Kynrem Falls–7th highest waterfall in India

At 1,001 feet (305m), the Kynrem falls is the 7th highest waterfall in India. It is a three tiered waterfall that is located in the Thangkharang Park near Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

 

It is a three tiered waterfall that can either be viewed as a long shot from the view points inside Thangkharang Park or as a view from the bottom from the road that connects Cherrapunji to the Bangladesh border.



Again as with most other waterfalls in Meghalaya, this one too is a seasonal waterfall that was just a tiny trickle. I guess monsoons is the best time to visit Meghalaya just to see these amazingly gigantic waterfalls in full flow.

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Nohsngithiang Falls–5th highest waterfall in India

This is one of Meghalaya’s most scenic spots. It is also the place where India’s 5th highest falls exists. The Nohsngithiang Falls, at 1,033 feet, is a seven-segmented waterfall that plunges over the top of limestone cliffs of the Khasi Hills. It is also known as the Seven Sister Waterfalls and the Mawsmai Falls.


It is situated close to Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Unfortunately, when I was there recently, I could only see a faint trickle in this seasonal waterfall, but, the sheer drop made for a fantastic sight. Not only is the waterfall beautiful, but the entire cliff view and the landscapes around it are outstanding. This waterfall must have offer a stupendous sight in full flow.

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Landscapes near Nohsngithiang Falls, Meghalaya

The Nohsngithiang Falls is located near Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It is supposed to be the 4th highest waterfall in India, but when one takes a look at the landscapes around it, the sheer barrenness defies the existence of this waterfall.


The landscape hardly looks green, does not have any trees, just medium sized grass and small hillocks. In short, it looks like a flood plain.


And that is how this waterfall also behaves. It comes into existence only during the rainy season and I guess because of this barren landscape, water doesn’t get absorbed and flows like a raging flood into the abyss below.


But that is how varied nature is in Meghalaya and this place is sure a great treat for the traveller’s eyes.

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Cliffs of Meghalaya

The massive canyons near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya and the fact it receives the heaviest rainfall on the planet ensures that there a lot of cliffs in this part of the world. It gets even better when one can stare at nature’s vast beauty from atop any of these cliffs.

 
One can find such cliffs while driving down from Shillong to Cherrapunji. And most of the popular ones have a designated view point for the benefit of the tourists. And for those who are adventurous can trek on the nearby ridge to find their own cliff view point.

 
The best part about these cliffs is that each one of them offer a different view. Some offer view of waterfalls, some offer views of the green valley below, some offer views of the meandering river or hill stream, some offer views of the neighbouring country of Bangladesh, while the others offer simple and crazy depth views.


And it is such cliffs that make one’s trip unique and a wholesome experience. Meghalaya and the East Khasi Hills district in particular is blessed to have such cliffs and this is a key ingredient of Meghalays’s natural beauty.

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The Noh Kalikai Image Gallery

Noh Kalikai Falls is one of the most stunning places in Meghalaya and should I say India in overall. The tall single step drop surrounded by meandering valleys and mighty canyons is a sight to behold.


This mighty waterfall also has a share in Meghalaya’s folklore, which says that a mother named ‘Kalikai’ fell from the top of the waterfall for unknowingly eating the human meat of her daughter that was presented to her by her husband (Her husband hated Kalika'i’s daughter). Noh Kalikai means ‘Fall of Kalikai’ and that was how the name came about or at least that’s what the folklore says.


Here are some images from my Noh Kalikai gallery that capture the 1500 plus foot drop, the meandering valleys, the dense forests and the mighty canyons.

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Road that leads into Bangladesh

It was a bright day and I was at Thangkharang Park in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. While hiking through this park, I saw this meandering road set amidst the green forested hills.


It was a very scenic setting for a road, but only later did I find out that this road has political significance too as it leads into the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.

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Pretty Yellow Flowers from Thangkharang Park, Meghalaya

Thangkharang park is one of Meghalaya’s popular tourist attractions. It is situated near Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.


The thing special about Thangkharang park is that one can get a great view of the Bangladesh flood plains from here. Though, to get a good view, one needs less humidity in the air, which is very difficult to get given the amount of water bodies in this region.


The Thangkharang park as such offers the tourist with great walks through their well preserved eco system.


It was during one such walk that I came across these pretty yellow flowers. These pretty beings were shining golden yellow in the afternoon sun and this made them look even prettier. It was only when I was touring the rest of Meghalaya did I figure out that this was their season of bloom.


Though, I have no idea about their name. Would appreciate if anyone could help me identify them.

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Noh Kalikai Falls - Magic of Meghalaya

Noh Kalikai Falls, in my mind, is the highlight of Meghalaya’s tourist attractions. It is one of the highest single step waterfalls in India and the highest in Meghalaya’s wettest district.


It flows as a fast stream through dense jungles before it plunges from a height of 1500 to 2000 feet into a pool below (there is no official record of the height of this waterfall). The setting itself is mind blowing with dense greenery and canyons surrounding this waterfall.


The valley below also offers spectacular sights with the rocky meandering river snaking right through the heart of it. The tourist can catch views of this spectacular setting through three view points. One of them is the balcony of a nearby hotel and the other two are designated Meghalaya Tourism view points.


The adventurous tourist can also walk down some few thousand steps right to the bottom of the waterfall. The Meghalaya tourism and the local council have done a good job in building this path and thus allowing the tourist to get a taste of a different dimension of this waterfall.

 
Situated close to Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, the Noh Kalikai Falls offers a magical experience that is second to none.

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Panoramic Green Canyons of Meghalaya

There are quite a few things that impressed me when I backpacked to Meghalaya, but one of the things that really stood out was the massive and wide canyons of Cherrapunji.


These canyons are an integral part of the East Khasi hills and are the main reason for the plummeting waterfalls and fast flowing rivers that drain into the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.


All the views from these canyons are extraordinary, but the best views come when you are located on the cliff edge of the opposite side of these canyons. That way, you get to admire their sheer size especially in terms of the area that they cover and the sheer drop below them. Such a drop can give anybody goose bumps.

 
And if you happen to visit these canyons just after the rains, you can be awarded with a dense green blanket cover that nearly covers the entire canyon.


Such is the beauty of this place that one can just sit on the cliff’s edge and stare into eternity. Don’t miss the sight of these canyons when you plan to visit Meghalaya and the Cherrapunji circuit in particular. They are simply stunning!

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Crystalline Mawsmai Cave, Meghalaya, North East India

There is something about caves that appeals to me. May be its their weirdness or their complex forms inside or the sheer thrill of crouching on your stomach to move from one part of the cave to another.


The Mawsmai cave of Meghalaya is no different. In fact, it is a beautiful combination of all of the above. Situated close to Cherrapunji, the Mawsmai cave is one of the more popular tourist destinations of Meghalaya.

 
This limestone cave is in great shape as it has been preserved well by Meghalaya Tourism. The stalactites and stalagmites here very special as they are covered with bright crystals, which glitter in the artificial light. As I have said before on other caves, the various forms created by these stalactites and stalagmites are reason enough to let your imagination run wild.


The opportunities to see various shapes, forms and figurines are endless. The entire tourist corridor of the cave is well lit with eco-friendly lights making for a great exhibition for the traveller. One can even spot life forms that manage to live inside these caves. Meghalaya tourism has thoughtfully put up boards at the entrance helping the tourist understand the various plant, algae, moss and insect species that call this place their home.



Surprisingly, the Mawsmai cave has decent head clearance most of the way. In fact, if I remember right, I only crouched a couple of times, which is amazing given the bruises that I have endured during my visit to other caves across India.

 

The only sad part is that though the caves are long and winding, only a small portion is open for the tourists. But then, keeping safety in mind, I think it is a sensible option. This is a must visit if you happen to tour the North Eastern state of Meghalaya in India.

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Scenic Landscape of Cherrapunji

Meghalaya as a state can offer you the view of some vibrant and varied landscapes. At some places, dense green forests span the entire horizon. While on the other end, you have barren looking grasslands or jaw-dropping canyons.


In this case, I was surprised to see a desert like setting by the main highway road. It was only when I got down did I find out that it was the dry bed of a small stream flowing nearby.

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Duwan Sing Syiem View Point, Sohra Circuit, Meghalaya, North East India

The Sohra circuit of Meghalaya is known for its waterfalls, caves and view points. One of the more famous view points in this district is the Duwan Sing Syiem view point.


You can find this view point right after an old bridge on the road that connects Cherrapunji to Shillong. The wavy green hills and valleys, the dense forests, the meandering river and the clear blue skies make this view point a spectacular setting.

 
There are a couple of ways to enjoy this scenic setting. One can either see this right from the road or can take the flight of steps and a short dirt trail to reach the other end.


Both points provide picturesque views of the valley. Such is the beauty of this place that all photos look top class.

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Wakaba Falls–The Canyon Waterfall in the Cherrapunji district of Meghalaya

Meghalaya (land of the clouds) as we all know is home to the wettest place on the planet and hence it is no surprise to know that it hosts a whole bunch of waterfalls. And the Cherrapunji district situated in the East Khasi Hills is host to some of the more famous ones.


When I was in this district sometime last month, I happened to visit the Wakaba Falls, which I refer to as the ‘Canyon Waterfall’. The entire piece of land around resembles a canyon and the waterfall falls from that into the deep gorges below.

 
The best part is that when you view this waterfall from the opposite end, you end up getting a near 240 degree view of the canyon and the plummeting waterfall in the middle of it.



And all around it was dense greenery. Since I was there during the non-rainy season, the waterfall was a faint trickle, but I can imagine its gigantic sight during the monsoons.



But, even in the dry season, the aura of this canyon waterfall can completely captivate you. It will only make you want to visit this place in the rainy season, which I am sure I will do some day soon.

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