It was a important day for me and our two children. Today while my
wife and mother was to take it easy and rest in the morning session we have been making them travel relentlessly
for last few days) while we three were to go for one of the toughest trek to
Living Double Root Bridge at Nongriat village. The toughness can be gauged by the mere
fact that it takes over 3500 stairs up and down one way, the altitude loss /
gain is of 500 m and the walk is about 3 km on the across a number of hills. In
this trek one sees the longest single root bridge and crosses two wire rope
bridges and a single root bridge before reaching Nongriat village.
The sun
in the hills is very strong and irritating in the hills of Meghalaya. That was also
our primary worry. As such we prefer to start early, we decided to start from
the resort at 0500 in our car to be dropped at Tryna village, the base for the
trek. However, we could actually be dropped at 0530 as the guide that was
committed to come to the hotel did not turn up. Cherapunjee Holiday resort was
kind enough to give us Cheese Sandwiches, apple and banana as packed breakfast
with a bottle of packaged water.
Our
trek started at 0540 after getting a guide at the parking (for Rs 600).
Initially it was a village road, mostly plane. Then came a downhill walk over
comfortable stairs. Next came a steep downward descent of over 70 degree
gradient. The stairs were laughing at us saying, “feel happy while going down,
don’t forget we are going to meet you on your return trip going up and make you
cry”. After we finished this set of steep downward stairs, it was time to visit
the longest single root bridge. Which is a small detour from the route to
Double Decker Root Bridge.
Longest
single root bridge was almost V shaped and narrow to walk. We enjoyed a trip on
it across the stream. It was also interesting to see another single root bridge
which has been completed but the roots are yet to become strong for it to be
used as a bridge.
After
this visit we resumed our walk to our objective. The route took us to two wire
stay bridges over turquoise green rivulets. We also crossed a small but very
sturdy single root bridge and soon after many up and down climbs / descents
reached the Nongriat village at about 0700 hrs.
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Emerald Green Water down the Steel wire bridge |
It was
just a wow scene to look at Double Decker root bridge. Some people have worked
for generations weaving the roots of a single rubber tree at two levels and
created a root bridge having not one but two carriageways on two bridges one
over the other. Welcoming us also was a
small waterfall with its sparkling clean and cold water. This water fall feeds
the small river that flows under this bridge. The fall was very inviting and we
did have a plan to take a dip but that had to wait for our photography session
to finish.
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Double Root Bridge |
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Double Root Bridge as Seen from its entry |
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Crossing the Double Root Bridge |
The bridge was photographed from various angles taking in to
account morning time and the position of the sun. Then we just could not wait
and soon we were enjoying a dip in clean, cold water of the fall. After
thoroughly enjoying the dip and changing, it was breakfast time. The packed
breakfast was testy and adequate. Post breakfast we had a cup of tea in a
nearby shop and then our return trip started at 0810 hrs.
Return trip was smooth but when sheer vertical stairs came,
climbing up hill became tough and we had to take frequent breaks after about 30
to 40 steps (I remember taking breaks few times after 50 steps also). We felt
out progress is slow but we pressed on completing our trek at 1000 hrs. As it
stood, we took just 4 hrs and 40 minutes, that too after spending over an hour
at the bridge. The determination that we showed and the times we achieved
impressed our guide too. He gave us oral certificate of having very good fitness.
Since we returned at 1000 hrs which is the usual time for most people to start
the trek hence he had a chance of getting one more trip as guide.
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With Our Guide post the Trip |
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Yeh, We did it. Leaving for Cherrapunjee Resort post Trip |
We returned to Chera Holiday resort post this trip. After a quick
fresh up we checked out and started our trip to Cherapunji Sights. Cherapunji
has some of the great waterfalls but sadly they are most active during Monsoons
and had little water post Monsoon. The seven sisters waterfall was at this time
just one or two narrow streams. But the scenic beauty of the surrounding areas is worth visit.
The Mawsmai lime Stone cave has a very narrow entrance where we were
told that one has to crawl to get into the cave which was not possible for some
members of our family. We dropped the plan to go to these caves and decided
instead to go to Arwah Caves having with wide open entry. These caves are
situated off the route of return trip to Shillong. However, we did go to the
road leading to Mawsami caves for a different reason.
The reason was, since we changed our plan and dropper Jowai trip
in Jantiya hills in southern Meghalaya, famous for multiple monoliths mounted
in memory of dead worriers or persons (vertical for man and horizontal for
woman) or to commemorate some major victory or event, we had to compensate. The
nearest Monoliths are present at beginning of the road leading to Mawsami
caves.
We visited a small set of Monoliths, both horizontal and vertical,
tall and not so tall, crowned (signifying memory of a king) and uncrowned. They
are inside two enclosures either side of the road and they are well preserved.
A visit is must if Jowai is not part of itinerary to get a glimpse of Jantiya culture.
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Monoliths enroute to Mawsmai caves
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Shreya in Front of a Male Monolith |
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Next was a visit to a 1846 built first Presbyterian
Church at this place. It is nice, clean and peaceful place showing the length
of missionary activity in Meghalaya.
Nohkalikai falls, one of the perennial falls of this place was the
next in our visit. Noh-ka-likai means Jump of Ms Likai. There is tragic story
associated with this fall and I will leave that story for every one to find
when they visit this place. Needless to say that this story has given rise to
many poems, etc in local language. Another important information is tallest
plunge water fall at a fall of 340 meters though from the view point made for
this fall it does not feel so but if the fall is viewed from the beautiful pond
that has got generated (due to this falls) the extent would be evident.
By this time we were famished and we headed to Orange Roots
Restaurant, one of the few pure veg places at Cherapunji. This was not purely for
the love of veg food but for the reputation of the place. We had lunch there
and then started off for Arwah caves.
Arwah also are old cave but has been opened to public with a
regular walking path few years ago. Earlier a rugged path was available but the
new path has made visiting the cave easy for everyone. It is a beautiful lime
stone cave with standing walk in entrance and also standing and walking viewing
of cave. The cave is long (may be a few km) but only about 150 m is open to
visitors. This area is well illuminated. It was a different experience like
never before.
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Entrance to Arwah Lime Stone caves |
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Inside View |
Post this visit, it was straight way back to Shillong. The usual
routine of dinner and then sleep followed.