Located about 90 kms away, the Living Roots Bridge, Mawlynnong and Dawki tour takes one full day if you are headed from Shillong. Should you be planning a tour of Cherrapunjee too, consider staying overnight at Cherrapunjee and head for the Living Roots Bridge-Mawlynnong-Dawki circuit the next morning. This way, you will save about an hour’s drive. Shillong being my hometown, I have never clubbed the tours though. We set out on different days with filled-to-the-brim picnic baskets, eager to be charmed and fall in love with the beautiful countryside. The landscape changes from lush green hills to bare plateaus and back to hills with pine trees giving way to betel vegetation even as you go towards the Indo-Bangladesh border post.
The Living Roots Bridge is truly a wonder! Be ready to walk down a 70-odd stairway for the little stream that has the bridge. Small stalls sell walking sticks, cut seasonal fruits and snacks at the beginning of the climb. And be ready to be awed by the handmade, living bridge made by the local Khasis over the years with arial thick roots of the Ficus Elastica tree. For those who are up to it, we’d suggest you go for a trek along the adjacent hills…
Mawlynnong village, touted to be the cleanest village in Asia, is really a disappointment. It is a dolled-up village with every home selling some handicrafts. Local restaurants abound offering both veg and non-veg fare. We were looking for local Khasi food and found none.
Mawlynnong to Dawki is about an hour’s southward drive. Here flows the famous Umngot river, so clear that you can see the reflection of the boat on a good day. The best time to visit are the winter months, when the river and the days are crystal clear. Go boating and look out for Bangladesh on the other side of the river! We also walked bare-feet along the bank of the river in a little island just off the riverfront…
A 10-minute walk from the riverfront is the Dawki-Tamabil Indi-Bangladesh border crossing post. A photo on the no-man’s land is a must here!
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Plan your Shillong holiday with help from our detailed posts at — Holiday in Shillong — Falling in love with her hills
Want to go to Cherrapunjee? Read about what all you can see there: Day-Trip To Cherrapunjee from Shillong (Meghalaya)
Here’s about sight-seeing within Shillong city — Must-See Places Within Shillong City
Shopping in Shillong — What To Buy When In Shillong