ADVOCATE POULOMI NAG

The quiet North-Eastern part of India can never cease to amaze anyone from any part of the world and in this magical part of India lies beautiful Meghalaya, which will make you feel like the earth has draped mist and drifting clouds just like a Silk Saree, perfumed herself with earthy smell of rain, writing poetry in every leaf, river singing whistling sound of breeze, detouring towards slow life, connecting to nature from that fast, tedious, mundane, cacophonous life, where you can breathe healthy, pure air leaving a smile in any traveler’s face.

The name of the state has been coined by Geographer S.P.Chatterjee named Meghalaya for the first time in1936 and is a portmanteau of two Sanskrit Words “Megh” which means Clouds and “Alay” which means House, hence Meghalaya.

To journey through Meghalaya is to witness poetry sculpted by nature — a slow, unfolding epic written in rivers, forests, hills, and endlessly roaming skies.

The moment you step into Meghalaya, you witness the symphony of hills, wearing lush green tapestry. Her green color is so layered that it makes you realize how many shades of green this earth has. This just feels so alive.

The Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills rise and fall like the soft rhythm of a lullaby. Wrapped in velvety green, they ripple across the landscape in waves of serenity. Each twist of the road reveals a new canvas — terraced fields arranged like quiet puzzles, pine forests whispering ancient secrets, and valleys so deep they seem to hold the dreams of the earth itself.

Not just velvety lush green hillocks. The Jugalbandi of misty, breezy weather and waterfalls creates a Raga.

The Nohkalikai Falls will steal your breath and make your mind linger in her thoughts. The water plunges from a steep cliff so high that it seems to fall from the sky itself, landing into a pool of impossible turquoise colour. However, the sad story of a mother losing her child, thereafter taking life will make you ponder over the motherly love. Legend and nature meet here — a fusion of tragedy and beauty, myth and mist.

The Graceful, Seven Sisters Falls descending in seven slender veils over a moss-covered cliff. During monsoon, the seven streams multiply into dozens, creating a shimmering white orchestra.

The three tiered waterfalls that cascades down on the rocks and ferns makes it look like an Elephant hence the name Elephant falls or Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew as local people call this beautiful waterfall.

The Um Dawai spring water is straight from some magical world as it is believed by the locals to cure illness.

The blue water lagoon of Labong makes it look so ethereal that you feel like you are in some magical fairy tale world. The ribbon of emerald water— Wari Chora, a canyon that cuts deep into the heart of stone, sings the song sung by seven giant serpent spirits. The smell of moss and the scent of rain is like nature wearing some perfume that will take you to a trance.

This is a hidden jewel. Similarly, there are many offbeat places in Meghalaya that are going to create magical alchemy in your heart and soul. You can do trekking, kayaking or bold hearts can do cliff jumping. In the GenZ language “it’s aesthetic! you know”

The magical root bridge is a sangam of creativity of humans with the help of nature. The magical collaboration shows that if we respect nature, nature will show love and care which is beyond our expectation.

The concrete bridges collapse while the natural Living Root Bridge grows stronger and mightier. Found deep within the forests of Cherrapunji and Mawlynnong, these bridges are grown, not built. For generations, the Khasi people have guided the roots of rubber fig trees across streams and ravines, patiently shaping them into sturdy pathways.

The double-decker root bridge at Nongriat is nature’s crown jewel — two living bridges stacked like twin lines of poetry. Walking across it feels like stepping into a myth, where nature is both engineer and muse.

Sohra (Cherrapunji) where the rain isn’t a weather but a way of life. A land where the sky bends so low to kiss the earth. The cloud, magical mist becomes a cute clingy companion holding you that you don’t want to complain about but love the companionship. Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram, where the rain reigns sovereign, holds the title of “wettest place of the Mother Earth”.

Here rain feels like nature singing a beautiful song through rain. Here the valleys are sculpted into dramatic silhouettes and the cliffs are crafted by the rainfalls. The limestone caves, river canyons, and rolling plateaus carry the signature of Miss Rainfall.

The majestic Wah Rilang view point situated 82 km from Shillong will remind you of the line “Dil bhi kahi hain pahaadon mein; thoda sa kahi hain kinaron mein. Phir ke le chali hai thandi hawayein’’ from Lucky Ali’s Kitni Haseen Zindagi. In fact, your mundane, monotonous life looks beautiful and colourful.

This viewpoint looks dreamy especially during monsoons, where the rolling lush green valleys, mist floating above the ridges and sound of rain, makes everything cynically magical.

Heard of River that looks like glass? Worry not just come to Umngot River, in Dawki where the water looks so pristine and crystal clear that the boats seem like floating. This place reveals a different facet of Meghalaya where water is calmer, beneath the green surface lie smooth pebbles arranged like mosaics.

The river will take you to a place which was a part of India that got separated in 1947. Yes, it is Bangladesh. You can wave ‘Hi’ but you cannot cross unless you did your documentation right.

When the sun rises, the sky unravels in waves of peach and golden sunrays amidst a cluster of clouds of Nongjrong that steals the heart of innumerable tourists praising the beauty of nature.

Just outside Shillong lies the Mawphlang Sacred Forest, preserved for centuries under traditional Khasi laws, reminding why the 6th Schedule is an important part of our Indian Constitution. This bio-diverse forest is an ethereal cathedral by trees — ancient trees, covered in molds, fungi, orchids, home to innumerable animals and birds.

Beautiful rocks, the faint glowing sun rays will sweep your heart away. But wait! It’s blasphemous to take a dead leaf with you as it is believed that you will face the wrath of Khasi Gods. You can just watch the beauty but not carry it to your home.

The stunning panoramic view of Laitlum Canyon in East Khasi Hills is marvelous as it feels like the world just ended there. The cliffs and deep valleys. The silence is vast but the view is infinite.

The Bamboo Trek of Wahkhen, situated around 40 to 50km from Shillong is a narrow path woven from hand-tied bamboo, stretching over the ancient Khasi hills, as though nature herself woven a skywalk, isn’t a place for a faint heart. The valleys, the Umrew river woven in glistening silver and emerald threads, wind humming archaic songs.

Step on the river you can get a free foot-spa by the tiny friendly fishes, but wait do not get carried away, there is more to discover, you again walk through the tiny caves, smell the earthy smell, feel the trail winds through the bamboo woven skywalks and when you finally reach the tip, panting, tired, your heart will be filled with exhilaration, wonder because you just discovered something profound, not just the nature but YOU yourself, as you came out of your comfort zone, did something amazing.

Mawlynnong Village is not just clean; it is soulful — a village where community and nature coexist with gentle pride. Where globally people complain about Indian people having no civic-sense, this village is known as the cleanest village of Asia. Bamboo pathways, manicured gardens, spotless lanes, and warm smiles greet every traveller. This reminds us that nature and community can co-exist proudly together.

Amazing Kongthong village is strangely beautiful because that village sings because this is a place where people are called not by names, but by melodies — unique musical tunes are assigned to each person at birth.

Nongriat – The Village of the Living Bridges is challenging, unforgettable — it is reached by descending 3,500 steps through forest and gorge.

These villages are not tourist attractions; they are living stories.

I have been mentioning Shillong but never really described it. The old city needs no description. Known as the Scotland of the East, it is situated 99.8 kms from Guwahati, or a 2-3 hours drive from Guwahati. It is a land where pine trees touch the sky, their needles whispering stories to the drifting clouds. Every turn of the road opens into a view—a valley dipped in mist, a lake framed by forest.

The city sings a rhythmic song of working people, bustling Police Bazar, laughter of students and young hearts, aroma of Jadoh, pork and chicken barbeque, delightful momos and yummy local foods with juicy berries grown and found in Meghalaya herself, guitar strumming from the café corners. Wards lake, Laitlum Canyon, Elephant falls, Shillong View Point, Polo Grounds are like a tapestry of landscapes.

Cathedral Mary Help of Christians, talks about the modern-gothic architectures, stained-glass windows imported from Grenoble, France, Grotto Chapel carved into the hill below the main building, dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.

All Saints’ Church, Shillong, one of the oldest churches in Shillong, built in the 19th century will make you feel like time-travel is real. Beautiful timber architecture, pine trees that are more than 150 years old, will literally make you feel like you have stepped into the Victorian age.

Shillong is known as the Rock Capital of India. Where the rest of Indian politicians appear boring, Conrad Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya has gone viral in this era of social-media, stealing the hearts of millions, with his amazing strumming of guitar.

Ed Sheeran, Jason Derulo, Tyga, The Script, Aqua, Diplo, Alan Walker, legendary Bryan Adams, Hoobastank, Farhan Akhtar (who even made the movie Rock On 2 in Meghalaya), Raja Kumari, Akon, MLTR, Boney M, R3HAB, The Midnight they all showed their amazing performances here.

According to multiple sources, Ed Sheeran said that Shillong is his favourite city in India. Even old Shillong buses, Bus Smit, featured in his video song ‘Sapphire’. Oh! The video song also featured the football culture of Meghalaya.

Nature indeed will not cease to amaze you. Just like the exquisite nature of Meghalaya, the people of Meghalaya are amazing as well. Where the females in mainland India have lots of restrictions, the matrilineal society in Meghalaya will amaze you as the beautiful sweet ladies contribute majorly in the economy of Meghalaya.

With matrilineal traditions, vibrant festivals, handwoven textiles, bamboo craftsmanship, and music that echoes through hills, the state’s cultural tapestry is rich and welcoming.

Meghalaya is not just a beautiful state, every nook and corner, offbeat places will amaze you. This is a land where beauty becomes breath, scenic beauty isn’t something you merely see — it is something you feel, inhale, and carry home in the folds of your spirit.

The hills, waterfalls, clouds, rivers, forests, art and culture with warm, never-fading smiles of locals together compose a landscape that feels like a living poem. Meghalaya is not just a destination — it is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to wander, and to be transformed.