 Cherrapunjee, locally and officially known as Sohra, is 56 kms from Shillong, and a “must see” destination for all tourists. Apart from being the record holder for the heaviest rainfall, it was the headquarters of the Khasi/Jaintia province during British rule which was however shifted to Shillong in 1864, due to the inconvenience caused by excessive rain during the monsoon months.
The average rainfall is 12,000 mm a year and the record for a single day was 2455 mm recorded in 1974 confirming it as the “Wettest place on Earth”.
Place to seen in Cherrapunjee.
Dain-Thlen Falls – Just before reaching Cherrapunjee a road to the r ight leads one to the falls which is 5 kms. away. Daiñ Thlen means cutting of the Thlen (a serpent monster).
Noh-Kalikai Falls – One of the most striking waterfalls and undoubtedly the highest in Meghalaya.
Noh-Sngithiang Falls – Also known as Mawsmai Falls is actually a number of waterfalls cascading down to a conyon.
Mawsmai Cave: The illuminated cave provide tourist an experience of caving.
 Thangkharang Park – It offers a panoramic view of the sleep cliffs and the Kynrem falls.
Khoh Ramhah – The “Giants Basket” also known as “Motrop” is an imposing single formation in a shape of a giant cone.
Living root Bridge – Located at the Laitkynsew and Nongriat villages.
The heavy rainfall has sculptured many rock formations, imposing cliffs and waterfalls all over the southern slopes.
Cherrapunjee falls under the Syiemship of Sohra which was one of the most developed trading centers in the Khasi Hills. There was active trade between the people of the Sohra Hills and the plains extending to what is now  Bangladesh. Khasi traders from Cherrapunjee were even found as far west and Calcutta selling iron ore, oranges and limestone. Even today, the weekly markets attract many traders from surrounding villages.
By the side of the Pomsohmen stream lies the cremation ground of the Sohra Syiemship (Cherra chieftain). This sacred cremation ground called ‘Ka Kpep Syiem Sohra’is located on the Sohra-Shella road approximately 1 km. from the Sohra market.
The cremation ceremonial rites of the Syiem of Sohra is very elaborate, expensive and complicated. The Syiem-elect has to perform all the customary formalities and rituals and bear all the related expenses prior to staking his claim as the new Syiem. Until such time the mortal remains of the late Syiem is kept, sometimes for years, till all formalities are completed. One of the formalities involves the feeding of the entire populace of the Sohra Syiemship. The preparation of the cremation pyre requires detailed planning involving a great show of wealth and pomp. Gold is used extensively in the making of various articles for use during the cremation ceremony thereby making this one of the most expensive elaborate ritual to perform.
Extract to describe the living root bridge from Journal of Asiatic society of Bengal – 1844 By Lieut. H. Yule. “On top of a huge boulder, by the river side, grows a large rubber tree, clas ping the stone with its multitude of roots. Two or three of the long fibres, whilst still easily pliable, have been stretched across the stream and their free ends fastened on the other bank. Two great roots run directly one over the other, and the secondary shoots from the upper have been bound round and grow into the lower, so that the former affords at once a hand-rail and suspending chain, the latter a footway. The length of the bridge is above eighty feet, and its height about twenty above the water in dry season”. |
