Sky View : Mawlynnong the cleanest village in Asia

A Welcome Message At Parking Place : Mawlynnong

Contd from Part 1: Shillong To Mawlynnong
                          Part 2: Living Root Bridge Of Riwai 

 It was almost two in the afternoon as we reached Mawlynnong .The first thing that catches your eyes is beautiful flowers and well maintained colorful plants everywhere.It is almost like stepping into a gorgeous botanical garden or a beautiful place from fairy tales.Mawlynnong is also called God's Own Garden.

Parking Place For Visitors

We were the first ones to visit the place that day .It was clean  and empty .We parked our car and looked around .

This is Sumer a resident of the village busy cleaning the fallen leaves.

We saw this young boy collecting fallen leaves from the area .As he got up we greeted each other .His name was Sumer.

 

He took us to the verandah of this community hall .Here visitors can offer donations which is further used by the residents for the maintenance of the infrastructure of the village .To our surprise unlike other places they were not very eager to collect the donation.Instead he advised us to go straight away to the Sky View as the weather was most suitable at that time.Sky walk is a 85 feet Bamboo structure made by the locals, which offers a bird's eye view of the village and a panoramic view of Bangladesh plains.Post updated In response to  Balachandran's comment : this structure is designed by a forty five years old school teacher named Rishop Khongthongreh .( thanks to Henry who is constantly helping me over the phone with the queries - i will introduce him to you in my next post).

Suddenly emerged this lovely Kong( a term in Khasi language to lovingly address a lady ) who was kind of expecting me to take her pictures .Which i did later.After few pictures she very politely asked us in English to follow her .

A Dent /Cavity On The Rock :Mawlynnong

The path was narrow and was made of flat stones.We noticed and photographed rocks like this ,the rocks had cavities or dents on them created by the rain water .Later we came to know that the word Mawlynnong comes from the Khasi term which means A Dent /Cavity On The Rock.

 The  shade and the gentle breeze offered by the surrounding trees was bliss.

Sky View : a bamboo and cane structure that offer a bird's view to the village and Indo Bangla Border

Kong pointed at the sky view and asked us to take a picture .She was well familiar with the best picture spots.Good for us

Ticket Stall

Before we started Kong advised me to leave back my scarf as she was scared that i might trip over it while climbing the bamboo bridge.

This is the entrance that lead us to the  bamboo platform built on the highest branches of the area.

The smart design and craftsmanship was outstanding .Though the structure looked rickety it was very strong and safe to walk.

Bamboo canes are tied together with the help of cane ropes to make a sky pathway.Not even a single iron nail is used her .Very eco- friendly.

All of us were busy taking pictures and videos.

 The initial climb was little steep that required holding the sides of the bridge with both the hands.

 Branches touching our cheeks while crossing one tree from another was a never to forget experience.

 Another view as i looked back to see how high we climbed.

 Never stopped gushing at the amazing skills of the locals. .

After Chandan ,Dulal was next to reach the highest platform .

 Pranab was right behind me .

 Not admitting but he was panting for breath and so were we.

The first view from the top .This is the plains of Bangladesh .It was  the highest point of the forest.

me and Dulal

 After few pictures i told Chandan that i was feeling little dizzy .Very firmly i was holding the bamboo wall.To my surprise all three of them said that they too were feeling the same .Later we realized that it was not us but the platform that we were standing on was swaying with the wind .  Scary ...nah !!

 We started counting and found that the whole structure was standing on the branches of five to six trees.

 The extra retention

 Looking down we saw nothing but the surrounding  tree tops.

 Time to go back .

 The way back was much trickier than climbing up .

 A view of the platform from next  level.

 The walk was completed.

 Now we walked towards the village through this beautiful king's way. I knew i was about to see the most cleanest village of Asia and meet lovely residents of the same but not in my imagination expected to meet a Blogger and that to  from USA who has been living in the village from last one month.Contd

A Message : i have been receiving lot of queries through mails and also few phone calls for more travel  information  on Mawlynnong .Please give me some time ,i will try to dedicate a section on the same on my next blog post . At the same time would like to make it clear that i don't own a traveling agency nor do i am directly or indirectly linked to any that i might mention in my post.