The abode of clouds, one of the most unrealistically real landscapes on earth is the hill state of Meghalaya. Exploring the pristine beauty of Meghalaya is not less than a dreamy experience for a nature lover. The north-eastern state of Meghalaya is famous for its high rainfall, subtropical forests, and biodiversity. The untouched beauty of Meghalaya is a breathtaking experience. There is so much more to Meghalaya than we know and a recent festival organised by Meghalaya Tourism and E Factor showcased the hidden secrets of Meghalaya to the world with the first edition of ‘The Meghalayan Age’ festival.
The festival was held from 7th March to 15th March at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya. It takes you through diverse shades of stunning landscapes and rich traditions of this stunning state. A major highlight of the festival was how it brought people closer to the bounty of nature whilst in the lap of luxury. Nature was not at all disturbed with the organization of this festival as sustainable tourism was kept in mind by the organizers.
For the Adrenaline Junkies!
Glamping, also known as luxury camping or glamorous camping, was the escape that people at the Meghalayan Age festival cherished the most. It redefined the concept of luxurious commune with nature and was indeed one of the major highlights of the festival. More than fifty 5-star tents were set up, equipped with luxurious interiors and matching the international standards in terms of facilities. It completely changed the age-old concept of camping where you take your own tent without any basic facilities at all. The unique concept of glamping introduced by the Meghalayan Age Festival was a luxurious retreat for the guests. It is said that with glamping, less is more. In comparison to luxury properties, these glamping accommodations take advantage of the surrounding nature. Waking up in a luxurious ten and stepping out to the wonders of nature was an absolute experience.
Trekking through the jungles and reaching to a point where you gear up to explore a cave. Another intriguing experience for the guests at the Meghalayan Age Festival was the cave exploration. The state of Meghalaya is home to a cave network of over 500 kilometers, 1,700 discovered and 1,000 explored caves – it’s safe to say that it is one of the world’s most extensive cave networks. The rich geo-diversity of Meghalaya is not limited to this as the north-eastern state also boasts of the world’s longest cave in sandstone and the world’s largest species of cavefish.
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The major crowd puller for the festival was the hot air balloon rides over the majestic Jaintia hills. Guests were left with lifetime memories of an amazing ride pulled by experts from Poland. The entire team of independent pilots and companies landed in Meghalaya to fly the guests of the Meghalayan Age Festival.
Above the sky and beneath the rivers, the festival also offered water sports activities for the adventure lovers. Scuba diving at the Umngot river is the only river scuba diving site in the country. The crystal clear water and the calm flow make it the perfect experience for the adventurer in you.
The river is the natural boundary between Ri Pnar (of Jaintia Hills) and Hima Khyrim (of Khasi Hills). Kayaking was another incredible activity in the itinerary of the ‘Meghalayan Age 2020’. Kynshi River, located in the West Khasi Hills, is a popular site for kayaking in Meghalaya.
The festival catered all kinds of travellers; souls who love wander were at an ideal retreat with the Meghalayan Age Festival. The camping site was merely a 2-hour drive from several major attractions of the hill state, there were enough and more chances for sightseeing as well. Destinations like Tirshy waterfalls, Krem Suri waterfalls, living root bridges were a sight for sore eyes. A visit to the Nartiang Monoliths – a collection of monoliths that are believed to be the tallest in the world – was like taking a walk through history. The monoliths in Jowai were erected to mark the reign of the erstwhile Jaintia kings.
The festival was organized to give a boost to the tourism of the state. It was attended by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma. Meghalaya is definitely a place that should be on the list of every travel enthusiast. The abode of clouds is where you should be flying to next!
This is such a beautiful spot! Finding a quiet place where I can be close to nature is so important wherever I travel 🙂
This looks like the perfect destination for me! I am a nature lover and being able to get outdoors and explore is always a go for me. Glamping sounds wonderful, I have not yet tried that. I would love to trek through the jungle and explore some of those caves! I hope to be able to make it here one day!
We love to visit places where there is untouched beauty. You have convinced me that Meghalaya may be one of those spots we need to see. How great that the local tourist bureau put on a festival to showcase this area. I can see why the hot air balloon rides are a major crowd attraction.