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Destinations #DiscoverTheUndiscovered: Ever Been To Laitmawsiang In Meghalaya?
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#DiscoverTheUndiscovered: Ever Been To Laitmawsiang In Meghalaya?

Laitmawsiang in Meghalaya is one of India's best-kept secrets. If you have been dreaming of exploring a hidden gem, this is your best bet!

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By: Kashish Arora Published: Feb 06, 2021 07:00 AM IST

#DiscoverTheUndiscovered: Ever Been To Laitmawsiang In Meghalaya?

#DiscoverTheUndiscovered: Laitmawsiang in Meghalaya is one of India’s best-kept secrets. If you’ve been dreaming of exploring a hidden gem, this place should be on top of your bucket list. By Kashish Arora

Known as the home of cotton-candy clouds, the north-eastern state of Meghalaya is endowed with sweeping views of timbered valleys, glassy lakes, sparkling waterfalls and ancient caves. Dotted with British colonial architecture galore, this destination is an ideal hideaway to unwind amidst nature.

 

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Meghalaya is home to many tribes–Garo, Khasi, Jaintia and the likes. In the Khatarshnong Laitkroh neighbourhood of East Khasi Hills, there’s a quaint village called Laitmawsiang. This place will instantly transport you to a fairy tale; think dazzling waterfalls, mystical ponds, secret caves and lush thickets everywhere.

Contoured by dense floral hedges and emerald green bushes, this village houses prehistoric fossils in ancient caves, gardens and waterfalls on the road to Cherrapunji. Garden of Caves or Ka Bri Synrang, a 2.5-hectare property with seven primary spots — Sum Syeim Falls, U Mawhdohnud (rock in a heart shape), Ka Synrang ryiem (cave of the king), Ki Stieh Maw, Arsdad Falls and Riat Umlwai Falls, offer a resting place to a multitude of caves and cascades, created mainly through seasonal rainfalls and scenic waterfalls.

 

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If Meghalaya has never been on your travel bucket list, it’s time you should chart out a new itinerary that is conducive to caving expeditions to quell your desire for exploring hidden gems. The gardens and caves in this area have existed for more than 50 centuries. In the past, these caves were used as a hiding place by the Khasi tribes and local patriots from the British era. The place was inaccessible and surrounded by dense forests then. Since it came across as a foreboding hideout, barely anyone dared to enter through the curling vines.

The whole place today is illuminated with sun rays along with the reflection of sparkling ponds. While the stupendous waterfalls create a great view to savour, what adds to the beauty of this place is the bamboo trail that sets for a great entry to the garden caves. It leads you to the perennial underground water, great for drinking due to its healing and medicinal properties.

Best Time To Visit

You can visit the Garden of Caves at any time of the year. However, since waterfalls tend to freeze in winters, the best time to visit is during the monsoon months. The months of August and September are ideal.

The Garden of Caves is open seven days a week, and visitors can enter from 8:30 am in the morning. The cost is INR 30 per person with INR 20 extra for getting your hands on some medicinal water. To bring a mobile camera indoors you will have to shell out an additional 20 bucks.

Getting There

The closest domestic airport happens to be in Shillong, which is 52 km away from Laitmawsiang. Many tourists prefer travelling by train, and the nearest railway station is in Guwahati, which is 145 km away from this spot. Tourists wanting to embark on road trips from Shillong can book a full-day taxi trip to the destination.

Related: Visit These Offbeat Places In Meghalaya Post Lockdown For A Unique Spiritual Experience

Written By

Kashish Arora

Kashish Arora

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