Cherrapunji is one such place that has seen influx of tourists to Meghalaya over the years. Also known as Sohra, this high altitude city is famous for its living bridges, magnificent waterfalls, deep caves, beautiful cliffs and also has the distinction of being the second rainiest place in India after Mawsynram. It is just 2-3 hours drive from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, and the roads are definitely a driver’s paradise.
The nearest airport is located at Umroi, about 30 kilometers from Shillong and the nearest main railway station is at Guwahati. As a travel enthusiast, I would personally recommend anyone going to Cherrapunji to stay for at least 2 days to truly explore this paradise on earth. I am making the list of Cherrapunji tourist places that you must visit during your trip to this part of India.
1. The Famous Wei Sawdong Waterfall
Imagine being in a fabled land, enjoying the music of nature, sitting by a heavenly waterfall and just being happy. Well, I am almost sure this waterfall would have looked very similar to Wei Sawdong. It is undoubtedly one of the most surreal waterfalls you’ll ever have photographs of. And the best part, this waterfall is a three-tiered cascade that surely takes your breath away. If this doesn’t excite you yet, I am almost convinced, the route to reach this waterfall surely will! You’ll have to put on your trekking shoes for a few minutes to reach Wei Sawdong but honestly, the trek will be worth every minute. So, what’s stopping you my friend?
2. Dainthlen Falls
A scenic waterfall is the beautiful Dainthlen Falls that is located just about 5 kilometers from Sohra and happens to be one of the first spots that the tourists halt at. It is arguably one of the best places to relax and chill for sometime before entering the next destination in the Google Maps. The views are both illustrious and enthralling, and you won’t have second thoughts on spending some more time here. During the monsoons, the flow of the waterfalls surges a lot and by no means it’s a sight to miss! There is also a small yet interesting legend associated with this waterfall. I think the legend would be more interesting to ‘hear’ from the locals there than to ‘read’ here, so, let it remain a mystery till then! Okay?
3. Double Decker Living Root Bridge
Now comes the big name on this list; the famed Double Decker Root Bridge of Sohra! Let me take a wild guess, isn’t this one of the several names and reasons why you signed up for a trip to Meghalaya? Isn’t this one of the top names in your Meghalaya bucket list? Well, well, we know it just right. Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya are a major hit and big pride of this part of the world.
It’s undoubtedly a wonder of nature and amuses both the biologist and the tourist despite having some human touches of the locals to it. To reach this, you should again put on your trekking boots as it’s almost a 3-4 hour trek from Tyrna village (12 kilometers from Sohra) to Nogriat Village and then finally to the Double Decker Root Bridge. You can also choose to stay at the many beautiful homestays in Nongriat.
The whole trek to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge will be worth every minute. Make sure you carry your raincoats as well to dodge the frequent rainfalls there.
