Thursday, July 2, 2009

Cherrapunji-a land of incessant rains



North-eastern part of India is a land full of natural treasures. “Mother Nature” has overwhelmed this region with her immense love and care and thus created such wonderful locales that can beckon you through out your life.

Lush green canopies, verdant valleys, blue mountains, rocky hills, untamed gushing rivers, diverse flora and fauna are the part and parcel of the North-east India. Every place in this region is blessed with some wonderful nature's wealth that can behold your attention at the very first sight. One such spectacular place is Cherrapunji.

Declared as the “wettest place on earth” by the esteemed Guinness Book of World Records, Cherrapunji is located in Meghalaya state of North-east of India. Just after a short drive of 60 km from Shillong, the state capital, you will enter into a world of completely different ambiance.

Unlike the jungles of concrete, Cherrapunji is a place to cherish the ever-lasting beauty of nature. This is the sole place in the entire world where one can enjoy the monsoon season round the year.
Incessant rainfalls are the most charming aspect of Cherrapunji which can be varied from high to medium to light. Here in Cherrapunji, you won't find a single month without rain. Rainfalls are measured in feet but not in millimeters.

Another surprising fact about Cherrapunji is that the everlasting rains that occurs here does not affect the day to day activity as it rains mostly at night. Cherrapunji is also known as the paradise for botanists. This place enfolds wide range of flora within its lap. Lush green vegetation are not the common scenario in Cherrapunji as it assumed to be. Instead, colorful and rare orchids, ferns, moss plants and dense wood forests are available in small patches. Orchards of oranges and pineapple are the most common sight of Cherapunji. Oranges of Cherrapunji are considered as the forefathers of the famous Nagpuri oranges.

Nearby area of Cherrapunji is also embellished with some splendid natural beauty for instance village of Mawsynram, which has recently acquired the title of the heaviest rainfall record. Few kilometers away from Cherrapunji is the spectacular cascading 1,035 ft high Mawsmai Falls.

It is the fourth highest water fall in India. Another nearby attraction of Cherrapunji is a fascinating labyrinth of underground passages, located under the age-old caves. Also you can visit the Khasi monoliths (stones in memory of their ancestors) present in the forests of Bastar.

But, slowly- slowly this pristine town of Meghalaya is losing all its glory due to deforestation and pollution. So, irs high time that we should take some important steps to safeguard this wonderland of North-east India.

By Jolly Mazumdar

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“Offbeat Destinations of India” is a India specific travel blog. As the name reflects, the blog “Offbeat destinations of India” was created to serve the purpose of promoting the unexplored exotic destinations of our country in front of global fraternity. So, keeping in view the large scale boom in India's tourism sector, the blog “Offbeat destination of India” is providing valuable information and colorful photographs related to these hidden treasures of India.

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