Mawlynnong – Come Visit Asia’s Cleanest Village on Budget Travel

Mawlynnong, famous as ‘Asia’s Cleanest Village’ is also known as ‘God’s Own Garden’. Mawlynonng is a small cosy village residing in the lap of East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. The moment I stepped into the village, the mesmerizing natural beauty and cleanliness made me realize how it has managed to brag the title.

People living in cities should take a break from their monotonous life and visit this place to understand why garbage is to be thrown in dustbins and not on the road. The native people of Mawlynonng are literate and very friendly. Their warm gestures will make you cherish the memories of your trip for a lifetime.

Mawlynnong: An Overview

Location

North East India

State

Meghalaya

Regional Language

Khasi

Title

Asia’s Cleanest Village, God’s Own Garden

Climate

Mild Temperate

Mode of Travel

Road

Best Time to Visit

March- July

Nearby Places

Dawki, Krang Shuri Waterfall

Nearest Airport

Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati

Budget

14000-20000 INR for a week

 

How To Reach Mawlynnong?

The nearest airport from Mawlynonng is in Guwahati, Assam. Flights are available from any city to Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. Mawlynnong is around 190 km away from the airport. You can either take a car from the airport directly to Mawlynlong or break your journey i.e Guwahati – Shillong – Mawlynnong. Car rentals are available at the airport which start from around 1500 rupees from the airport to Shillong.

Best Time To Visit Mawlynnong

Mawlynonng can be visited around the year. But, my personal experience says that the best days are from March till July. Meghalaya is at its vibrant glamour during monsoon and truly so, the rivers, streams and waterfalls are at its abundance at that time.

Where to Stay in Mawlynnong ?

If you are planning to stay overnight or 2-3 days at Mawlynonng, homestays can be a good option. But, pre-book and go as there are not many homestays, and during the peak season, it is difficult to get one if a booking is not done unless you are very lucky. Homestays start from 1300 per night and if the booking is done for a group, you might get it at a discounted price. If you do not have any plans to stay overnight, there are hotels available in Shillong. Hotels in Shillong can be very pocket-friendly, starting from 699 rupees for one night.

It is always safe to carry sufficient liquid cash if you are travelling to Mawlynlong. ATMs are available in Shillong but further outskirts of Shillong, ATMs are very few and they easily run out of cash. You might have to travel quite a distance to find an ATM and the northeast region is not fully digitalized yet, so a major fraction of people is not aware of Paytm and other digital payment platforms. It is advisable to take cash from Shillong to avoid any hassle.

Things to do in Mawlynnong

Mawlynnong is a hub of nature and magical beauty for people who like to escape from the urban jungle once in a while. While there, do not miss witnessing the list below –

Living Root Bridge

Visit the living root bridge of Riwai which the Khasi residents engineered by manipulating the tree roots for their daily convenience to cross rivers and streams. It takes several years to strengthen and form the bridge.

Riwai Waterfall & Pool

Just below the bridge, there is this picturesque waterfall and clear pool beside which you can relax, and even take a bath.

Balancing Rock

Also, don’t miss out the balancing rock which a phenomena one of its kind, where a huge horizontal boulder miraculously balances itself on a smaller vertical rock.

Bamboo Watch Towers

Apart from these, climb to the top of the sky watchtower, or “Machan” in the local language, to have a bird’s eye view of the breathtaking beauty. The watchtowers are made of bamboo around 80 feet high and climbing up the tower is quite adventurous too. Imagine a splendid view from the top!

Church of Epiphany

This is a 100 years old church, established by Welsh Christian Missionaries, which still charms the surrounding by its antique aura. The church is surrounded by orange trees and greenery. Strolls throughout the premises will definitely soothe your mind.

Trekking

The terrain of Meghalaya is a diverse and unpredictable one. One moment it is meadows, another it is tablelands and then quarry. Though the terrains are not difficult to trek, the rocks might be slippery due to rainfall. It is a good idea to hire a local guide who has knowledge about the region and camping spots.

A Stroll in the Village

North-eastern region is rich in flora and fauna. Take a walk in the rustic alleys of the village, indulge yourself in the greenery and see the varieties of orchids which is a very common sight in almost every household.

Try the Local ‘Thali’ at Mawlynlong

When you are done, do not forget to enjoy a ‘thali’ of local food. The food is prepared from organic homegrown vegetables. Pork is frequent in Khasi households but if you are a vegetarian, there are regional delicacies for you too. Veg or non-veg, both are equally lip-smacking. There are no specific names for the eateries, a number of sheds will be available around where you can have a sumptuous meal for 120-200 rupees per thali.

Plan a Trip to Mawlynonng Soon – It’s Worth It

In the journey, enjoy the meandering roads from Guwahati to Mawlynlong. It might seem like you are in Scotland but you are not, it’s in India. So, keep an eye outside the window and enjoy the mystic beauty. Make sure not to litter the place as the residents put a lot of effort to keep their surroundings clean, also you have to pay a fine if you do. There are people living around here, make minimum noise.

The Khasi Hill region is a matrilineal society and women are highly respected in Meghalaya which makes it one of the safest places for women to venture out alone. Women can, undoubtedly, have a safe stay over here.

Mawlynnong in Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

Have a happy stay at Mawlynlong!

Happy Wayfaring 🙂

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

THIS POST ENTITLED, “MAWLYNNONG – COME VISIT ASIA’S CLEANEST VILLAGE” IS AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF BUDGET WAYFARERS. ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ASSOCIATION INDULGING IN PLAGIARISM WILL BE DEALT WITH STRICTLY. IF YOU WANT TO USE INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE ABOVE, KINDLY QUOTE THE SOURCE.