Local legends, folklore, unique novelties and a lot more characterize several special places in Meghalaya, probably one of the best destinations to visit in India. If you need some respite from your hectic schedule, you can consider Kongthong which is exactly what you need to soothe your body and soul.
Kongthong: the whistling village, a special place to visit in Meghalaya for reasons other than its beautiful views and mesmerizing greenery. The local population of this place accounts for roughly 700 people who live life in harmony with nature and the utmost simplicity. The primary modes of sustenance of the villagers are farming and hunting in the lush green meadows and the dense tropical rainforests which surround the place from all sides. But the mystery surrounding the nomenclature of the village as the village of whistles and tunes shall be revealed in due course later. Till then, hang tight!
The ideal time to enjoy the beauty, simplicity, and mystery surrounding Kongthong is from October to the end of May when the weather remains stable and cool.
The nearest railhead and airport are situated at Shillong which is at a distance of 80 km from the village. One can easily get a cab from the airport or the station. The cab is going to take you to the last motorable road which is the Khatarshnong Road, a short distance away from this village.
This village has a very good reason for its innovative name which dates back to centuries. This village has a tradition that has been going on from time immemorial. Whenever a woman gets pregnant in the village, she starts thinking of a lullaby which may be of any length ranging from twenty seconds to more than a minute. And when the baby is born, this is the lullaby by which the mother, as well as all the villagers, call the child. The same tune is called by all of them so that he/she gets accustomed to it.
Throughout his/her lifetime, the child is called by the same tune across the entire village. Villagers call each other only by the first syllable of this tune instead of using names. The fun part is that only the villagers can understand the subtle differences between the tunes. To the untrained outside ear, they may all sound the same but the villagers use it effectively for communicating amongst themselves.
There is a legend regarding the peculiar use of these whistles. Legend has it that the villagers once used names like others. But whenever they used names to communicate, a demon residing in the nearby forests used to overhear the names and cause the person to fall sick through black magic. And ever since, they have used whistling instead of names. And it has proved to be an effective method of communication because of its usefulness during hunting.
There is also a courtship ritual revolving around these whistles. Every year, on one day, the villagers gather around a bonfire and all single young men dance and sing their own tunes. And then the person with the best tune is selected by the prettiest girl to be her partner.
The Bamboo Hut Accommodation of Meghalaya which is typical to the state is found in abundance in this village.
This waterfall derives its name from a very tragic story of a woman named Likai. Likai was married to a porter and had a daughter but her husband died and hence she had to take up the profession of porter. She remarried but the new husband hated the fact that she had no time for her daughter because of her job. So one day when she was away on work he killed and cooked the girl into a meal which the unknowing Likai ate as she was hungry after work.
Only when she found a finger in the food did she understand what had happened. She then went mad and jumped into the waterfall. Noh in local language means to jump into and ka means woman and hence the name of the waterfall, Nohkalikai.
This is a cluster of natural caves which are maintained by the Meghalaya Tourism Department. The colourful algae of the place attracts many tourists as do the curiously formed stalactites and stalagmites.
Noshngithiang Falls
This waterfall is actually a segmented set of seven waterfalls. The name of the place is derived from the fact that the waterfall is seasonal and it is divided into seven similar segments.
This waterfall is the fourth highest waterfall in the country. During rainy season, the cascading falls present an amazing view of the sunset on the Khasi Hills.
The surreal beauty of the wilderness of this valley will make you believe that time stands still here. The valley is a hotspot for mountain sports like zip lines, zorbing and paragliding.
These canyons are one of the primary reasons why Meghalaya is dubbed as the ‘Scotland of the East’. The Laitlum canyons are filled with picturesque gorges, lush green forests and picturesque landscapes. One can find utt er serenity in these canyons.
The Wah Kaba falls offer a breathtaking scenery and a panoramic view of the beautiful mountains all around. The waterfall has a number of viewpoints all around which offer some beautiful views all around.
Rainbow Falls
This is a beautiful waterfall which is reached after a strenuous hike through the mountains and forests but the view at the falls is worth the exertion. But one must return before nightfall to avoid the dangers of the forest.
Kongthong produces some of the finest honey in the entire world. This honey is then processed and sent to the entire state for consumption. One can go and visit the bee farm to see the art of honey making first hand.
Your entire day would be filled with random strains of music alluding to different people. The continuous singsong nature of the conversations around is bound to cheer anybody up. So are you feeling sad and depressed? Are you under stress? Take a tour of Kongthong: the whistling village of Meghalayaand who knows maybe it’d all be cured.
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