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A Trail Through Meghalaya's Colonial Past

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A Trail Through Meghalaya's Colonial Past travel trail NATURE WALK A trail through Meghalaya’s colonial past Once lovingly called Scotland of the East by homesick British officers during the East India Company rule, Meghalaya still retains the crown. words // Edwina D’Souza Vistara | 60 | Jan 2019 travel trail NATURE WALK ith picturesque misty FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY U Tirot Singh was captured and hills, wild untouched David Scott was a British admiral deported to Dhaka, where he W rainforests, refreshing in the East India Company breathed his last in 1835. spring baths, and between 1802 and 1832. His rolling meadows, Meghalaya is services as the Commissioner of Today, the David Scott Trail is full of pristine natural beauty. You Revenue Circuits on the north recognised by the United Nations will never cease to be amazed east frontier covered areas that as an Indigenous and Community by its breathtaking nature trails, are modern day Bangladesh, Conserved Area (ICCA), which jaw-dropping waterfalls, countless Assam and Meghalaya. A remnant should come as no surprise since living root bridges and sacred of David Scott’s legacy is the 100 the people of Meghalaya have forests waiting to be discovered. kilometre horse-cart trail that always been very protective of One such hidden gem is the David he created for trading goods their forests and believe that God Scott Trail in the Khasi Hills of like silk, cotton, wax, honey and resides there. Meghalaya - a charming hike minerals like iron and limestone through India’s colonial past. between Assam and Bangladesh. FROZEN IN TIME Meghalaya’s indigenous Khasi While the original 100 kilometre tribe, led by U Tirot Singh, trail through the East Khasi Hills revolted against the British to stop takes about five days to complete, this trade route. They fought a a shorter 16 kilometre route is guerrilla style warfare with bows more popular with day-hikers and Mawngap and arrows for four years until the is considered one of the prettiest Umlympung British emerged victorious and nature trails in India. Khasi Heritage Village The David Scott Trail, a charming hike Nongrum through Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, is one Mawjrong of India’s prettiest nature trails. Mawkdok Enjoy the 16 Kukon km trail with David Scott Trail breathtaking Rock Bridge views The David Scott Trail Exit Point Vistara | 62 | Jan 2019 travel trail NATURE WALK The hike begins from Mawphlang HOW TO GET THERE heritage village, which has played The David Scott Trail is 25km an important role in shaping from Shillong, Meghalaya. Khasi culture and is popular for The nearest airport is in its sacred forest grove with stone Guwahati, Assam, from monoliths. A grassy trail leads you where Shillong is a 3 hour drive. Vistara has daily non- from the front and a water stream stop flights to Guwahati from runs parallel through the entire Delhi and Bagdogra, along trail that takes 5 to 6 hours to with convenient connections from other cities. complete. Expect to cross rickety bridges, ice cold waters and misty meadows while occasionally OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST IN MEGHALAYA getting a glimpse of Khasi villages frozen in time. ¥ T he picturesque secret pool and Rainbow Falls are at an added two hour trek from The air in the hills is intoxicatingly Nongriat in East Khasi Hills. pure and the streams are clean ¥ The Arwah caves and enough for you to replenish your Mawsmai caves are water anywhere along the trail. popular for their limestone formations. Bright green fern shrubberies adorn walls along the winding trails ¥ The Mawphlang sacred forest Above: Flowers in full bloom hanging like garlands in the rainforest; is a forest conservation Below: One of the many tea stalls for refreshments along the looking like wallpapers. The weather initiative by the Khasis and is picturesque trail is nippy all year round with erratic a great way to spend some rains, creating natural pools for the time in the lap of nature. Khasi villagers to take a dip. It would ¥ The Nohkalikai Falls in be a good idea to carry some salt to Cherrapunji is the highest plunge fall in India. protect you from leeches that thrive in wet conditions like these. The rivers which are brown from the moving silt during monsoon turn crystal blue during winter, making for a picturesque landscape. Mobile network is non-existent, but the mountain dogs do a pretty good job of being a companion or guide on the route. For lunch, you can stop at any of the Khasi villages and enjoy a plate of hot noodles and lal cha (red tea) native to Meghalaya, while soaking in the amazing vistas and contemplating if you should even go back to the city. As the forest cover begins to reduce, stone quarrying comes in sight. This signals that you are approaching the Lad Mawphlang village which is the end of your 16 kilometre long expedition on foot through the abode of clouds. .
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