Adventure and Sports in
Meghalaya
Trekking
The beautiful hill slopes of Meghalaya are ideal for trekking.
Trekking between villages of colourful hill tribes is also very
interesting. The trekking potential in Meghalaya is unique, in the
sense that terrain is rugged like in Himalayan areas but with the
advantage of not being snowbound.
Boating
The Water Sports Complex has been developed upon the mighty
reservoir of the Umiam Hydro Electric Project, at Umiam, 16
kilometers before reaching Shillong. The campus consists of a
beautiful Orchid Lake Resort and the Nehru Park. Besides, it offers
a wide choice of exciting water sports activities with row-boats,
paddle-boats, cruise-boats, sailing-boats and water-scooters.
Caving
The deepest and longest of the caves in South Asia are located on
the hills of Khasi Hills. Every year expert cavers from all around
the world explore the hills of Meghalaya, to find new caves and map
them. Some very large caves with beautiful formations are well
mapped and are close by, with good accessibility. Select & venture -
Siju, Mawsmai, Mawsynram, Syndai - only to name a few caves.
Archery
Angling & Sports
A majestic placid lake with its surrounding sylvan hills, myriad
emerald green azure blue skies have a hypnotizing effect. The
setting is truly idyllic. It is Umiam Lake, few kilometers away down
the Zig-Zag Shillong-Guwahati Road ( National Highway).Water sports
is the prime attraction here. The resort has row-boats,
paddle-boats, cruise-boats, sailing-boats, water scooters,
speed-boats, and a floating restaurant with ferry service. Umiam is
also an angler's paradise. Have the patience to grab a big catch at
Umiam. Archery is another game of precision popular in Meghalaya.
Golfing
Shillong Golf Course is referred to as the "Gleneagle of the
East" at the United States Golf Association Library and Museum. This
museum, which happens to be the largest of its kind in the world,
exhibits the only piece on display from India as that of the
Shillong Golf Course.
Krem Mawmluh
Fourth longest in the Indian sub continent, the cave is situated
approximately half a kilometre west of Cherrapunjee adjacent to the
small hamlet of Mawmluh. This cave interestingly has a five river
passage with impressive proportions and is 4503m in length.
Krem Phyllut
Situated in village Mawsmai, south of Cherrapunjee, this cave
has a large section of fossil passage, two stream ways and three
entrances.
Krem Soh Shympi (Mawlong, East Khasi Hills)
It has a large pothole
entrance of 20m deep. The cave passage is very large with numerous
formations at one end. Length - 760m.
Krem Dam
It is the largest
sandstone cave in the Indian sub-continent. It has a very large
entrance with a stream entering the cave and running down its main
passage. Length -1297m.
Jaintia Hills
Syntu Ksiar
Syntu Ksiar, meaning ‘golden flower’ is a vast pool of calm
water, where the river Myntdu come to a sudden halt. This river
almost encircles Jowai. At Syntu Ksiar, the scene is almost a marvel
of nature where the Myntdu seemingly disappears for some rest into
the calm of the mighty pool, and then, continues to run its ever
vibrant course, again.
Nartiang
65 Kms from Shillong, this used to be the summer capital of
the Jaintia Kings of the Sutnga State. The 500 year old Durga temple
is also an attraction at Nartiang. Apart from this, one can witness
huge monoliths, form the striking landmark of the village, said to
be erected by Mar Phalyngki, a Goliath of yore. The Nartiang menhir
measures 27 feet 6 inches in thickness. The monoliths represent the
megalithic culture of the Hynniewtrep people representing thus the
Stonehenge of Northeast India.
Jowai
Situated 64 Kms away from the national highway, Jowai forms
the headquarters of the Jaintia Hills and is a picturesque town
circled by the Myntdu River.
The Cave of Eocene Age - Krem Um- Lawan
A
beautiful cave of the Eocene Age with an upper fossil passage and a
lower active passage. It has numerous cataracts and waterfalls. It
is presently the longest (6381m) and deepest (106.8m) cave in the
Indian sub-continent.
Krem Kotsati
This cave has 8 entrances with the main
entrance through a deep pool. Portions of the beautiful river
passage have to be traversed either swimming or using inflatable
rubber boat. It measures 3650m in length.
Krem Umshangktat
Measuring 955m in length, one can enter this cave through a
passage 350 metres long which is nothing but moist sand. The last
stretch requires a mild climb across fallen limestone blocks and
debris to reach the collapse doline of the upper entrance. By the
collapse there is a belly crawl passage which eventually terminates
in a sizeable chamber.
Krem Lashinng
Measuring
50m wide and 40m high, this cave is a massive in nature. However, a
huge amount of sticky and slippery mud is found in the in the cave;
hence the best period to visit would be Feb/March. This cave
measures 2650m. in length.
Krem Sweep (Syndai)
47 kms from Jowai, the cave is situated just a few minutes
walk from behind the village school in a depression. It has
beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and measures 970m in length.
Garo hills
Nokrek Peak
This is the highest point on the Garo Hills. The Nokrek Peak
stands 1412 metres above sea level and is surrounded by virgin
forests cover Nokrek and its environs. The mother germo plasm of
Citrus-indica have been discovered by science researchers within
Nokrek Range. This discovery led to the establishment of the
National Citrus Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve at Nokrek
covering an area of forty seven square kilometres. Nokrek can be
reached from the Tura-Asanangre-Daribokgre Road. A visitor can reach
this place after about three and a half kilometre trek from
Daribokgre village.is found that is abundant in wild elephants, rare
varieties of birds and pheasants, besides rare orchids abound in the
sanctuary.
Tura Peak
A majestic hill stands on the eastern flank of Tura, the
largest town in the Garo Hills region of the State. It peaks 872
metres above sea level over looking Tura. A tourist-bungalow, an
observatory and a Cinchona-plantation are located at Tura Peak and
its environs. A magnificent view of the lower Brahmaputra Valley as
well as the golden yellow plains of Bangladesh is available all year
round to viewers on Tura Peak.
Imilchang Dare
A waterfall of immense visual beauty is to be found close to
the Tura-Chokpot Road in West Garo Hills district. The stream on
which it is located, flows through a deep, narrow winding bed of
crevice rocks till it suddenly emerges on to a broad wide opening
and cascades in a thick, wide formation, over a broad chasm,
creating an electrifying waterfall of unique beauty. The deep, wide
pool at the bottom of the fall with its wide and expansive
surroundings make it an exciting swimming pool, full of fish of
varied size and colour, besides being an ideal picnic spot.
Balpakram
Literally meaning the "land of perpetual winds", is A
National Wildlife Park, located in South Garo Hills and 167 Kms from
Tura. There is a great precipice or deep gorge in Balpakram and is
popularly compared to the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. It is believed that
here, the spirits of the dead dwell temporarily before embarking on
the final journey. It is home to the rare Lesser Panda, the Indian
bison and the Stag like Serow. A variety of medicinal herbs locally
called "dikges" grow abundantly in Balpakram.
Naphak Lake
Located at a distance of 112 Kms from Tura, the lake is an
ideal destination for fishing and bird watching with the river
Simsang flowing nearby.
Siju Caves
The famous limestone caves of Siju are located near Naphak
Lake and the Simsang stalactites in these caves resemble those of
the Blue Grotto in the Isle of Capri. For more details, please see
the section on caves below.
Siju-Dibkhakol
Measuring 4772m. in length it is the third longest cave in
the Indian sub-continent and situated on the bank of the Simsang
river just below the village of Siju. It contains some of the finest
river passage to be found anywhere in the world. It is the most
researched cave in India and is the home of tens of thousands of
bats.
Tetengkol - Balwakol
At Nengkhong village, 15 kms from Siju are these caves that have a
small and insignificant circular entrance measuring 1 metre in
diameter. The cave is large - 5334m long, which is currently the 2nd
longest cave in the Indian sub-continent.
Dobhakol Chibe Nala (Nengkhong)
The cave is situated a few hundred metres downstream from
Tetengkol-Balwakol on the river Chibe Nala. It is well hidden by a
large rock and measures 1978 metres in length.
Bok Bak Dobhakol (Nengkhong, Rongdik Nala)
1051 m in length, this is a rather complex cave that looks like an
intermittently active river sink. During wet weather the cave floods
to the roof. |
