India: The Living Root Bridges of CherrapunjiIndia: The Living Root Bridges of Cherrapunji

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel before we embark on our adventure towards Cherrapunji, a route that brings us through breathtaking landscapes (total drive time approx. 5 hours). On the way, we’ll encounter Umiam Lake, surrounded by Khasi pines, one the largest artificial lakes in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Another favorite stop on this road trip is Elephant Falls, a dramatic tiered waterfall that’s sure to take your breath away. We’ll view Nohkalikai Falls and pause at the Duwan Sing Syiem viewpoint, where you can become entranced by the endless hills. In the evening, we’ll have dinner and take some time to rest after a dynamic day on the road.

This morning after breakfast, we’ll make our way to Tyrna Village, the basepoint for the remarkable Living Root Bridge trek. Make your way along this winding path through the tangled jungle before arriving at the dramatic Umshiang Double-Decker bridge, where you’ll leave your baggage at our homestay for the night (3.5 km of hiking over 2–3 hours). This amazing masterpiece features two living root suspension bridges stacked on top of each other. Afterwards, soak your feet and treat yourself to a free fish pedicure at one of the natural pools near the bridge before our overnight homestays in Nongriat Village. (Note: Amenities at these homestays will be basic.) We’ll be gracious guests in this small community, and after a long day hiking through wet, humid jungle, should all be ready for a full night’s sleep.

This morning after breakfast with our hosts, we’ll set out through the jungle on the Living Root Bridge trek. On this expedition into some of nature’s most remarkable wonders, we’ll encounter a whole number of living root bridges and hanging bridge systems. Today’s a big adventure —be prepared to hike about 4–5 hours in total. In the afternoon, we’ll reach the rainbow falls, where the sunlight lights up the water, producing a colorful rainbow as the sun begins to dip from east to west. Enjoy a refreshing dip near the waterfalls or relax in a smaller pond. We’ll have a prepared lunch and then return the way we came to the Nongriat Village homestay in the afternoon. Enjoy a leisurely last evening in the jungle taking in your surroundings.

Take your time with any last explorations of the area this morning before we begin our climb back up. It’s a steep climb to reach the parking lot, so be sure to get plenty of rest and hydration beforehand. Once we’ve made it back to the road, we’ll depart for Cherrapunji. After about a 40-minute drive, we’ll have another night at Royal View Resort, where you’ll have the evening to explore the area at your own pace before joining back with our group for dinner.

Today, we’re setting out on another road trip! This time we’re headed towards Mawylynnong. This town is also known as “God’s own garden,” considered by many to be the cleanest village in Asia. A community of over 80 homes, the village has a calm ambiance that will make you feel like you’ve stepped right into a botanical garden. After stopping by the village, we’ll climb an 80-foot sky walk for a bird’s eye view of the scene below, where we’ll be able to see as far as Bangladesh. While here, we’ll also be introduced to the Khasi lifestyle, learning about their culture and the economy of the village. The Khasi tribe is famous for the prioritization of maternal empowerment; children inherit their mothers’ surnames and property is passed through matrilineal lines. We’ll then settle into our guest house for dinner and a peaceful evening.

After breakfast, we’ll spend the morning driving to Rangthylliang Village, where we’ll begin our day hike through another region of the living root bridges. Highlights of today include taking part in a Living Root Adventure—whether you choose a swing or Tarzan experience, you’ll want to see this. Today we’ll get to view both the longest and highest living root bridges, and fill up our appetites with a local-style lunch filled with the area’s traditional dishes. Our group will also have the very special opportunity to learn about the living root bridges from a local expert who has dedicated the past several years to their preservation. He’ll show us around the Centre for Knowledge for Living Architecture, which is dedicated to sharing the history of these bridges and steps towards regional conservation. After an action-packed day, we’ll return by road 30-45 minutes to our guesthouse in Pongtung.

After a relaxed morning, we’ll drive towards the city of Shillong, a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya. The area’s landscape features a jaw-dropping plateau surrounded by Khasi hills, with incredible viewpoints throughout. We’ll swap the jungle for a city adventure, visiting the Cathedral of Mary, Don Bosco Museum, and Ward’s Lake. Ward’s Lake happens to be home to one of the largest golf courses in Asia, situated within a valley of thick pine groves and rhododendron trees. In the evening, you’ll have free time to explore at your leisure. You might consider stopping by the famous Police Bazaar for some shopping before calling it a night.

Today we’ll make our way back towards Guwahati, where we first kicked off our adventure (drive time approx. 3 hours). In Guwahati, we’ll take a city tour, beginning with Nagagraha Temple, also known as the Temple of Nine Planets. We’ll have the opportunity to view the stunning Umananda Temple, situated on Peacock Island, and Srimanata Sankardev Kalakshetra, a cultural center that includes a museum, library, and open-air theatre complete with mountain views. For our final evening, we’ll enjoy a quiet river cruise along the Brahmaputra River. Enjoy some time on your own before we gather for one last delicious meal together.

After a truly unique 10 days together, it’s time to catch flights home or onto your next destination. We’ll arrange an included airport transfer to the Guwahati Airport in the morning, depending on the timing of your flights. Until next time!