Tour Overview

• Day 1

  BY AIR – ARRIVE DELHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT + DELHI / GUWAHATI

  Arrive Delhi International Airport. After clearing security checks proceed for board flight for Guwahati. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and check in at your hotel in Guawahati.Overnight in Guwahati.

• Day 2

  GUWAHATI / CHEERAPUNJI (170 KMS )

  After breakfast proceed to visit Kamakhya Temple : is an important Hindu Tantric goddess of desire that evolved in the Himalayan hills. She is also identified as Kali and Maha Tripura Sundari. According to the Tantric texts (Kalika Purana, Yogini Tantra) that are the basis for her worship at the Kamakhya temple, a 16th-century temple in the Kamrup district of Assam. The earlier manifest of the goddess sanctified at the Garo hills is destroyed, although the Vatsayana priests are said to have carried away the manifest of the goddess to the Hindu kingdom in Kashmir and later sanctified in a remote hill forest in Himachal. Her name means "renowned goddess of desire," and she resides at the presently rebuilt Kamakhya Temple in 1645 C. The temple is primary amongst the 51 Shakti Peethas related to the cult of Sati, and remains one of the most important Shakta temples and Hindupilgrimage sites in the world. After visit proceed drive to cheerapunji en-route visiting Borapani Umiam Lake, a majestic placid lake with its surrounding sylvan hills. Upon arrival check in at hotel in Cheerapunji. Upon arrival check in at hotel.
  The original name for this town was Sohra (so-har-a), which was pronounced "Churra" by the British. This name eventually evolved into the current name, Cherrapunji. The name "cherrapunji" which means 'land of oranges' was first used by tourists from other parts of India. Despite perennial rainfall, Cherrapunji faces an acute water shortage and the inhabitants often have to trek long distances to obtain potable water.[2] Irrigation is also hampered due to excessive rain washing away the topsoil as a result of human encroachment into the forests. The Meghalaya state government has renamed Cherrapunjee back to its original name, "Sohra". There is a monument to David Scott (British Administrator in NE India, 1802–31) in the Cherrapunji cemetery. The history of the Khasis – the inhabitants of Cherrapunji – may be traced from the early part of the 16th century. Between the 16th and 18th centuries these people were ruled by the 'Syiems (rajas or chiefs) of Khyriem' in the Khasis (Kha-nasis) hills. The Khasis hills came under British authority in 1883 with the submission of the last of the important syiems, Tirot Singh. Overnight in Cheerapunji

• Day 3

  CHEERAPUNJI

  After breakfast proceed for visit to explore Krem Mawmluh Cave : The entrance is easily found by following the river behind the cement works of the Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited, downstream for about 200 metres to a point where the river disappears underground. The main sink entrance requires wading through water, which in the dry season turns into a deadly black quicksand from the effluents of the cements works. The best option to enter the cave would be through a high level bypass entrance which runs parallel to the main passage. PLEASE DO NOTE THAT MAWMLUH CAVE WAS STOPPED DUE TO CEMENT FACTORY IN CHERRAPUNJEE AS THE DEPOSITS WERE EFFECTING THE CAVE SYSTEM AND ALSO IT DEPENDS ON THE RIVER SYSTEM BENEATH PRE AND POST MONSOON SOMETIMES IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO CAVING. Overnight in Cheerapunji

• Day 4

  IN CHEERAPUNJI

  An engineering marvel of Indigenous Khasi Tribesmen : or Khasis are an indigenous tribe, the majority of whom live in the State of Meghalaya which is in the north eastern part of India, with a significant population in the border areas of the neighbouring state of Assam, and in certain parts ofBangladesh. They call themselves Ki Khun U Hynñiewtrep, which means "The Children of The Seven Huts" in the Khasi language. Their language, also called Khasi, is categorized as the northernmost language under the Austroasiatic family stock. The Khasi language was essentially oral until the arrival of Christian missionaries. Particularly significant in this regard was a Welsh evangelist,Thomas Jones, who transcribed the Khasi language into the Roman script. The Khasi people form the majority of the population of the eastern part of Meghalaya, and is the state's largest community. Though the majority of the 85.00 % Khasi populace have embraced Christianity, a substantial minority of the Khasi people still follow and practice their age old indigenous religion, which is known as "Ka Niam Khasi" and it is their belief that the rooster (U Syiar Khraw Jutang) is sacrificed as a substitute for man, it being thought that the rooster "bears the sins of men and by its sacrifice, man will obtain redemption"[2] (compare Kapparot). Other religious group practiced among the Khasis include Presbyterian (the largest Christian denomination among the Khasis), Anglican,Unitarian, Roman Catholic, and others. A small number of Khasis, as a result of inter-community marriages, are also Muslims. There is also a very small number of Khasi Hindus inhabiting the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, a result of hundreds of years of exposure to the plains of Bengal and Assam. The main crops produced by the Khasi people are betel leaf, areca nut, oranges, local rice, vegetables, etc. Who weaved the routes of the ereca tree to make bridges across streams. Return to Resort after a picnic lunch at the bridge. Evening at leisure to experience the breathtaking views of the Khasi hills and the plains of Bangladesh Stay Overnight in Cheeranpunji

• Day 5

  CHEERAPUNJI / SHILLONG

  After breakfast drive to Shillong, at Shillong visit Don Bosco Museum, later visit the Archery Field to witness the traditional Archery Game of the Khasi tribes played from centuries. Evening explore the local markets and overnight stay in Shillong. Overnight in Shillong

• Day 6

  SHILLONG

  After breakfast proceed for full day excursion to Mawlynnong/Mawlynnong Village located in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, also referred as ‘God’s own garden’ has won the acclaim of being the cleanest village in Asia in 2003. The village known for its cleanliness is located around 90 kms from Shillong and is a community based eco-tourism initiative. The community has made collective effort to maintain the ambience of a clean village. The village offers picturesque natural beauty, a trek to the living root bridge at a neighbouring village Riwai. The village also offers a sight of natural balancing rock, a strange natural phenomenon of a boulder balancing on another rock. The adage "Neighbours envy, owners pride' is apt for Mawlynnong as it has earned the distinction of being one of the cleanest villages in Asia, a fact that every Mawlynnong villager is proud of and other villagers are envy of. The village is quite pretty, especially in the monsoons when there is lush greenery all around, with waterfalls paving the way to small streams and abundance of flowering orchids dangling from the trees and hedges add to the beauty of the village. Later trek for 10 min to visit the Single Decker Living Root Bridge in Riwai village : North East areas experience heavy rainfall and lengthy monsoons. So tribals here do not believe that building wooden bridges is worth since they may decay and get destroyed. Hence, root bridges provide a stable alternative to wooden bridges. Living root bridge is a form of tree shaping like bonsai. This beautiful art of growing bridges is only found in North East Areas. The bridge is handmade from aerial roots of living banyan and fig trees by the local Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Did you know that it takes about 15 years to build a new bridge which can bear the weight of people crossing it. Over a period of time, the bridge will grow and become stronger. Some bridges are believed to be hundred years old but no one knows their exact age. Living root bridges are created to overcome frequent and fierce floods which can blow away normal bridges. This is because root bridges have many pores which allows the water to flow away and leaves the structure intact. Overnight in Shillong

• Day 7

  SHILLONG /GUWAHATI – BOARD FLGHT FOR ONWARD DESTINATON

  After breakfast proceed for Guwahati airport to board flight for onward destination