Travel

A JOURNEY TO THE HILLS

It was Monday morning and I decided to go for a trip. I packed my bags and got a train from Sonari to Guwahati.A three-hour drive uphill from Guwahati took me to Shillong. It is 1496 meters above sea level.I reached Shillong in the early morning of Wednesday. The view from the road was beautiful. I could feel the breeze and it smells pure. Birds chirping and the sun rays fall into my eyes. These sights unknowingly brought smile on my face. I was very hungry and went to a restaurant named Parish.

The first thing I came to notice was the cleanliness, it kept clean and tidy. A lady came near to me and asked me to give the order. The menus were very different. Roti and sabhji, red meat with rice were there items, parata were made in different way. Billing was paid to a woman. It was interesting to see women working. Pretty women behind small stalls sell pineapples and banana, honey and pickles in bottle.The driver told me some interesting facts about the people living in Meghalaya. He told me that women have a dominant role in the matrilineal society of Meghalaya. The youngest daughter of the family, the Ka Khadduh, inherits all ancestral property. After marriage, husbands live in the mother-in-law's home. The mother's surname is taken by children.

When no daughters are born to a couple, they adopt a daughter and pass their rights to property to her. The birth of a girl is celebrated while the birth of a son is simply accepted. There is no social stigma attributed to a woman remarrying or giving birth out of wedlock as the "Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act" gives security to them. Women are known to intermarry outside their tribe. The women who enjoy all the rights live an independent life, dress well, attend church, and many prefer not to get married. They enjoy total security, unlike in the rest of the country.A successful career women of the Khasi society feels that "their societal anomaly" has enabled her to be successful in every way.Most small businesses are managed by women.I stayed in the Lake view hotel.My first spot to visit was the Wards Lake which was 10 km from my hotel. I entered the wards lake, a small bridge I crossed and went for boating. For a minute I thought that I was in the Garden of Eden.My next spot was 40 km from the lake. Shillong view point was my spot. My next spot was 40 km from the lake.

Shillong view point was my spot. Mountaintop overlook with esplanades & observation towers offering sweeping vistas of Shillong City. There is also paid telescope service to view the city. Need to carry ID proofs since the route passes through a military area. My next day trip was to Cherrapunji. The distance from Shillong is 34 km. Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India. Its height is 1115 feet, making it as the highest waterfall in India. The waterfall is located near Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth. Everybody knows about the story of the waterfall. The lady's plunge, or so the legend goes. When we reached the falls, we only heard the sound of water gushing down the hill. In front of us was a thick layer of white fog. When it departed the view was beautiful, it was like the water falling from heaven.I visited the seven sister water fall. There are seven waterfalls, I could see all of them prominently as it had been raining those days out there. My last visit was in the Mawsma cave.

I really enjoyed passing through cave which has given a real flavor with up-down rocks, water dropping in between rocks and mid-dark view of cave. Just wear light shoes for walk around and loose fit clothes for easy walk. When I was passing through two rocks I saw two ways, I thought it would be the way out but it was written not to enter. I asked a man about these two ways. He told me that the one way shall lead to a temple in Assam and the other one to Bangladesh. I was really shocked to hear. It is also said that long back a King entered into the cave after a war but he could not return back. People still believe that he is alive. Finally, I completed my journey and return back home. I always prefer to travel because it brings me happiness and peace of mind.