Exploration

A little piece of Paradise has been carved out and hidden away from the rest of the world, only to be revealed to a special few who wish to bask in nature’s bounty and delve in legends of the past. Mawlongbna is a classic example of a place that has been truly blessed by Mother Nature, visited by legends and inhabited by people that are a model of a community that is totally in sync with its environment.

The drive from Mawsynram is as scenic as one could wish for with waterfalls that are viewed perched on the edge of a cliff, landscapes that could literally take your breath away and vibrant forests with an array of flora and fauna endemic to the area. The reward at the end of the drive, on arrival at the Mawlongbna Traveller’s Nest, is the spectacular view of the plains of Bangladesh from the comfort of the dining lounge.

The Mawlongbna Traveller’s Nest sits atop a hill, a little distance away from the village, nestled away into the Protected Community Forest, to give you the peace and quiet that you have travelled here for. Two double bedded cottages, constructed entirely by the local community and using locally available material are available for the discerning traveller here. The kitchen prepares home style meals and allows visitors to savour local cuisine at the dining lounge that has no rivals for the views it presents.

Among the secrets that Mawlongbna houses, embedded in the rocks of a picturesque plateau, are fossils of sea-creatures that are remnants of an era when the entire area was covered by the expanse of the seas. Just getting to this plateau is an experience in itself as it involves a short trek through the Community Forest where little streams and brooks surprise you at many places. We must admit that the bottom of the waterfall en-route to the plateau is extremely inviting for a short dip and we’ve never been able to resist it. A short walk to the west of the area where the fossils are found, takes you unsuspectingly into a land where legend and folklore come alive: along a snaking rivulet are the grounds of a fabled Animal market place – Ka Iew Luri Lura, where the rock formations resemble the footprints of animals. According to local legend, these “footprints” are a record of a meeting in time when animals could still talk and this was the site where they would have their weekly markets.

Umkhakoi is the water reservoir located further south of the fossil area and was created by the community by building a small dam that allowed water to be stored between massive boulders on each side for about half a kilometre. A variety of fish species are found here and it is a perfect place for a lazy day of fishing. However, with so much water available, we just had to put in a few recreational kayaks to give you something extra to experience. It’s an idyllic place to spend time splashing away in the water and felling alive.

An evening at the village is a wonderful experience because its people are friendly and welcoming, all too eager to swap stories with visitors and indulge in a conversation about local legends and folktales. The night market at the village, held once a week, will entice you with the kind of  fresh local produce that you cannot resist. The colours, sights and aromas that fill the night market will make you feel like you have stepped back in time, attending market in the age of legends.

Mawlongbna is a keeper of many secrets and a birthplace of legends. We could never reveal all its secrets lodged in its protected forest, plateaus, caves, rivers and streams. They could however, be experienced on every visit.

Sample over Night Package Itinerary:

DAY 1:

8:00 am  – Depart for Mawlyngbna Village from Shillong.
11:00 am – Arrive at Mawlyngbna. Check in at the Traveller’s Nest where light refreshments will be served followed by lunch after you settle in.
12:30 pm – Hike to the Fossil Park and the mythical “Iew Luri Lura” Plateau. Trained guides will take you on a tour of the area.  Fossils are abundantly seen in the area and are believed to belong to the era when the area was under the ocean. The “Iew Luri Lura” is an area believed in local legend to hold footprints of animals and humans at a time when they could interact with each other. The area is believed to be the market place during such times.
5:00 pm – Evening tea will be served.
5:30 pm – Visit the local museum showcasing local artefacts and items locally produced. Head down to the village andexperience local flavours at the unique market place. Walk to the Mih-Um-Spring or the village spring.
6:00 pm – Evening walk to the viewpoint where one can have aglimpse of the entire village as well as the distant lights in neighbouring Bangladesh.
8:30 pm – Dinner will be served. Meals will be served in local styles.
Bonfire and Overnight stay.

DAY 2:

8:00 am – Breakfast will be served.
9:00 am – Mountain Biking through the Village trails.
12:00 pm – Arrive at Umkhakoi Reservoir, a 600 metre water reservoir where lunch will be served. Guests can then spend their time Kayaking or trying their hand at Angling for the various species of fish that thrive there. Lunch will be served at the lake.
4:30 pm – Checkout and depart for Shillong.

Kongthong

Sweet Song

If you’ve ever experienced the winds, playing their music and singing their songs before, you’ve probably been to Kongthong Village already. Nestled between the Sohra and Pynursla ridges is Kongthong village, a part of the Khatar Shnong (12 villages) area that has for too long gone unnoticed by the outside world. One could best describe this village as an idyllic set to discover the little known fringes of Meghalaya. Being located between the two more famous ridges, getting to Kongthong by trekking there from either the Pynursla or the Sohra ridge is an adventure that not many will ever experience. Although a difficult trek, there are a myriad of secrets that are revealed along the way. Long forgotten Living Root Bridges, suspension bridges over some of the clearest water ever seen, bamboo groves that sing an eerie silence and little villages tucked away seemingly forgotten by time are a few things one witnesses on this journey.

Kongthong is a quaint little village with a distinction in Honey production. Although much of it’s inhabitants engage in agriculture, it is a marvel on its own to be able to witness agro-forestry in the steep hills along the village. The unique culture of Kongthong’s inhabitants is what will perplex and confound a visitor, for while in their fields, they do not call out to each other using their names, they instead sing out names that are given to every individual of the village at childhood. This tune, that is different for everyone, allows them to communicate with each other while working their fields, located along the steep hills around the village, thus creating musical echoes amidst the hills that are probably never heard anywhere else in the world.

The Kongthong Traveller’s Nest houses two cottages, built entirely of bamboo and wood, designed in a way that is traditional to the area. We invite you to experience the adventures of Kongthong’s Sweet Songs.

Sample Over Night Package Itinerary:

DAY 1:
8:00 am – Depart for Kongthong Village from Shillong.
11:00 am – Arrive at Kongthong. Check in at the Traveller’s Nest where light refreshments will be served followed by lunch after you have settled in.
12:30 pm – Village Tour to experience for yourself the unique “Songs” of Kongthong.
5:00 pm – Evening tea will be served.
8:30 pm – Dinner will be served. Meals will be served in local styles.
Bonfire and Overnight stay.

DAY 2: Option 1
8:00 am – Breakfast will be served.
9:00 am – A trek to a Hill near the village where you’ll experience the beauty of the entire ridge that houses Kongthong Village, Wahkhen Village and the Riat Rngain.
12:00 pm – Lunch will be served.
4:30 pm – Checkout and depart for Shillong.

OR

DAY 2: Option 2
8:00 am – Breakfast will be served.
9:00 am – Trek to Wahkhen Village.
12:00 pm – Lunch will be served half way along the trek, on the banks of a beautiful and clear river.
5:00pm – Reach Wahkhen Village and have an evening tea in the local tea shops and drive back to Shillong.
 

Duration:              6 Nights & 7 days

Interested:           Nature exploration, Border trade Centre, soft trekking

Destination –    Aizawl, Champhai, Zokhawthar and Rihdil(lake)

CHAMPHAI: Champhai is a commercial town located near the Myanmar border. 194kms away from Aizawl city, an altitude of 1678mts above sea level. It has a good view of the adjoining hill range of Myanmar from which the forefether of Mizos immigrated ages ago. Champhai is an ideal shopping place for various imported goods. The town is also a convenient base for Trekking and visiting last border trade centre Zokhawthar and mythical Rihdil lake located 5kms within Myanmar.

RIH DIL is a lake located in Myanmar, just about 3 kilometers from the Indian border and is associated with Mizo folklore, where the departed souls are believed to have made their passage before they go to their eternal abodes.

The lake is about one mile in length and half a mile in width. It is about 3 miles in diameter and the depth is about 60 feet. Rih Lake is well known for its shape which is heart. The romantic heart-shaped lake .

The Mizos in the past believed that the ‘other world’ was divided into two, and that all spirits went to a place called ‘Mitthi khua’ (village of the deaths), then some moved on to ‘Pialral’ (heaven); but to reach their eternal abodes, they had to pass through the lake Rih Dil.

RIHDIL

According to the legend, after crossing the Rih lake, the spirits/ souls reach a hill called ‘Hringlang tlang’, where they look back at their village and weep for days longing for the world they had left behind. In this mythical hill, there is  spring water called ‘Lungloh tui’, which they drink to quench their thirst and this made them forget all about their past life. The hill is also said to be full of flowers called ‘Hawilo par’, which they pluck and wear in their ears and hair and this made them forget their desire to return to their loved ones and they proceed to ‘Pawla kawt’ and then on to the dead men’s village called ‘Mitthi Khua’.

The dead men’s village ‘Mitthi khua’ is where the common people settled, living just like they did in their past lives. But beyond that village exist a place called ‘Pialral’ or heaven, where only the men and families who earned the title called ‘Thangchuah’ through their piousness and having sacrificed animals and given the community feast could enter the heaven much to the envy of the people who had to settle in Mitthi khua where there is only hardship.

Ittineraries

Day 1

Meet and assist by our representative on arrival at Lengpui Airport.
Aizawl, transfer to respective hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day  2

After breakfast, drive to Champhai(194kms from Aizawl).
Lunch at Wayside Restaurant, Kawlkulh.
4:30-5:30pm Arrival at Champhai.
Check-in Hotel.
Overnight stay at Tourist Lodge Champhai.

Day  3

After breakfast, visit Rihdil (insideMyanmar ) and Zokhawthar Border Trade Centre.
At evening, back to Zokhawthar for overnight.
Overnight stay at Tourist Lodge Zokhawthar.

Day 4

After breakfast, Drive to Champhai.
Shopping & sight-seeing/ soft trek.
Evening free at leisure
Overnight stay at Tourist Lodge Champhai.

Day 5

After breakfast, back to Aizawl.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 6

After breakfast, visit K.V.Paradise.
Visit State Museum.
Evening at Aizawl viewing Gallery for Aizawl city by night.

Day 7

After breakfast, transfer to Lengpui Airport for own destination.




Inclusion :  1. Pick & Drop from LengpuiAirport, Aizawl

                        2. Breakfast & Dinner

                        3. All transport as per itinerary

                        4. Accomadation in twin sharing basis

                        5. All sight-seeing as per itinerary



Exclusion : 1. Any train/ Air fare

                        2. Personal needs / expenses

                        3. Drinks & snacks