Located in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya in North East India, Cherrapunji is sometimes called the Scotland of the East. Why? This region is known for its copious amounts of rain which makes it among the wettest places on earth.
By contrast, the Amazon Rainforest Basin receives about 1500 to 3000 mm of rain annually.
Why would such a rainy place be considered a great vacation destination?
Well, it’s not for the faint of heart. Instead, Cherrapunji is an incredible palace for off-the-beaten-path adventure, exploring ancient-feeling rainforests, seeing some of the most pristine nature left in the world, and literally chasing waterfalls. The rain ensures a near-constant state of lush, rich greenery that can only be fully appreciated in person.
If you’re not much for exploring, nature, and embracing the outdoors, Cherrapunji may not be the best place for you.
But if you love hiking and trekking, camping, being immersed in places where the manmade and the natural world collide, physical activity, and expeditions, Cherrapunji is definitely the place you need to go.
The land has historically been inhabited by the Khasi people since at least the 16th century. Back then, the area was called Sohra, a name that is being reestablished today.
Ironically, the people of Sohra (Cherrapunji) often struggle with a lack of water due to there being too much water. The heavy rains wash away water distribution systems and flood potable water with non-potable water, contaminating the water source. However, more advancements are being made to help ensure a consistent supply of clean water to the villages.
Explore These Amazing Attractions in Cherrapunji
So, what activities and Cherrapubji tourist places should you be sure to see on your travels? Here are the most exciting things to see and do while you’re in the jungles of Meghalaya.
Unique Double-Decker Living Root Bridges
Located just outside Cherrapubji in the surrounding small villages, you can find an incredible feature of organic architecture seldom seen elsewhere in the world. These villages (mostly Tynrong, Mynteng, Nongriat, Nongthymmai, and Laitkynsew) host incredible examples of these living root bridges.
Villagers make painstaking efforts to train the exposed roots of rubber fig trees to intertwine as they extend across a river or other type of chasm that needs a bridge. It can take 10 to 15 years to complete a bridge strong enough to hold people! Truly, building these bridges is an incredible show of focus, dedication, and symbiosis with nature. Not every bridge is a double-decker, but each bridge is a work of art and engineering.
The bridges last as long as the tree(s) providing the roots are healthy, which can be more than one hundred years. There are dozens of living root bridges to be found in these forested villages.
UNESCO declared Living Root Bridges to be on the tentative list for World Heritage Sites in 2022 and these bridges are the number one Cherrapunji tourist places!
Incredible Waterfalls Abound
Is it any surprise that a tropical paradise with more rain than you can shake a stick at is abundant with waterfalls?
Nohkalikai Falls stands as the highest plunge waterfall in India, with a height of 340 meters (1,115 ft). Situated in the Indian state of Meghalaya, near the town of Cherapunji (now known as Sohra), it is recognized as one of the wettest places on Earth.
Some of the best ones to see while you’re visiting are:
- Nohkalikai Falls
- Seven Sisters Falls
- Mawsmai Falls (aka Nohsngithiang Falls)
- Dain-Thlen Waterfall
- Wah Kaba Falls
- Kynrem Falls
- Rainbow Falls
- Wei Sawdong Falls
Each site has its own unique scenery and local legend to share, and many of them have a tourist office on site so you can learn about the history of the respective falls. Some will have an entry fee and perhaps even a photography fee, so be sure to come prepared with some cash just in case.
Along with these beautiful falls come equally beautiful pools and rivers. The water in Cherrapunji and the surrounding areas are famous for being a jade green/blue colour, a dazzling sight to behold!
Depending on the falls, you also have the prime opportunity for the best Cherrapunji sightseeing, since you can get fantastic views of the forests from the vantage points around many of the falls!
Astounding Cave Systems
Ready for a subterranean adventure? Cherrapunji is famous for having extensive cave systems, as the constant rush of water over hundreds of years carves out spaces in the earth below the surface.
Caving (aka Spelunking) is an inherently dangerous activity. For this reason, you should always enlist a licensed tour guide to show you the ropes (literally) of the local caves. Even if you’re an avid spelunker elsewhere in the world, having an experienced guide is vital to ensure your safety in these new-to-you locations.
There are more than 750 known caves in Meghalaya, only 150 of which have been meaningfully explored and mapped.
Krem Mawmluh Cave is regarded as the fourth longest cave in India, with a total length of 7 kilometers.
Check out these stunning examples of underground adventure, full of dark tunnels, high-vaulted chambers, sun-dotted caverns, and subterranean pools. You might even see some fossils along with things like stalactites and stalagmites!
- Mawsmai Cave
- Krem Mawmluh Cave
- Arwah Caves
- Krem Liat Prah
- Garden of Caves
- Krem Puri Cave
- Lymput Cave
- Krem Dam Cave
- Siju Caves
- Kotsati Caves
Mysterious Monoliths
Throughout Nartiang, Cherrapunji, Jowai, Maoflong and Lailugkot you can find hundreds of standing stones surrounded by stones laying horizontally. While local legends attribute some of the stones to having been placed upright by their giant Khasi ancestors (said to be over 7ft tall), concrete evidence for the reasoning and method of the standing stones has yet to be found.
It’s believed the majority of the stones were placed between 1500 and 1835 CE, during the reign of the Jaintiapur kingdom.
According to local oral history, the stones may have been placed as a marker for the creation of a bazaar, or perhaps a place for gatherings. Some think the stones may have something to do with honouring the dead.
The Khasi monoliths are stone structures built to honor their ancestors and local heroes who perished in battles. Numerous monoliths are spread throughout the area, often overlooked and neglected in the isolated areas.
Source: sohra.gov.in
Even though not much solid information is known about the monoliths, one thing is certain: they’re fascinating and mesmerising.
If you go, see if you can discuss with a local and get their insight and wisdom on the matter. Like Stonehenge and other mysterious stone constructions around the world, we may never know their true purpose, but that doesn’t mean we can admire them and speculate!
Easygoing Sights
Looking for something a little more accessible for people who aren’t up for trekking through the jungle?
You can visit Thangkharang Park, which provides a nice leisurely walk along flat, paved trails. There are plentiful picnic spots, a greenhouse, and a nice fountain inside the park. You can also find two ideal viewpoints from the park which overlook the nearby Bangladesh Plains and Kynrem Falls.
At the entrance to the park, you can find Khoh Ramhah rock, which looks like a traditional Khasi basket. Just outside there are small shops selling food and handicrafts for you to enjoy.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Cherrapunji?
The best time to visit Cherrapunji is in the dry months of October to February. This is also when the temperature is the coolest, with an average of 11.5 to 19.7 degrees C. You may also be able to visit in early summer, March to May, but the temperature and humidity start to rise considerably and there is more rain as well.
Unless you’re prepared for a lot of heat and humidity and even more rain, you should avoid visiting in the monsoon season which is May to September.
Best Festivals to Celebrate in Cherrapunji
Just because Cherrapunji is a comparatively small and isolated place doesn’t mean it doesn’t have culture and celebrations!
Here are the best local festivities to attend in Cherrapunji.
- Shad Suk Mynsiem (Dance of Happy Hearts) (April)
- Bob Dylan’s Birthday Celebration (May)
- Shillong Blues & Jazz Festival (September)
- Shillong Autumn Festival (October/November)
- Nongkrem Dance Festival (November)
- Shillong Wine Festival (November)
- Nongkrem Dance Festival (November)
- Winter Festival (December)
- Mei Ramew Festival (December)
- Cherrapunji Festival (December)
What to Know Before You Visit Cherrapunji
Every attraction mentioned in this list is technically a trek in itself since you must walk through the forest to reach them. But, for a more comprehensive experience, you can plan a 2-3 day route through the wilderness to visit a few different excursion points before looping back to your starting place and heading safely home.
You can camp in the wilderness or find hostels, homestays, or guesthouses in the various small villages you’ll find along the way.
Also, traffic can be absolutely atrocious during the tourist season, so it might be best to travel at odd hours if you’ll be visiting in the winter.
Maintaining Health
There are many ways a trip in the wilderness can go wrong, so make sure you’re well-prepared before you set out.
Always bring warm clothes, even in the summer, since it can become chilly at night.
Even in the dry winter season, rain can occur quite suddenly, so be sure to always bring a poncho, umbrella, or rain jacket to avoid getting soaked and risk getting sick or developing a skin issue from wet clothes.
Wear suitable shoes especially if you’re trekking through the woods to avoid injury from rocks and sticks or slipping and falling. Wear proper hiking shoes or boots.
Bring insect-repelling soap and sprays to keep yourself from becoming a mosquito restaurant. You’ll also want to have creams that can treat rashes from bug bites and plants. Additionally, make sure you have an adequate medic kit that has bandages and anti-microbe creams, anti-diarrheal pills, and water purification tablets.
Always bring a flashlight for nighttime and dark days with rain!
Cherrapunji is a destination unlike many other ‘traditional’ tourist spots that boast easy living and comfort. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting a laid-back vacation, the more adventurous, nature-loving types might appreciate what Cherrapunji has to offer!
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