7 km away from Sohra is well known for its mesmerizing view and a pathetic story of a wretched mother. The Falls is one of the tallest falls in India, as the water is falling in a small shimmering bluish plunge pool from a height of 1,115 feet.

Front view of Nohkalikai waterfall

The name of the waterfall came from the local Khasi tribe language. There is a tragic story behind the naming of the waterfall. According to legends, a young mother called Likai lived in a village known as Rangjyrteh near the upstream of the falls. As her husband had died, she was the only working person in her family. So, she became a porter and took all responsibility for her only loving daughter. As she had to work outside for a long time, there was no one to take care of her daughter. Therefore, she had married again. Her new husband was not happy as she had been spending most of the time with her infant after work. To get all attention from his wife, he had killed Likai's infant girl and cooked her flesh. After a day-long work, tired Likai had returned home and was searching for her girl. However, she could not find anyone except the meal. As she was hungry, she ate the meat. Khasis love to eat betel nut and leaf after a meal. Likai was not exceptional. So, she went to the place for slicing betel nut and found something that was horrible. Wretched mother saw her daughter's tiny finger. The situation was unendurable and there was nothing that could console her. She had run to the edge of the waterfall. Without thinking twice, she threw herself from the cliff. Since then, it has been called "Noh ka Likai" (meaning the leap of Ka Likai).

Panoramic view of Nohkalikai falls

Although visitors flock more in the monsoon, the place is beautiful any time of year. To get a panoramic view of the Nohkalikai waterfall, tourists have to reach the viewpoint positioned near a restaurant. Setting in the restaurant, tourists may also enjoy the view of the eye-catching waterfall with a cup of tea or coffee, as the weather is too wet.

The cranky humid wind of Sohra and the tremendous view of the waterfall always fascinate the tourists and give some unforgettable sweet memory. However, the pathetic story of the waterfall instills a sense of sadness for an unknown grieving mother.

Chitra Bhanu | Rabindranath Tagore Cottage | Kalimpong, India

2021-07-14T02:06:00.003+06:00

Picturesque small towns of the Himalayan range are so beautiful. Hills, flashy streams, and lush green nature are always astonished their visitors. Moreover, periodic winds of the white mountains create a mysterious aspiration that is tough to explain in words. Small town Kalimpong is one of them. Like others, this small town was able to capture the mind of the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Front view of cottage

In his life, Rabindranath Tagore visited the town several times and finally wished to be a permanent residence. By the time 1941, his dream came true as he got land to build his own cottage. The land was leased in the name of his daughter-in-law Pratima Devi, wife of Rathindranath Tagore. When the cottage was being built, Rabindranath Tagore was present there and scrutinized everything.

Some photos of poet and his family

Some people believe that the name of the house came from the alias of Rabindranath Tagore, Bhanu Singha. Others, conversely, say that the name came from Rathindranath Tagore's studio, Chitrabhanu.

Chitra Bhanu was partially damaged during the earthquake in 2011 and has not been renovated yet. Today, a training center, IL&FS; Institute of Skills, is operating there.

Wall collapsed due to the earthquake

Although the house has lost its splendor, still now it bears the memories of Rabindranath Tagore. Visitors can see lots of things like musical instruments, radio, furniture and so on that were touched by the dear poet. There is an open sitting shaded stage situated in front of the cottage to enjoy the scenario of the Himalayas. Moreover, the place is a small Eden for those who have a strong feeling about the Rabindranath Tagore.

The cottage is situated on Atisha Road. Tourists have to hire a four-wheeler to visit the place.

Leg harmonium of poet

Wahrashi Falls (Syntung) | Eye-catching waterfall In Meghalaya

2021-06-30T13:38:00.003+06:00

The waterfall Wahrashi is one of the most eye-catching falls in Syntung considered one of the oldest villages in Mawkynrew of East Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya. The waterfall surrounded by lush green nature is located in small hills. The place is extremely popular only for those who give priority to the beauty of nature.

Magnificent Falls of Wah Rashi Kshaid River

The name of the waterfall came from the Wah Rashi Kshaid river. It is a combination of several falls as the flashy stream is falling into nine different stages.

Second and third tier of Wahrashi Falls

Tourists can enjoy only three strata of the waterfall as the rest of the levels are hard to reach. However, they can enjoy these levels from the observation tower.

Cheering moments of a visitor

This wonderful place is conserved by the local people who are really down to earth. As they obey nature like other natives in Meghalaya, the reflection of their respect can be seen everywhere in Syntung. According to folklore, forest and river are more valuable and sacred things for native people. During the prayer, they turn their face to the river. Therefore, they refrain from deforestation and avoid water pollution. Moreover, they have been preserving these hills since the prehistoric period.

Smiling face of local guide

To reach the Wahrashi waterfall, visitors have to hire a four-wheeler from anywhere for Syntung. The distance between Shillong to Syntung is about 63 km, however, the journey will take more than three hours due to the poor condition of the road.

One to fourth tier of Wahrashi Falls

Monsoon is the best time to visit the place. As the East Khasi Hills is well known for wet, fog, and drizzle, the average visibility varies between 10 to 2 km. However, in the monsoon, it could be lower. So, visitors have to careful regarding this matter and should hire an expert driver for driving.

Bridge on the Wah Rashi Kshaid river

As the waterfall is situated far away from the locality, you should be careful when you travel. The place is too quiet. It will be better for visitors to go with a local guide to visit this place.

Last pair of Wahrashi Falls

Moopun Falls | East Jaintia Hills District | India

2021-05-24T16:54:00.004+06:00

In Mutong village, there is a magnificent waterfall known as Moopun Falls. The waterfall positioned within the lush green nature is formed from a famous flashy stream Umjhai. It is situated 25Kms equidistance from Jowai and Khliehriat and 10Kms away from NH 44 junction at Kongong. The path of this wonderful waterfall is been well-built and has gone through the greenery forest.

Moopun Falls

This astonishes waterfall has two stages. On the upper side, the stream is flowing under the spectacular nature-made stone bridge connecting to both sides of the Umjhai river. The meaning of the word Moopun is a stone bridge where 'Moo' means stone and 'Pun' means connecting. The length and the width of the bridge are 33 feet and 11 feet respectively. And the height of the bridge from the water level is 8 feet.

Stone bridge

Under the stone bridge, flowing water is falling in a natural swimming pool from 20 feet height. The exotic pool famed for its clear water has 75 feet in length and 50 feet in width.

Exotic natural pool beneath the Stone bridge

In the second stage, the stream water of Moopun falls is falling in a beautiful pool from a 110 feet height. This pool has an eye-catching sandy beach and the water from there is flowing into the famous Myntdu river in Jaintia Hills.

Beautiful sandy beach of Moopun Falls

Besides these, another attractive site is Dem Khla located 500m away from the Moopun Falls towards the Myntdu river. “Dem” means rest and “Khla” means tiger. Therefore, it means the resting place of a tiger.

The place is culturally significant for the local tribe. According to local folktales, many years ago, the goddess of water, Kyllang le Law, had decided to go out to enjoy nature and started her journey from Umhang lake situated near a small village, Bataw. After a while, she had arrived in Mooopun and became astonished by watching the scenic beauty of nature and the enchanted waterfall. Storytellers in Mutong village believe that after having a bath there, she decided to stay for 3 days before continuing her journey further.

The goddess used this canal to come

The best time to visit the place is immediately after the monsoon. Visitors have to book a taxi for Mutong village from anywhere. Moreover, the distance between the PWD road and the top of Moopun Falls is only 300m. The main viewpoint of the waterfall is a little away from the vehicle parking point.

To decompress the pressure of the hectic lifestyle of modern society and to get recreation, Moopun could be an ideal place. People who have been to Moopun only can imagine the worth beauty of the place. So, to experience the breathtaking beauty of Moopun falls and to enrich your mind with beautiful memories, you should go there.

Dainthlen | A Wonderful Falls

2021-05-19T09:00:00.006+06:00

In Sohra, the most eye-catching waterfall, Dainthlen, which originates from a shallow river is falling from the high plateau of hard stony surface and is flowing through the greenery forest. The name of the incredible waterfall came from a famous half-mythical story. Once upon a time, there was a giant serpent who was called ‘Thlen’ by locals. The beast was arrogant and tried to hurt everyone who came near him. So, the brave sons of Khashia came forward to fight and to give a proper lesson for his depravity. Finally, they conquested in the war and vanquished the evil.

View of Dainthlen Falls from a far

People of the ancient village in Sohra still believe that the potholes under the surface of the river had happened during the fighting between the evil and their heroes. Visitors may not believe the local folktale today. However, they would be surprised when they will see the imaging potholes river. As the water of the flashy stream is so clear, visitors can see the hard rock surface under the water and can enjoy the movement of various water species like fishes and shrimp.

Potholes under flashy stream

The altitude of this incredible waterfall is 80 meters. During the heyday, in monsoon, the waterfall rises by leaps and bounds, although, in summer, it becomes extremely dry. As the edge of the waterfall is protected by the strong railing, tourists can stand very close to the verge of the waterfall and can enjoy the falling view of the stream.

Relax moment

The picturesque view of the open landscape, thundering sound and astonishing view of the enraged stream, and the capricious wind lock its visitors in a loop from where the visitors would not want to back in their concrete forest.

The enchanted Falls

To enjoy the scenic view of the waterfall, tourists have to rent a car from anywhere to Cherrapunji‎. If tourists want to travel from Shillong, it will take 1 hour 40 minutes, a distance of 53.9kms between Shillong to Dainthlen Falls. On the way, there are so many beautiful places where tourists can enjoy the sights. Wonderful Wei Sawdong Falls is one of them and is situated downstream of Dainthlen Falls at a distance of 1.6km.

Wei Sawdong | An enchanting waterfall

2021-05-16T09:14:00.002+06:00

Every waterfall in Meghalaya is unique and has something special which always astonishes visitors. The spectacular three-step Wei Sawdong falls is one of them and is well known for being in the middle of nature surrounded by greenery in a quiet environment.

Upper step of the waterfall

The gorgeous waterfall's name came from the local dialect. As the waterfall falls into three different steps including small deep pools, the shape of the waterfalls is more like a square. Therefore, local people call the falls ‘Wei Sawdong’, meaning square shape.

Wei Sawdong is located 58kms away from the capital city of Meghalaya. Moreover, it is approximately 2kms away from another wonderful waterfall, Dainthlen.

The falls from the left view point

As the waterfall is positioned beneath the hills and has not any decorated path or instruction office, visitors often get confused about the position of the waterfall. However, an extremely thrilling hill trekking path surrounded by tall trees is waiting for visitors. To trek down to the waterfall, visitors should be physically and mentally fit enough as they have to trek on a muddy, slippery, and lonesome path. Sometimes they have to climb almost 90-degree stairs which have been made by local people by using branches of bamboos and trees.

After 200m trekking, visitors will reach the first view point on the left and can enjoy the view of the beautiful and enchanting waterfall.

Upper step of the waterfalls

As the place is extremely solitary and no properly built path, visitors should trek the damp track carefully to avoid mishaps and should wear a comfortable outfit and excellent grip shoes.

To go there, tourists have to hire a cab or a jeep that will take approximately 1.30 hrs from Shillong to Wei Sawdong waterfall. If you plan to go to Dainthlen, don't miss this incredible waterfall.

Kynrem | An Incredible Waterfall And Abundantly Blessed By Nature

2021-05-12T01:05:00.011+06:00

Kynrem waterfall counted as the 7th tallest waterfalls in India is positioned at a distance of 12kms from Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills. The amazing waterfall is three-tiered waterfalls and is vertically 305m long. As the waterfall is the highest one and is situated in a mountain surrounded by lush green nature, it can be seen from afar. The wonderful waterfall is the amazing creation of nature. Especially in monsoon, when the peak of the waterfall is covered with clouds, it seems as if the stream is coming down from heaven to earth.

Vertical view of Kynrem Waterfall

During the heyday, in the rainy season, some parallel streams can be seen, however, the falls extremely dry up during the summer days.

Apex of Waterfall

Thangkharang Park which is the main source of this waterfall is abundantly blessed by the nature and is also the main lookout deck to enjoy the most panoramic view of falls. The Park is well known for its botanical garden and gives shelter for many species. The beneath the waterfall, there is a small Truss bridge that helps tourists to get close to the falls. Apart from this, there are several other watching decks for observing the waterfall.

View from Thangkharang Park

With this marvelous waterfall, tourists can also enjoy the amazing mountain view as well as the sound of nature which helps to decompress the weariness of city life and which gives some sweet memories for the future. To visit the waterfall, visitors have to hire a four-wheeler.

Tourist enjoying the Nature

The breathtaking view of the Kynrem waterfall is too hard to describe in words. To be fascinated by the amazing beauty of the mighty waterfall, do not miss it if you are anywhere in the Meghalaya.

Krang Suri | A Beautiful Waterfall And A Hidden Arsenal

2021-05-09T01:51:00.006+06:00

Krang Suri is the most scenic waterfalls in Amalrem, the headquarters of the West Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya. It is extremely popular because of shimmering blue water and is also famed because of its narrow slippery thrilling mountain trek. The waterfall positioned within the greenish mountains can be seen from afar.

Krang Suri Falls

The flowing clear water of flashy stream has made a natural greenish-blue pool underneath the waterfall. Moreover, the exotic pool looks so enticing that tourists can’t stop themselves from jumping into it.

Visitor enjoying swimming

The name of the waterfall came from a dialect in the Jaintia Hills. Krang means cave and Suri means a special type of sharp weapon that looks sickle-shaped.

Local people believe that Krang Suri had been being used as the secluded natural arsenal by the kings of the Jaintia empire during that days. Some caves of the place would be used to hide the deadly weapons and only a few loyal commanders knew about it. A larger portion of the place was strictly prohibited for general people. Moreover, royal loyal commandos of the tribal army only used to go to the place to collect their weapons before any battle or any emergency.

Flashy Stream of Krang Suri

The hidden arsenal becomes a myth today but not for all. Some curious people still believe the hearsay and have been trying to find the mysterious place which has been lost in the abyss of history.

The distance between Krang Suri to Shillong is about 89 Kms. Tourists can easily hire a four-wheeler to reach there and can enjoy the route trip as the spacious smooth road is extremely beautiful with amazing mountain views.

Ratargul | An Amazing Swamp Forest In Sylhet

2021-03-13T23:33:00.001+06:00

Ratargul which is one of the most beautiful places in Sylhet is the only freshwater swamp forest in Bangladesh. Gigantic green nature, colorful water, and a prosperous number of animal species make a mysterious environment that always influences visitors to visit the place. The forest occupies an area of about 504 acres and is located in Gowainghat which is 26 kilometers away from Sylhet.

Ratargul Swamp Forest

The name of the forest mainly comes from the word, "Rata" or "Pati" tree. Near about 73 species of plants can be seen there. 80 percent of the forest area which is covered with an umbrella of the trees is situated by the river Goain and Chengir Khal. The extension of the forest is located in two Haors, Shimul Bil Haor, and Neoa Bil Haor. Generally, two layers of plants can be found in the swamp forest whereas the upper layer consists of trees and the lower one consists of intense Schumannianthus dichotomous. Though the forest is submerged under 20–30 feet of water in the rainy season, the water level remains about 10 feet deep rest of the year. Dalbergia reniformis is the dominating tree in the plant species of this swamp forest, although, Calamus tenuis, Neolamarckia cadamba, Barringtonia acutangular, Banyan and so many trees can be seen.

Unworldly view of Swamp Forest

Ratargul forest is a territory of different animal species like Snake and Worm snake, Mongoose which can be seen in the dry season, Monkey and Water monitor. Heron, Egret, Kingfisher, Bulbul, Swan, Dove, Waterfowl, Parrot, Eagle, and Kite Bird are the main local birds of this forest. However, in the winter, a vast number of migratory birds and Vultures like Cotton Pygmy Goose come there. Batasio, Rita, Pabda, Rohu, etc are mainly caught by local fishermen from there.

To visit the forest, visitors have to reserve a local boat known as a “Traller”. This amazing forest is also called “Sundarban of Sylhet” by locals.

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” — Loren Eiseley. Really, the magic in Ratargul is waiting for tourists. You can go there any time of year.

Malnicherra And Lakkatura Tea Garden

2020-11-23T02:50:00.012+06:00

Each and every part of nature in Sylhet is so beautiful. There is an illusion enamored the visitor's mind. Like others, Rabindranath Tagore was also astonished when he saw the small hill town for the first time. He wrote a poem where he named Sylhet "Shundori Sree Bhumi".

Malnicherra Tea garden

Malnicherra Tea garden

The world is so beautiful that it is impossible to understand without seeing the Malnichhera garden according to Harry K. Thomas, a former ambassador of the US. It is also known as Malnichhera Tea Estate which is located in the north-east part of Bangladesh. In this subcontinent, Malnichhera is not only the largest but also the first tea garden which was established by Lord Hurdson in 1849 on 1500 acres of land. A vast number of merchants like British, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi had been operating the garden for different periods. However, it has been privately owned since 1988. Every year a huge number of tourists come to visit the tea garden as it is situated at the heart point of Sylhet, near the Osmani international airport. Anyone can relieve stress by watching evergreen tea trees and listening to twitter about different bird species. Visitors also can enjoy an ancient cave known as Harong Hurong, near the Malnichhera.

Lakkatura Tea Garden

This tea garden is one of the oldest tea gardens situated in Chowkidekhi Upazila near Osmani Airport. The garden is surrounded by lurch green nature. On these small hills, an area of 32,000 acres is covered by an enormous number of tea trees. The garden is owned by the National Tea Board. As it is one of the largest tea gardens in Bangladesh, every year around five lakh kg of tea is produced from here. Therefore, National Tea Board exports the tea in different countries after completing the local demand. For the main entrance to the tea garden, visitors should go right side from Osmani Airport. Near the entrance, two factories- rubber and tea, can be seen. Although tea is predominant in the garden, there are also some rubber trees. Near these factories, visitors will see some bungalows where officers and staff of the garden live. With the permission of the authorities, visitors can easily visit the garden. In this tea kingdom, you should go, if you want to lose your mind by watching the scenic beauty of nature.

The scenic beauty of these two gardens is quite impossible to explain in words. When you will go there, you will agree with Lin Yutang who said "There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life".

Most Fabulous And Beautiful Places For Traveling In Meghalaya

2020-09-29T19:51:00.015+06:00

Meghalaya which is a place of beautiful nature, affluent culture, colorful festivals, and peace, is a state in the northeast of India and used to be part of Assam. The name means "The Abode of Clouds" in Sanskrit and other Indo-Iranian languages and is given by Dr. Chatterjee. Meghalaya is well known for being the wettest place on earth. Therefore, it could be the best monsoon travel destination for those people who really love rain. Although some mixed culture people live there today, the majority population of the state is Khasis, Garos, and Pnars who are indigenous and predominantly earn their living from cultivation. Khasi Hills (Central range), Garos Hills (Western range), and Jaintia Hills (Eastern range) are the main three hills in the state.

Meghalaya Map

These three hills have a different culture and color and are known as a home for some wonderful waterfalls, astonishing caves, a variety of bird and animal species, and lush green nature. Most of these tourist spots are located in the Khasi Hills. Following are some of the most attractive destinations in Meghalaya.

Shillong:

Shillong which is surrounded by pine and cherry trees is the capital of Meghalaya. The name of the beautiful city comes from Lei Shyllong, an idol worshipped at the Shillong Peak. The city is situated 1,525 meters above sea level. People love to visit the small hill station at any time of year because of the soothing climate. Moreover, the light drizzles and the cooling gentle wind add extra joy for visiting this wonderful city and visitors feel so comfortable for that. Therefore, this place is also called as the Scotland of the East.

Umiam Lake

Shillong is famous for numerous waterfalls, exciting mountain peaks, crystal clear lakes, breathtakingly beautiful golf courses, museums, and the zoo. As a lot of music events are organized throughout the year, the city is also known as the music capital of India.

Rabindranath Tagore's House, Ward's Lake, Cathedral catholic church, Elephant falls

In Shillong, Ward’s Lake, Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Lady Hydari Park, Don Bosco Museum, Cathedral Catholic Church, Tagore House, and Shillong Peak are the main tourist attraction spots.

Cherrapunji

The second wettest place on this planet, Cherrapunji which is positioned around 50kms from Shillong is famous for its rich flora and scenic nature. Moreover, the place experiences the heaviest rainfall comparing with any other place on the earth.

Kynrem Falls

The actual name of the village is Sohra, however, in the time of British colonization in India, it was hard to pronounce correctly for British people and they started calling the place “Cherra”. Later in that period, some Bengali bureaucrats added punji which means a cluster, and people started to call it Cherrapunji.

Mawkdok Dympep valley view

This tremendous place is also well known for breathtaking panoramic views of valleys, covering with lush green nature and being a territory of different kinds of species.

Nohkalikai and Wei Sawdong Falls

During the autumn days, visitors often flock to the place to explore some beautiful limestone caves like the Mawsmai and Krem Phyllut and to watch some wonderful waterfalls like Nohkalikai Falls, Rainbow Falls, Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters) Falls, Dainthlen Falls, Wei Sawdong, Kynrem Falls, Wah Kaba Falls, and so on.

Mawlynnong

As the natives of Mawlynnong venerate nature, they always care about nature, and the reflection of their work can be seen everywhere. This small village known as the cleanest village in Asia is naturally well decorated and has some incredible people who are really down to earth and friendly and who commit to keeping their surroundings clean for making an ideal place for living.

God's own Garden

The village name came from Khasi words "Maw" which means stone, and "Lynn Ong" which means scattering. In the remote past, flowing water from different sources had carved the rocky land. That was the reason why the villagers gave the village name Mawlynnong.

Visitor with native people

Tourists love to visit the village not only for spending time in the cleanest village with good-hearted local people but also for watching some astonishing landscapes from an amazing treehouse. Moreover, the famed living root bridge also attracts its visitors.

Living root bridge

Dawki And Shnongpdeng

Two small villages surrounded by the famous crystal-clear river and hills are the most attractive spots in Meghalaya. These villages are situated in the Jaintia Hills near to Indo-Bangla border.

Umngot river in Dawki

In Dawki, the river Umngot flows between hills on both sides. There is magic in the water of Umngot. It looks more greenish in the center and turns almost transparent towards the banks. In addition, small colorful boats in the middle of the river make the place more fairytales.

Suspension bridge in Shnongpdeng

Shnongpdeng which is well known for the beautiful suspension bridge is another magnificent place to witness the magic of the river Umngot. The river is seen as more translucent as the water level is pretty shallow. The magic starts in the stony river with sunrise. Sand under the clear water looks like a glowing diamond when sunrays hit on it. Moreover, evergreen trees, Twitter of birds, and flashy stream make the place so mysterious.

To spend quality time in evergreen hills and the crystal-clear river and to see the beautiful suspension bridge, travelers are mainly flocking to the village. Moreover, nights staying opportunity in a tent nearby the famed Umngot river makes the place an ideal tourist spot for the nature lover. Every year in springtime, the village becomes a hotbed of tourist activities as the boat riding competition on the Umngot river is hosted.

The much-famed river Umngot is always amazed its visitors at any time of year.

Visitors can visit these places by hiring a cab. Besides, they can enjoy sharing services ran by Meghalaya tourism by pre-booking. Sharing service is cheaper than cab and tourists can get more information about local sights by a travel guide.