Cherrapunjee falls directly on path of Indian Summer Monsoon

Cherrapunjee is a small town located on the southern edge of Khasi Hills, a dissected plateau at an altitude of about 4823 feet (1484 m) above mean sea level. The meteorological observatory is situated at 4267 feet (1313 m) above MSL. Cherrapunjee is locally and now officially known as ‘SOHRA’. Khasi people of Mon-Khmer origin inhabit it. It is the headquarters of Sohra Civil Sub-Division and falls in East Khasi Hills District of the Indian State of Meghalaya. Meghalaya is one of the seven states of North East India with Assam to its North and sharing an international border with Bangladesh on its South.

As one proceeds northward from the Bay of Bengal over the plains of Bangladesh lying at almost sea level, the Khasi Hills erupt abruptly out of the flat lands towering to a height of about 4500 feet above MSL. Cherrapunjee falls directly on the path of Southwest Monsoon known as the Indian Summer Monsoon / Asian Summer Monsoon. The deep gorges around Cherrapunjee help to funnel and converge the low flying rain bearing clouds over Cherrapunjee. The upward thrusted rain clouds rapidly cool as they reach higher altitudes, condense and deluge Cherrapunjee. The process of cooling is assisted by the flow of air from north and north-east to the south in the upper atmosphere from the himalayan ranges. This is noticed about 10 p.m. or later at night. Again in the early mornings as the sun rays warm the hills the lightened air makes way for the clouds trapped in the valleys and hanging low over the Sylhet plains to move up. Most of Cherrapunjee rain is the consequence of air being lifted as a large body of water vapour. Major part of the rainfall recorded can be attributed to the orographic features of the Khasi Hills here. The heavy rainfall area indicated by Cherrapunjee is estimated to cover about 100 to 200 square km. Compare this to the heavy rainfall area of only 5 square km of Mount Weialeale in Hawaii (USA), which is also not inhabited and is in the middle of ocean. Cherrapunjee is about 400 km inland from the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean and is home to over 12000 people.

By Air
Pawan Hans has provided a Dauphin helicopter to Govt. of Meghalaya for running regular passenger services on Guwahati- Shillong - Tura sector. After reaching Shillong, you can take a bus or taxi to Cherrapunji.

By Rail
The nearest railhead is at Guwahati, which is 170 kms from the Resort. Very next to the Guwahati Railway Station on the Paltan Bazar side you have the State Transport Bus Station from where you can catch Assam State and Meghalaya State Transport buses to Shillong. In the vicinity, there are many private luxury coach operators operating bus services to Shillong. The Tourist Taxi Stand for Tourist Taxis going to Shillong, Share Taxis and Maxi Taxis (Sumos) also operate from around here.

By Road
Cherrapunji is 60 km from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. A steep motorable road, are available, which leads up to Cherrapunji. Buses and taxis ply to Cherrapunji from Shillong.

Dain-Thlen Falls
En-route to Cherrapunjee, is situated the beautiful Dain-Thlen Falls. Just before reaching Cherrapunjee, a road to the left leads to the falls which is 5 km away. Daiñ Thlen means cutting of the Thlen (a serpent monster).

Noh-Kalikai Falls
Non-Kalikai Falls are one of the most striking waterfalls and undoubtedly the highest falls in Meghalaya.

Noh-Sngithiang Falls
Noh-Sngithiang Falls are also known as Mawsmai Falls. Here a number of waterfalls flow down to a canyon.

Mawsmai Cave
Mawsmai Cave is an illuminated cave which provides tourist an experience of caving.

Thangkharang Park
The Thangkharang Park offers a clear and wide view of the sleep cliffs and the Kynrem falls.

Khoh Ramhah
Khoh Ramhah is a “Giants Basket” also known as “Motrop”. This place imposes a single formation in the shape of a giant cone.

Living Root Bridge
Living Root Bridge is located at the Laitkynsew and Nongriat villages.

The market has different departments for meat – pork, beef, fish, dry fish, chicken (Occasionally the prohibited deer meat is also put up for sale.), vegetables, fruits, bamboo baskets, iron implements for agriculture, construction work and home uses, beaten rice, bakery products, spices, tobacco, textiles, ready made garments and furniture. When the sky opens up in torrents which often is the case during the monsoon months, the milling crowd from Sohra town and the villages all around can be seen scurrying around with the traditional rain shield ‘kunup’, all types of umbrellas of different colours and also wrapped up in colourful plastic sheets.