The village of Mawlynnong could even be proclaimed as the synonym of the word ‘clean’. And yes, as a fact, it has been awarded Asia's cleanest village by the Discover India magazine, that too twice! Even now, it is so! And with cleanliness comes beauty and, of course, serenity! Even the sound of the ‘cleanest village’ is like honey to ears amongst the chaos and disruption of India. And the neatness of the village results in the lush greenery and splendid scenery. By this, we can confirm that the main occupation in the village is nothing but agriculture, and betel nut cultivation is popular among others.
Mawlynnong village used to be just that, a village, unpopular and one among many other villages and towns in the state of Meghalaya until the year 2003. No tourists visited then and the remote community consisted of only about 500 inhabitants; it had no roads and was accessible only by foot, with its position high in the mountains in the East Khasi Hills.
After the publication of the article about Mawlynnong village in the Discover India magazine in 2003 and 2005, the village gained recognition for its undeniable cleanliness and soon tourists began to trickle in. And now about 250 tourists visit the Mawlynnong village each day in high season. The weather in Mawlynnong is pleasant year-round, but it is best visited in monsoon. During the rainy season, the entire village and all the lush greeneries become so pretty and intense to look at, the place just turns marvellous and picturesque. Explore this beauty with the best Meghalaya tour packages for an unforgettable experience.
Where is Mawlynnong Village and How to Access it?
Mawlynnong village is located in the district of the East Khasi Hills in the state of Meghalaya in North East India. It is situated near the India-Bangladesh border. Its nearest town is Pynurla. It is at a distance of about 90 kilometres from Shillong airport and about 76 kilometres from the city of Shillong to Mawlynnong village. And if you're booking a taxi from Shillong to Mawlynnong village, it would cost you around INR 3000 for a one way trip. While exploring, don’t miss out on the beautiful tourist places in Shillong, which offer a perfect blend of nature and culture.
Ever since the village became a frequented tourist destination it has evolved commercially. And so to maintain its name and environment of cleanliness, the village has taken the necessary measures. Any who aren't of the village and the community are required to pay a fee of INR 200 at the entry of the village, they are also required to leave behind any vehicles outside the border and are only allowed inside on foot. Hence the village is free of pollution.
History And Facts of Mawlynnong Village:
The village situated in the East Khasi Hills district consists of people from the tribal community called the Khasi tribe. The people of the Khasi tribe are ethnic to Meghalaya but also are present in the bordering state of Assam as well as in some parts of Bangladesh. Majority of the Khasi tribal population in Meghalaya are present in Khasi Hills, in the eastern part of Meghalaya, covering around 48% of the population.
The Khasi tribe are distinct for their matrilineal society. Even now they follow their tradition of children taking the surname of their mother, the youngest daughter inheriting the properties of their mother, the married man moving into their mother-in-laws house, etc. In fact, a family with no daughters is considered miserable as there will be no girl child to continue the clan, and to disrespect a woman in this culture means a direct harm to the society.
Another impressive fact about the Mawlynnong village is their literacy situation. Although being a place of tribal community and having agriculture as their main occupation, they do not forgo the importance of education. One of the very few places that can boast of their high literacy rate is undoubtedly Mawlynnong - a complete 100%! Isn't that just amazing! It is, in fact, because of this that people there thrive towards everything and seek to make their village better and better.
4 Best Reasons For Visiting Mawlynnong
1. Living Root Bridge:
The most iconic and wondrous bridge, the Jingmaham Living Root Bridge, is present in the very town of Mawlynnong! It is a bridge constructed entirely of nature and is almost 300 years old, built in the 1800s. The bridge is carefully built from the roots of rubber trees wind around betel tree trunks, with little pebbles, stones and sticks stuck in between to make the bridge hold steadfast. And as the roots grow and thicken over the years, the bridge becomes strengthened. The one in Mawlynnong is built over a stream.
2. Church of Epiphany:
The Church of Epiphany is almost a 100 years old, and the only church inside the Mawlynnong village. Legends say, Welsh Christian missionaries from Bangladesh built this in 1902 after coming here and since then the village has been devoted to Christianity, and they believe that it was due to their belief in their religion and their devotion to God that has helped them keep their village clean. And fascinatingly, no houses in the village are built taller than the church spire.
3. Sky Walk:
Sky Walk is a sky view point area to where you'll have to get by climbing a ladder-like structure built entirely of bamboo poles tied to branches of trees using jute and bamboo ropes only; no nails or any sort of metals are used. And once you reach the top, you'll be gifted by a beautiful bird's eye view of the Mawlynnong village and the plains of Bangladesh. It was designed by a local school teacher.
4. Balancing Rock:
The Balancing Rock is nothing but a huge boulder that stands in a weird angle on top of another rock. No one knows how it came to be like that and why it stands like that, it is just another of the natural phenomena. And so it has become another tourist attraction in the village.
Conclusion:
With all that said about Mawlynnong village, one now shouldn't hesitate to visit it as it is surely a spectacle to behold in plain sight. Who really wouldn't want to see the cleanest village in all of Asia?! And I'm sure after the Meghalaya tour of the village, we would not like having our own surroundings unclean.
Here we are to help you around the place, so pack up and get ready to walk!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What is special about Mawlynnong village?
The Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya has been awarded the cleanest village in the whole of Asia. And this has happened twice! It is a place fully in-tie with nature, with lush green plantations all around, bridges made up of roots and bamboo, bins made of bamboo kept at little distances and so on!
Q. What is the food of Mawlynnong village?
The people of the village eat simple food like chicken dishes served with rice, vegetables, dal, potato, roti, etc. There are a few restaurants located in the village and the menus there are also simple.
Q. How many households are currently living in Mawlynnong?
As per this year, there are approximately 115 households present in the Mawlynnong village, with around 600 people living there.
Q. What is the other name of Mawlynnong?
Due to its cleanliness and the lush greenery of the place, it is also named as God's Own Garden, and rightly so!
