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 Cherrapunjee,
locally and officially known as Sohra, is 56 kms from Shillong, and a
“must see” destination for all tourists. Apart from being the record
holder for the heaviest rainfall, it was the headquarters of the Khasi/Jaintia
province during British rule which was however shifted to Shillong in
1864, due to the inconvenience caused by excessive rain during the
monsoon months. The average rainfall is 12,000 mm a year and the record for a single day was 2455 mm recorded in 1974 confirming it as the “Wettest place on Earth”.
Place to seen in Cherrapunjee.
Dain-Thlen Falls – Just before
reaching Cherrapunjee a road to the right leads one to the falls which
is 5 kms. away. Daiń Thlen means cutting of the Thlen (a serpent
monster).
Noh-Sngithiang
Falls – Also known as Mawsmai Falls
is actually a number of waterfalls cascading down to a conyon.
Mawsmai
Cave: The
illuminated cave provide tourist an experience of caving.
 Thangkharang
Park – It offers a panoramic view of
the sleep cliffs and the Kynrem falls.
Khoh
Ramhah – The “Giants Basket” also
known as “Motrop” is an imposing single formation in a shape of a
giant cone.
Living
root Bridge – Located at the
Laitkynsew and Nongriat villages.
The heavy rainfall has sculptured many
rock formations, imposing cliffs and waterfalls all over the southern
slopes.
 By
the side of the Pomsohmen stream lies the cremation ground of the
Sohra Syiemship (Cherra chieftain). This sacred cremation ground
called ‘Ka Kpep Syiem Sohra’is located on the Sohra-Shella road
approximately 1 km. from the Sohra market.
The cremation ceremonial rites of the
Syiem of Sohra is very elaborate, expensive and complicated. The Syiem-elect
has to perform all the customary formalities and rituals and bear all
the related expenses prior to staking his claim as the new Syiem.
Until such time the mortal remains of the late Syiem is kept,
sometimes for years, till all formalities are completed. One of the
formalities involves the feeding of the entire populace of the Sohra
Syiemship. The preparation of the cremation pyre requires detailed
planning involving a great show of wealth and pomp. Gold is used
extensively in the making of various articles for use during the
cremation ceremony thereby making this one of the most expensive
elaborate ritual to perform.
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Noh-Kalikai
Falls
Cherrapunjee
falls under the Syiemship of Sohra which was one of the most developed
trading centers in the Khasi Hills. There was active trade between the
people of the Sohra Hills and the plains extending to what is now
Bangladesh. Khasi traders from Cherrapunjee were even found as far west
and Calcutta selling iron ore, oranges and limestone. Even today, the
weekly markets attract many traders from surrounding villages.
Extract
to describe the living root bridge from Journal of Asiatic society of
Bengal – 1844 By Lieut. H. Yule. “On top of a huge boulder, by the river
side, grows a large rubber tree, clasping the stone with its multitude
of roots. Two or three of the long fibres, whilst still easily pliable,
have been stretched across the stream and their free ends fastened on
the other bank. Two great roots run directly one over the other, and the
secondary shoots from the upper have been bound round and grow into the
lower, so that the former affords at once a hand-rail and suspending
chain, the latter a footway. The length of the bridge is above eighty
feet, and its height about twenty above the water in dry season”.
