The post reminded me of our trip to Dawki and Shnongpdeng. But nature doesnt honor such boundaries. Really loved reading through it. It really is just like a fairyland. Wow, what unbelievable scenery. Yes, it was a reality. Didnt need to imagine anything, was just staring! As we sailed along the other side of the Umngot River, we started encountering a lot of small waterfalls along the side of the hill. Dawki is a small town along the Indo-Bangladesh border along the River Umngot in the West Jaintia hills some 75 km away from the state capital of Shillong. Three weeks before, Merrysha had submitted a letter to the MSPCB to stop the public hearing, citing violations of the Sixth Schedule, a constitutional provision safeguarding the rights of the tribal people through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). I do know there is trade between Tamabil and Dawki that happens here but am not sure of the other aspects. At the most Goa and Kerala. Along the side of the steps you will see several colorful boats hanging with thick ropes. Hats off to the people of Meghalaya," wrote the Ministry of Jal Shakti on Twitter. This resulted into getting lot of gravel in the water. I never thought there was something like in our country, i guess there are a lot of things unsearched! It really looks like a magical place! With the border to Bangladesh close by, this sounds like a really remote part of north-east. Carry some food and water with you as you dont get any near the river. Umngot river of Meghalaya enjoys the status of the cleanest river in the country. In Mukhims village, Mawdulop, women venture into forests to ferret out medicinal plants, making Rs 400-Rs 1200 per day from distribution and collection alone. For your first question, since you see there is a steep slope off the mountain to the river. The sight is definitely one to behold. In what felt like a deliberate betrayal, she said, they excluded us from the public hearing. You are my inspiration! Soon we all got encaptivated in the beauty of the natural wonder that we were sailing on the Umngot River and its surroundings. In fact, everybody is fishing, whether in a boat or on the shore. I would love to visit someday if I get a chance. He said They were always there! I had to rub my eyes too. Worth attending.. Tawang, October, if you like ice skating.. The surroundings match with those colors giving a Serene and peaceful atmosphere. It is named Bophill falls. Aatreyee Dhar is an independent reporter who is passionate about underreported health and environmental issues from Northeast India. The only time she stopped was to gasp at the lovely waterfalls that lined our paths. It was a total fairy-tale like experience. Thanks Shweta. Umngot River, Meghalaya: Address, Umngot River Reviews: 5/5. Witness the transparent river bed of the Umngot River, also known as Dawki River. I would highly recommend a stay in Mawlynnong as it is a delightful experience in this cleanest village of Asia. Do check it out here, [btn text=Click to know more tcolor=#FFF bcolor=#0000FF thovercolor=#FFF link=https://thrillingtravel.in/book-when-places-come-alive target=_blank], The Emerald stream Umngot River in Dawki, Back to Reality at the Indo-Bangladesh Border, Unraveling the mysterious Living Root Bridge, Meghalaya, Chasing the gorgeous waterfalls in Meghalaya, Dawki can be done as a day-trip from Shillong. Your email address will not be published. Stunning! Glad you liked the pics. One can go for boating with a boat man who takes us around the river. Merrysha didnt hold her tongue in calling out the perfidy of the state government in not bothering to engage a wider public in its public hearings. The island was full of round pebbles that I had seen earlier in the Dawki riverbed. The River Umngot carves the valley that splits the Khasi and Jaintia Hills and flows into the plains of Bangladesh. The cruise on the river must have been an enthralling experience. Honestly speaking, for those few moments, I had forgotten that I was a girl from Bangalore, here on a trip with my family. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: (a) the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and (b) the Garo Hills. A 210 MW hydroelectric project proposed to be implemented on Meghalaya's Umngot River is being met with strong resistance from locals of at least 12 villages around the Bangladesh border. Neither do I know what I loved the most. Intersting Marjorie. If anything, the river belongs to him and the people who live along it, people who are subject to its rhythms, and its ebbs and flows. You can start with Sikkim. The nearest major city to the river is Shillong, which is about 90 km away. Photography on the bridge across the river is prohibited, as it is at a strategic location. Sindbads island looks beautiful! This is a very helpful post since one day Im planning to do India to Bangladesh land crossing. There are just tons of them. I would also love to see the India-Bangladesh border. And so are the pebbles. During the ride, the boat man told us that it had rained heavily throughout the previous night. Such a refreshing post and brought by a current of nostalgia of my visit to Dawki long back! Thank you for sharing this wonderful place with us!! For, it is a river which becomes emerald blue green in the monsoons in India. The only way I wanted to ensure that I was not dreaming was to rush down to the river and touch it! You just made my day with your compliments . The Ministry applauded the people of Meghalaya for maintaining the cleanliness of the river and further wished all Indian rivers were this clean. This place is just amazing! Umngot River Meghalaya-The clearest river in Shillong Plateau. I checked with the boatman on how did these land here. Thank you. In shifting cultivation, the area left fallow grows back to forest in a year, allowing for broader biodiversity, he said. His answer was a firm No. Kudos to you going there, that too with your kid. Thanks Paula, Oh Dawki! The waters look so serene! Great to know Doreen. Wow, its so tranquil! Gorgeous pics and a great post, Ami! I was in Fairyland. It seems as if the boat is in air; water is so clean and transparent. Since, the road is narrow and parking also happens here, so, often the road gets blocked. The vehicles are parked on the road which is almost like a cliff. Most people think of the Taj or the Rajasthan palaces. The nearest railway station to the Umngot River is Guwahati. It is said to be the cleanest river ever in the Indian subcontinent. The Umngot River is also known as the "Dowki River," and "Wah Umngot." The river flows through Doki/Dowki, a small town at the foot of the Jaintia Hills in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya state, India. This is because this river is so beautiful that people are fascinated . Not just the cleanest but one stunning river. The glass water makes the boat look as if it floats on air. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We witnessed it right before reaching Dawki. Lower Lachumiere, Shillong 793001, I dont get it. The Umngot River Meghalaya is known for its unique geology. Umngot River: Umngot flows through Dawki, a small but busy town in the East Jaintia Hills district near the Indo-Bangladesh border. As many as 245 Bhakra dam oustees were yet to be rehabilitated by the Himachal Pradesh State government in 2019, five decades after Asias second-tallest dam was completed in 1963. A techie couple & travel enthusiasts who are traveling around the world with our kids, sharing our love for travel with this travelogue & showing the world that everyone can travel. It was evident from the surface itself that they were colorful possibly gemstones hidden away underwater. Beautiful photos, love that one of the boats on the stone stairs down to the riverbank. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks Karie. You should plan to get here. The three main destinations on the River Umngot include the border town of Dawki, known for its iconic bridge and intimate views of the neighbouring country and the two resort villages of Darrang and Shnongpdeng. The EIA was made available online on such a short notice. Thank you Rahul. Gorgeous river, I didnt know places like this existed in India! Looking at the river from the top was almost unbelievable. The Emerald river looks amazing! The Umngot River is touted as Indias cleanest river, with the bottom of its rich, blue-green expanse sparkling in naked display. April 12, 2021 Stiff resistance from at least 12 villages in Meghalaya has cast a cloud on a 210 MW hydroelectric project on Umngot, considered India's clearest river. Just picture this a boat that takes you along a jeweled stream that has some magical creatures floating below and stunning jewels that lie at the bottom of the bed. Well, I should have said Fantasize this. Totally. The dam is proposed to be constructed upstream in the adjoining West Jaintia Hills on the Umngot river considered to be the cleanest in India. It is in India. Visit the Mawphlang Sacred Grove Forest Famous among the Nature Lovers. Camping along the Umngot River is a popular activity among tourists who want to experience the natural beauty of the region up close. Infact, best time for Sikkim would have been between Feb and April, because they have the International Flower Festival there. I do hope you plan a trip there soon. Truly beautiful pics. Boating The landscape is so unbelievable and surreal! This is a gorgeous place and magical indeed! The best way to reach the town of Dawki is by renting a car for the day. Scuba Diving and Snorkelling (Shnongpdeng), 2 days minimum for adventure activities and camping, Dawki, Shnongpdeng & Darrang (West Jaintia Hills District), Shillong (85 kms), 3 hours drive A place called Shnongpdeng. Reluctantly, I got back to reality and headed back to our car. The famed Umngot river flowing through the two villages of Dawki and Shnongpdeng was certainly as beautiful, if not more, as it appeared in all the pictures I had previously seen! The bridge is about 106 meters long and is supported by two large towers on either side of the river. It looks stunning! Along the river bank, Pynskhem Mukhim, a 27-year-old farmer from Mawdulop, grows rice, fruits, ginger, and broom grass, a plant that is eventually bundled into brooms. But if the dam is accorded approval, he will lose his land and the livelihood that feeds his family of four, including two daughters. CONTACT . The river is the natural boundary between RiPnar (of Jaintia Hills) with HimaKhyrim (of Khasi Hills) over which hangs a single span suspension . Thanks for sharing great info its a useful for me. In peak season, Syngkrem engages around 500 tourists a day in recreational water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, and kayaking. I am appreciated for your work.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I have already written about the Sacred Forest of Mawphlang in an earlier blog. So when you said its crystal clear in summer I almost didnt want to believe it. Even as a resident, I find it difficult to capture it all. A study on forest management practices of the tribal people in Meghalaya revealed 70% of medicinal plants used for traditional medicines came from village-restricted forests and village forests, 10% from agroforests, and 20% from home gardens. But the Umngot Hydroelectric Project, conceived by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), is set to change that forever. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. Float on top of the crystal clear river and listen to the water soothingly flow to Bangladesh. Unless you specify the aquatic biodiversity under the water, you cannot calibrate the environmental flow needed to sustain freshwater ecosystems, Juyal noted. The Dawki Bridge is a suspension bridge that was built in 1932 by the British to connect India with Bangladesh. You should definitely visit here. [1][2] The town is relatively busy and serves as a trade route between India and Bangladesh.