City of Cherrapunji

Perched on the southern edge of the Khasi Hills, where the plateau drops dramatically towards the plains of Bangladesh, Cherrapunji is famed across the world as one of the wettest places on earth. Known locally as Sohra, it is a land of dramatic gorges, plunging waterfalls and an almost otherworldly green that feels at once wild and serene.

The region's most extraordinary sights are its living root bridges, patiently trained over many years from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees by the Khasi people. The famous double-decker bridge, reached by a memorable descent into a forested valley, is among the most remarkable feats of bioengineering anywhere. Nearby, the Nohkalikai Falls drop spectacularly into a pool far below, and limestone caves wind beneath the hills.

The landscape here is shaped by water and cloud, with monsoon mists rolling in across the escarpment and rainbows appearing over the gorges. Sacred groves, protected for generations, shelter ancient trees and rare plants, a testament to the deep bond between the Khasi and their forests.

Visiting Cherrapunji is an active, immersive experience, often involving long stone stairways down into emerald valleys and the steady sound of falling water. The reward is a sense of stepping into a hidden, living world, and the chance to meet communities who have tended this land with quiet ingenuity.

We include Cherrapunji on our Meghalaya tours because it offers something genuinely rare, a meeting of natural drama and human craftsmanship found nowhere else. For travellers seeking the soul of the Northeast, its bridges, falls and forests provide an unforgettable and deeply atmospheric highlight.