About Mawlynnong

Country: India | State: Meghalaya

Ideal Trip Duration: Full Day

Nearest City to Mawlynnong: Guwahati (170 Kms), Shillong (78 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Mawlynnong: June to November

Peak Season: August to October

At a distance of 9 km from Riwai, 78 km from Shillong, 81 km from Cherrapunjee, 91 km from Jowai, 92 km from Mairang, 124 km from Nongpoh, 170 km from Guwahati, 203 km from Kamrup, 211 km from Morigaon, 263 km from Barpeta, Mawlynnong is a scenic village located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya in North East India. Also referred as 'God's own Garden', it is renowned as the cleanest village in Asia and among the top places to visit in Meghalaya.

Blessed with pristine natural beauty, Mawlynnong is a community based eco-tourism initiative by Meghalaya Tourism Department. This 100 years old village won the title of Asia's cleanest village in 2003 and the cleanest village in India in 2005 which was given by the travel magazine 'Discover India'. There were about 95 homes in Mawlynnong and the people residing here belong to the Khasi and Garo tribe. The village community has made collective effort to maintain the ambience of a clean village. The waste is collected in the dustbins made of bamboo, directed to a pit and then used as manure.

The village is quite pretty, especially in the monsoons when there is lush greenery all around, with waterfalls and abundance of flowering orchids add to the beauty of the village. Living Root Bridge at Riwai, Sky Walk / Sky View, Balancing Rock, Church of Epiphany and Rymben Falls are the prime places to visit in Mawlynnong. The village also offers breathtaking view of Bangladesh plains as it is located on the Indo-Bangla border. Surprisingly, the village has hundred percent literacy and most of the villagers are familiar with the English language.

Guwahati Airport is the nearest major airport which is about 192 km from Mawlynnong and is well-connected by flights with cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Jaipur. About 170 km, Guwahati Railway Station is the nearest rail head to Mawlynnong which has direct trains from Kolkata, Delhi, Agartala, Mumbai, Bikaner, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Patna, Kanyakumari, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Chennai and Jammu Tawi. Shillong Bus Station is the nearest bus station and is well connected by road with all major cities around. One can take a taxi from Shillong to reach Mawlynnong.

The best way to explore the village is setting out on foot and it can cover with Dawki in one day. There are no hotels, but many locals offer homestays at affordable rates. Few of them are traditionally built bamboo huts, others are modern concrete built. The rooms are basic with western styled washrooms.

Mawlynnong experiences a cool and pleasant weather throughout the year. June to August is the monsoon time and is probably the best time to visit this village. During this season of the year, the flowers bloom and the environment becomes quite lively. Another good time to come to Malynnong is the September to December slot when the famous Nongkrem Dance Festival and Wangala festival happens.

...read more

Other Info
Internet Availability: Poor
STD Code: 03653
Languages Spoken: Khasi, Garo, English & Hindi
Major Festivals: Nongkrem Dance Festival & Wangala Festival
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Mawlynnong

By Air

Nearest Airport: Guwahati - Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (192 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Guwahati Railway Station (170 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Shillong (78 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

#4 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 3 km from Mawlynnong Bus Stop, Riwai Living Root Bridge is a natural root bridge situated at Riwai village near Mawlynnong in Meghalaya. It is one of the natural wonders of Meghalaya and among the best places to visit in Mawlynnong.

Also known as Jingmaham Living Root Bridge, this single decker bridge in Riwai is a 300 years old manmade bridge built across a stream by intertwining the aerial roots of Rubber trees around a Betel tree trunk. The roots keep growing out and entwining the trunk and the bridge is elongated to the desired destination taking about 10-15 years to completion. The roots thicken over time and the bridge is further strengthened with stones, sticks, leaves, bamboos and other items serving the purpose for hundreds of years. This is the only means for the villagers to cross the streams to reach the other side.

To reach the bridge, one has to trek around 300 meters from the parking area. However the visual rewards will be so great that visitors .....

...read more

#5 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 2 km from Mawlynnong Bus Stop, Sky Walk is a viewpoint located at Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Also known as Nohwet Viewpoint, it is one of the top places visit in Mawlynnong and among the best places to experience Meghalaya Tourism.

Sky Walk is an 85 feet high eco-friendly ladder-like structure that has been made entirely of bamboo poles tied to branches of six trees using jute and bamboo ropes. No nails or any metal has been used in putting the structure together. Visitors have to climb four circular layers of bamboo ladders that stretching across the tree branches. There is a square platform on the top from there one can get the bird's eye view of Mawlynnong village and Bangladesh Plains.

This structure was designed by a local school teacher named Rishop Khongthongreh and now it has become a famous tourist spot in Mawlynnong. The walking path, made of bamboo, is a bit difficult to navigate but when you reach the top, you will be .....

...read more

#6 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 500 m from Mawlynnong Bus Stop, Church of Epiphany is about 100 years old church located in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. It is one of the must see tourist places in Mawlynnong.

Church of Epiphany is the only church inside Mawlynnong village built in 1902 by Welsh Christian Missionaries. According to the legend, Welsh Christian missionaries came to this village in the 19th century from Bangladesh and since then, the village has been following a strong tradition of Christianity. Interestingly, the residents of Mawlynnong link the tradition of cleanliness to Christianity. They said that the missionaries changed their lives and taught the ways to reach God through cleanliness.

Encircled by narrow stone paths with plants bearing orange flowers reach out to the Church, which is a black and white structure. It has recently completed its hundred years and has a unique old charm. Walking along the premises of this church will sooth your mind and soul. There .....

...read more

#7 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 1 km from Mawlynnong Bus Stop, Balancing Rock of Mawlynnong is located on the outskirts of the village of Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Locally known as Maw Ryngkew Sharatia, it is one of the natural attractions in Meghalaya and among the must visit places in Mawlynnong.

The Balancing Rock is actually a huge boulder that stands at a peculiar angle on another rock. How the gigantic stone balances itself at such an odd angle remains a mystery. Enclosed by a wired fence, the structure has remained like that for ages and no cyclone or storm has been able to disturb the formation ever.

Surrounded by bamboo plantations, the place has many stories attached to it. According to the locals, this was the place where human sacrifices were made 1000 years back to appease the presiding deity of the area. However the guides say that this was actually an ancient shrine of the Khasi tribe that was no longer used after the advent of Christianity in Mawlynnong .....

...read more

#1 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 30 km from Mawlynnong, 57 km from Jowai, 71 km from Nongkrem, 80 km from Shillong, 84 km from Cherrapunjee, 95 km from Mairang, 172 km from Guwahati, 205 km from Kamrup, 223 km from Morigaon, 265 km from Barpeta, Dawki or Dauki is a small town in West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. Situated on the banks of Umngot River, it is one of the beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya.

Sandwiched between India and Bangladesh, Dawki is a border town in Jaintia Hills. It is also a major center of trade between India and Bangladesh. Dawki-Tamabil is one of the few road border crossings between India and Bangladesh which is mainly used for coal transportation to Bangladesh and also other places of India. The crystal clear Umngot River of Dawki is a major attraction that marks the natural separation between the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

Besides being a trade hub, this small town is known for its immense natural beauty. Umngot River, Umngot Bridge, Jaflong Zero Point .....

Distance (From Mawlynnong): 30 Kms
Trip Duration (From Mawlynnong - Including Travel): Full Day
.....

...read more

#2 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 98 km from Guwahati, 377 km from Dhaka, 414 km from Kohima, 420 km from Cooch Behar, 572 km from Siliguri, 594 km from Darjeeling, 631 km from Gangtok and 1116 km from Kolkata, Shillong is a mesmerizing hill station in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya in India. Shillong is the capital city of Meghalaya as well as the headquarters of East Khasi Hills district. It is one of the most picturesque hill stations in India and among the must include places in your honeymoon tour packages.

Perched at an attitude of 1496 m, Shillong is situated on a plateau bounded by the Umiam gorge on the north, Diengiei Hills on the northwest, and the hills of the Assam valley on the northeast. Shillong Peak is the highest point in Shillong with an altitude of 6449 feet. The city gets its name from the deity Shyllong or Lei Shyllong, who is worshipped at the Shillong Peak. The British fondly called Shillong the 'Scotland of the .....

Distance (From Mawlynnong): 78 Kms
Trip Duration (From Mawlynnong - Including Travel): 1-2 Days
.....

...read more

#3 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 54 km from Shillong, 80 km from Mawsynram, 84 km from Dawki, 146 km from Guwahati, 292 km from Tezpur, Cherrapunji or Cherrapunjee is a small sub divisional town in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It is one of the wettest places on the earth and among the must visit places in Meghalaya as part of honeymoon tour packages.

The original name for this town was Sohra, which was pronounced 'Churra' by the British. This name eventually evolved into the current name, Cherrapunji, which means the 'land of oranges'. According to the history, Cherrapunji is the traditional capital of a Nongkhlaw hima, an independent Khasi state. Between 16th and 18th centuries, the local residents were ruled by their tribal Syiems (chiefs) of Khyriem in the Khasi Hills. Tirot Sing was the last important Syiem of this area, who later admitted to the British in 1883 and ruled this place till independence.

Receiving an annual .....

Distance (From Mawlynnong): 81 Kms
Trip Duration (From Mawlynnong - Including Travel): Full Day
.....

...read more

#8 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 23 km from Mawlynnong and 70 km from Shillong, Byrdaw Falls is a mesmerizing waterfall situated at Pomshutia village in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Located on Shillong - Dawki Road, it is one of the beautiful waterfalls in East Khasi Hills and among the popular places to visit in Mawlynnong.

Byrdaw Falls is a two tiered waterfall cascading down from a height of about 150 m into a pool below. The falls is breathtaking especially during the monsoon season. One can also go behind the waterfall and experience the mighty flow of the falls. One need to trek 2 km trek from Pomshutia village and will take 30 minutes to reach the falls. Proper road and footpath are built in order to reach the waterfalls. There is also a cave situated just behind the falls. Better to take the guide while visiting the falls as it is a remote location.

Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM

...read more

#9 of 9 Places to Visit in Mawlynnong

At a distance of 15 km from Dawki and 26 km from Mawlynnong, Rymben Falls is a stunning waterfall situated near Lapalang village in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It is one of the magnificent waterfalls in Meghalaya and among the best places to experience Mawlynnong Tourism.

Also known as Wah Rymben Falls, it is formed over Rymben River. It is not so popular among tourists as it is hidden in the dense forests of East Khasi Hills. The waterfalls and its surrounding are very calm & quiet. One can spend some quality time amidst the nature. The falls is at its best during monsoon but be careful while entering into the waters.

As it is hidden in the dense forests, one needs to trek about 30 minutes to reach the falls from Lapalang village. Lapalang can be reached by taxi either from Shillong or from Dawki.

Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Fee

...read more