The North East Travel Guide

If like me you are a nature's child, then a trip to the North East is the perfect getaway for you. North East had been top of our travel wish list for while. A few of our friends had been over to visit in recent years and would not stop going on about what a great time they had over there. So as part of our joint birthday celebration we set down last year, found some cheap(ish) flights and went about planning a trip that basically turned into one of the best trips we have ever had. North East has it all– mountains treks, rain forests, pub life and seriously good food. The people are welcoming and friendly and the scenery is STUNNING.

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SHILLONG

Where we stayed: Hotel Highwinds, The hotel was centrally located with a guesthouse vibe to it, staff was courteous and the breakfast selection was modest. However you can choose a better resort for the price, Cafe Shillong Bed and Breakfast is a popular one.

What we did: We decided to make Shillong our base and used a private cab service provider for transfers for the entire trip. This was probably the best decision we made as public transport is sketchy and the roads can be especially treacherous in the rainy season.

Shillong is a beautiful little hilly town with several options for dining and night life. Since it was our base for the entire trip, every evening we took a stroll to a different part of the city.The market area is usually bustling in the evening with a myriad of street vendors and small eateries filled with locals and tourists. We tried some traditional Assamese cuisine and of course momos.

However the highlight of our Shillong stay was the very famous Dylan's Cafe, ambiance was great along with the food and we reached just in time to catch a live performance by a very talented young lady.

CHERRAPUNJI

We started around 7am in the morning for a four hours drive to the famous living roots bridge in Cherrapungi. The weather was perfect for the ardorus trek with a bit of cloud and a slight drizzle of rain. We made a couple of stops along the way to marvel at numerous waterfalls and valleys that dotted either side of the road. The trek was oh my god! one of the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. The trek starts from the base of a small village called Tyna close to Cherrapunji and takes almost the entire day(especially if you are feeble like me). It is an arduous climb as you have to climb down over 3000 steps to reach the first single decker bridge and then another one-ish hour to reach the double decker bridge.The way leading to the destination is more exciting as you cross thick jungles, stone steps, water streams etc and the view from the spot is amazing. Be sure to take several breaks and carry some refreshments with you. If your body permits you can trek further to reach the rainbow falls where as per the villagers you can witness beautiful rainbows over some majestic waterfalls , however my legs were practically jelly by that time we decided to skip that part and head back. I spend the rest of the evening nursing my leg!

MAWLYNNONG and DAWKI

Mawlynnong is the cleanest village in Asia, it felt like a well put together park with beautiful flowers and scenery all around, there was a small entry free and the place was dotted with nice picturesque spots like tree houses and small eateries where you enjoy some local cuisine. We had a hearty lunch of fish and rice at one of the eateries whilst enjoying the nature.

Dawki was our next stop,a couple of hours worth of drive from Mawlynnong, it is a beautiful river in Meghalaya famous for its clean waters and boat rides. Options of night camping are available near the river, however we just rented a boat and enjoyed a small boat ride and the scenery around us.

Fun fact : You can actually see Bangladesh from the river.

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