The Cave Garden Of Meghalaya (North East India) - A Remote Gem Hidden in Plain Sight

Important Note: 

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

Want to avoid the frantic crowds? Then head straight to the quaint village of Laitmawsiang, Meghalaya aptly titled the "Garden of Caves". Situated in dense forests, surrounded by bushes, shrubs & entwining vines lies the untouched, unexplored gem of Meghalaya. In fact, this place is listed as one of the best tourist places to visit in Meghalaya. 

  

The caves are inaccessible to the outside world except for the first rays of the sun, which shimmer on it transforming the waters into sparkles of a diamond. This cave has an intricate network that is suitable for hiding. It is for this very reason, the Khasi tribes used it to avoid the British troops. 

           Picture Credit:  Abhiyansh kumar dikshit / CC BY-SA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) 

It is on the way to Cherrapunji, a place notorious for its extremely heavy rainfall. Cherrapunji was called "THE WETTEST PLACE" for recording the highest amount of rainfall in India. Off late, it has lost the title to Mawsynram, a place also in Meghalaya. 

The Cave Gardens has come to the limelight due to the heritage trails organized by the Govt.of Meghalaya and with the information onslaught on Social Media. 

The best time to visit is in August when the rains are in full fury. It is situated in the Laitmawsiang village of Sohra, approx. 10 km from  Laitryngew. You can also access it through Shillong or Cherrapunji. 

Be sure to carry your travel gear(a.k.a knee-high boots) and take extra care due to the slippery outfields.

Extra Place Highlighters(For your HELP):

Cuisine: Meghalaya is known for its Red Rice & Meat lovin' inhabitants. Almost everyone in Meghalaya consumes the staple item, Rice & spiced meat. The trademark tribal dish or Khasi dish is boiled rice or Jadot. The Khasis give more emphasis on meat, be it Beef, Mutton, Chicken but Pork is the clear favorite. If you are a Pork eater, then you are in for a treat. 

Smoked, Fried & Roasted varieties are on the platter. The Garo tribe, another tribal class too prefers meat laden with spices. Fish is abundant too. Pickled Bamboo dishes are also a hit among the masses. So try this unique dish to titillate your taste buds. 

Kyat (Fermented Rice beer) is a must-try when in Meghalaya. Other popular beverages are Cha Khoo & Sha Shiakrot. 

Nearest Rail Station: The nearest railway station is in Guwahati which is 145km away from Laitmawsiang. From Guwahati, you can hop on a taxi to Shillong and visit Garden of Caves midway.

Distance by Road: The nearest point is Shillong and you can hire a full day taxi ride to visit Laitmawsiang

Nearest Airport: You guess it right, The closest airport is Shillong, located around 50 km apart.

Regional Attire: If you are a cultural follower and like to source regional outfits then you need to pick the Meghalayan attire. Simple and elegant, the body-hugging cloth turns you into a medieval warrior. Hey, but don't use your Ninja skills on people :).   

Garo men wear a loincloth as their traditional dress. The men of the Khasi Tribe wears a long cloth around their waist which is untailored. It's identical to a Dhoti which can be complemented with a jacket, turban, or other headgear.

Khasi Women wear long dress tailored with Assam Muga silk. The senior women wear Jainkup made using a woolen cloth. They also wear costume adorning accessories that complement the look.

As a general rule for tourists, wearing woolen cloth in winters and cotton outfit in spring is a must due to the extreme weather climes. Do not forget to carry thick cloth sets for protection during the rainy season.

Budget Accommodations/Hotels:  If you miss your flight or are planning for a long haul, then booking a cozy resting place is a pre-requisite. If you are familiar with hotel bookings, then try booking using TRIPADVISOR.COM  or AGODA booking engine. It has some excellent and cheap deals, with minimum hassle and documentation. 

List of Budget hotels:

·                     OYO Blooming Inn guest House

·                     Holiday Inn

·                     Shillong Mantra Guest House 

·                     Hotel Gateway Shillong

·                     Hotel Holy Gate

·                     Hotel Polo Towers

Nearby attractions:

1.                   Nohkalikai Falls

2.                   Upper Shillong Forest

3.                  Jingmahan Living Root Bridge entirely nature-made form tree roots

I hope you all tick this Paradise on Earth as the next destination in your Bucket list. 

Happy Journey & see you till I come out with another hidden gem.