Our Visit to Wahrashi waterfalls, Meghalaya!!!Heaven on Earth
Road trip to Syntung
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQYX08oh6wy/?utm_medium=copy_link
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” says Saint Augustine. So, this blog has been written in the memory of my trip to — Wahrashi Waterfalls one of the most staggering places of Meghalaya state, India. The state gets it’s name with it’s synonym with ‘abode of clouds’.
Image Courtesy: Apoorva
Synthung village is around 63kms from the place where we live i.e Shillong. The way to reach the water falls took more than 3 hours by road, as the condition of the road got worsened as we moved further ahead. Wahrashi is right in the outskirts of Syntung village.
Usually, you get to see the phenomenal greenery which soothes your heart and eyes with its verdant grassy mountains throughout the year except in the months of winter- December to February. Even though, the trip was planned from our office, the outing was more of an informal picnic where we all office staff accompanied with our family members had an opportunity to hang out jovially , fraternize or associate with our co staff without any hierarchy. This is usually planned in the month of winters yearly once. This time it was planned for the month of Feb.
Temperature was around 5 to 6 degree. We ’ere definitely disappointed for having missed the lush green landscape, however the frosty grass was there to compensate the loss.
A private bus was hired and all were asked to reach the pick up point at sharp 7am . I am kind of person, when my appointment is at 7, will leave my home at 6.59. However, I tried not to be same this time, however couldn’t escape as wearing three layer of clothes over thermals and wearing my thick Monte Carlo jacket over it in the chilled out weather, made it all some 10 mins late to reach.
We were all set to go to Wahrashi finally. The bus took off and we all greeted each other. The sunrays seemed shiny and bright for the eyes alone, it made no much effect or sense on our skin though.
We were altogether 35 in total including my 4 year old lovvy son and dovvy husband!! we had many eatables to fill our starving stomachs. Considering our increased BMR in cold environments, to generate more body heat , we had packed more calories to compensate. After 1 hour of our travel- we reached a place called Smit. We stopped the vehicle for the light refreshment but ended up filling ourselves with family pack of chocolate, biscuits, Red tea, some fruits too.
The people of Meghalaya love drinking tea. Even before the British introduced the tea leaves, tea has been part of the culture for generations. The climate here is such that people love to drink a hot beverage at least twice a day!
Tea has become a way of people connect and a means to show hospitality to each other. When you visit any Khasi home, you will be sure to be offered ‘sha saw’ or red tea (made of black tea leaves) and ‘kwai’ or betel nuts or betel leaves.
When we started again, we understood the real journey began now, as the roads got really disastrous. Only Heavy vehicles like Trucks, Buses, Sumo, Jeeps, SUVs and other 4x4 wheel drive vehicles could easily go through the road. Also, the roads got a bit narrower where our bus could only fit in. We were lucky enough to not have any much vehicles from the opposite way .
We thoroughly enjoyed our journey by chatting, singing, playing dumb charades etc., so hardly by no time we thought we reached Syntung, but in reality it was almost 3 hours lapse. There was a vehicle parking lot. Each one of us carried and shared picnic items which were mainly brought for preparing food, including stoves, gas cylinder, play stuffs like badmintons, balls.
We had to trek for around 1.5kms to our picnic with the available luggage. when we started trekking, I was so happy to look at the scenic beauty the place had in it. It was a cool breeze blowing and the sounds of waterfalls were audible even from half the way of trek. All of us cheered up and got excited by even its sound and took fast steps ahead.
When we looked at the first level waterfalls, we were stunned. She (WahRashi) was so calm, clean and beautiful.
Formed over Wah Rashi Kshaid River, the little known Wahrashi Water Falls is a congregation of eight waterfalls. Encircled with cluster of sacred hills, only tier 3 of the waterfall is made accessible to the public. The other levels, although visible, are not accessible. There are some viewpoints for the visitors to get the better views of the waterfalls.
The area surrounding the waterfalls is mostly marshy land with a lot of wild vegetation, with pitcher plant saplings growing in abundance. Even though there is always a warning for bad roads for its pathetic condition, nothing compares the beauty of Wahrashi Waterfalls.
I had heard of crystal clear water reserve in the state of Meghalaya, but this one was the first to witness. It was magical. I forgot the chill bains one can get while stepping into such cold waters. I just ran into waters looking at those peacock blue colors. My son too followed me behind. We even played in the freezing water. It was too fun.
There were 3 level of water falls- we tried exploring all of them with our adventurous gang support. The cooking team was meticulously involved in cooking for filling the hungry stomachs. But nobody cared for stomachs when it was such a beauty WAHRASHI to fill our eyes.
According to legends, Syntung is considered to be one of the oldest villages of the East Khasi Hills. The Suting, Nongrum, Mukhim and Lynshiang clans were the earliest settlers here.
The Wahrashi Falls are encircled by a cluster of sacred hills. For over a century, the villagers have preserved these hills and till today, no one is allowed to cut their trees. The nine-tier falls, start from these hills, form beautiful gorges and finally become a part of the Wah Rashi Kshaid river.
There was even boating. Only single person was allowed boating per boat, with only two boats functioning. It was a lean boat, very tactfully balancing your weight like a Russian ballet dancer focusing and maintaining her steady postures. I was asked not to take my 4 year son along, as even slight mismatch of weight while hand raven boat might cause boat to go upside down. But my little kiddo accompanied promising to keep his naughtiness under control and be obidient for a while.
The boat ride made me humm the song from my native language kannada. My favourite lines from bhaavageethe from the famous poet Kuvempu , Jnanapeta awardee “ Dooni Saagali Munde Hoogali Durathirava Serali”. However I could hear my son humming ‘ Row row row your boat gentle down the stream’. His favourite rhyme side by side.
After repeated alerts from the driver and cooking team, we all had to push up to the picnic camping site to have our food, so that its not very late to head back to Shillong. Once we all trekked back to picnic camping spot- we saw the yummy delicious hot food waiting for us. We all sat in a circle happily and enjoyed every bit of food and filled ourselves with soups, rice, mutton, fish, ample of salads too… The dishes were prepared in Assamese style and it tasted really good with mustard oil. It was time for the group photo to cherish forever.
Later, when we sat down in the bus, each one of us dozed off to sleep immediately to get up only after sometime to notice we had almost reached back Shillong.
It was all back in 2019, before the pandemic, but still the memories are fresh and if called upon, I am always ready to go visit the place again. So, tell me if you are ready to join me this time. I know your answer ‘ Hey girl, we are ready as you, first let the pandemic end!!!
“I am hoping the same.. See you soon…”
