Green Triangle Of The Northeast

Green Triangle of The Northeast

Shillong the capital of Meghalaya is a hill town situated in
the north eastern part of India. Shillong in Meghalaya is situated at
an altitude of 1496 m above sea level. Shillong remained the capital of
Assam before the formation of Meghalaya in the 1974. The place the
people and the climate all combined together to create an amiable
atmosphere to make Shillong Meghalaya an ideal holiday destination
throughout the year. Cherrapunjee the wettest place on earth is only
56 kms away from Shillong. Shillong has beautiful lakes and waterfalls
and is set in pine forests and green mountains. It is a popular
hill-station which the British used to call the Scotland of the East.Shillong being the capital city of Meghalaya has a good line of
accommodation facility in and around itself. You may not too luxurious
category of accommodation in Shillong. But the accommodations
available are good enough to provide you a perfect comfort.An ideal picnic spot 10 km. from the city 1965 m above sea
level offers a panoramic view of the scenic country side and is also
the highest point in the State. Obeisance is paid to U Shulong at the
sanctorum at the peak's summit every springtime by the religious
priest of Mylliem State. In the evening the city lights below appear
like a star-studded.56 km from Shillong situated in one of the rainiest rain-belt in
the world 1300 m above sea level. A pleasant drive to see roaring
water falls leaping into deep gorges including the famed Nohsngithiang
falls. The lovely town is also famous for its limestone caves and
orange honey. Centre of Khasi culture and literature it also has the
oldest Presbyterian Church and also an establishment of the Ramkrishna
Mission.1343 m 20 km from Shillong regarded as sacred by the
Hynniewtrep people is set amidst a beautiful scenic view against the
backdrop of a sacred forest. This 'Navel of Heaven' as per Khasi
mythology is a heavenly peak which offers to fill the spiritual void
and emptiness to those who seek and desire solace and peace of mind.Cherrapunjee - the Rain Capital of the WorldCherrapunjee is a small town located on the southern edge of
Khasi Hills a dissected plateau at an altitude of about 4823 feet
(1484 m) above mean sea level. The meteorological observatory is
situated at 4267 feet (1313 m) above MSL. Cherrapunjee is locally known
as 'SOHRA'. Khasi people of Mon-Khmer origin inhabit it. It is the
headquarters of Sohra Civil Sub-Division and falls in East Khasi Hills
District of the Indian State of Meghalaya. Meghalaya is one of the
seven states of North East India with Assam to its North and sharing an
international border with Bangladesh on its South.Laitkynsew is a great place for birders. The landscape is
diverse: deep valleys with forest and boulder filled streams villages
surrounded by cultivation second growth and bamboo groves eerie steep
cliffs with waterfalls and on top of it all a barren plateau clad
with grassland and pines. Since the altitude varies from 200 m a.s.l.
in the valley bottoms to 1200 m on the plateau the faunal composition
is far from homogenous the birds one encounters change with habitat
and altitude.There is an impressive list of 197 species a high score reached
through my effort to cover all levels (12 species were only seen in
Mawmluh) and all types of habitat. There was however certainly more
to be seen out there and more species can be added in other seasons.Guwahati is the commercial capital city of the
northeastern state of Assam. Formerly known as Pragjyotishpur (the City
of Eastern Light) Guwahati is the biggest city of Assam in India. Its
etymological root is derived from two Assamese words "Guwa" meaning
areca nut and "Haat" meaning market. Fixed between the picturesque
hills of the eastern flanks of the Himalayan mountain range Guwahati
houses the political capital of the state Dispur. The gateway to the
seven other northeastern states also referred as seven sisters
Guwahati is a vital tourist base point besides being an attraction in
its own.Guwahati is particularly famous for its Kamakhya temple located
atop the Nilachal hill at a distance of 10 km from the railway
station. Known to be the most revered among the tantrik shrines of
Shakti worship in the world Kamakhya was built in the 10th century by
the Koch king Naranarayan. Animal sacrifice is a common practice here
to appease the Goddess. Above Kamakhya is another small temple
Bhubaneshwari from where one can have a bird's eye view of the
Guwahati.Atop a hill in east Guwahati is the Navagraha temple - the
"temple of nine planets" - an ancient seat of astrology and astronomy.
Housed in a red beehive-shaped dome the central lingam is encircled by
further nine representing the planets (graha) - Sun (Surya Ravi) Moon
(Chandra Soma) Mercury (Buddh) Venus (Sukra) Mars (Mangal) Jupiter
(Brhaspati) and Saturn (Sani). Two more were added Rahu and Ketu the
dragon's head and the dragon's tail or the ascending and descending
nodes of the moon.At a distance of 12 km from the railway station is the Vashistha
Ashram (the abode of sage Vashistha) an interesting old shrine with
plenty of greenness and three beautiful streams Lalita Kanta and
Sandhya. Several other temples like the Ugratara temple famous for its
golden idol and buffalo sacrifices are also spread across the city.