Nongriat village is about more than just the bridge, with the mesmerizing hills, valleys, waterfalls, and the ever-present set serene clouds, Deep in Meghalaya’s forests grow its most famous attractions: the living root-bridges. The bridge in Mawlynnong being the most prominent and famous. People come from various places just to see the bridge and play with nature by disconnecting the technology. 

Nongriat is home to legends and tales, secret lagoons, and myriad waterfalls. Getting there, however, is the biggest hurdle. You have to walk about 3.5 km through a series of steep climbs on stone-hewn stairways. After you reach you will be overwhelmed by the friendly behavior of the Nongriat’s nature like you never climbed any stairs you were there forever. The inhabitants of this attractive village live in small huts on raised platforms built with wooden planks. The village is filled with small shops, most of them are run by women. Nongriat is home to the Khasi tribe who follows the matrilineal culture. That’s the case in most of Meghalaya. The children take on the surname of the mother.

Another self-navigable 1.5 hr climb from here leads you to the hidden gem known as Rainbow Falls. With thick foliage obstructing views of the sky, the trek is out-of-the-world. The water here is so clear that you can see the pebbles in the streams. It is easy to lose track of time, and one has to remember that Nongriat follows Tea Garden Time, which is an hour ahead of IST (getting anything to eat in the village after sundown is a real task). The return trek can be tiring but keep your eyes open for some of the beautiful butterflies and ears open to soothing sounds made by the flowing creeks.

Getting here

Head to Cherrapunji (also known locally as Sohra) from Shillong. Shared taxis run on this route. From Cherrapunji, find local transport to Tyrna Village that lies 20 km away. Nongriat is a 3.5 Km trek from here. Remember it’s a ‘stairway to heaven’.