Snehal’s Solo Meghalaya Adventure with Thrillophilia: From Caves to Living Root Bridges
Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDPBGFHS41
Rating: ★★★★★
Traveller: Snehal Gupta
Duration: 6 Days | 5 Nights
Destination: Meghalaya
Date of Travel: 11 July 2024 – 16 July 2024
Package Booked: Mesmerising Meghalaya | Group Tour Package
“Overall, I would rate it 4/5. Everything was well planned and executed. Thrillophilia managed everything and arranged our stay. I will definitely plan my next trip with Thrillophilia.”
Snehal was 21 when she set out on her solo trip to Meghalaya, with six days ahead of her and a whole lot of green waiting to be explored. Her journey took her from Shillong to Cherrapunji, then through Mawlynnong and Dawki before bringing her back to Shillong. Along the way came misty hills, enormous waterfalls, caves, living root bridges and some serious trekking.
What made the trip interesting was the mix of experiences. Some days were about getting deep into Meghalaya’s forests, while others were simply about sitting back and watching the landscape change outside the window. For a young solo traveller, it turned into the kind of trip where almost every day came with a new story.
Shillong Was Just the Beginning
Snehal’s Meghalaya adventure began in Guwahati, where she joined the shared Tempo Traveller for the drive to Shillong. The city gave her a gentle introduction to the state. She checked into her stay and had time to settle in before stepping out to explore places around Shillong.
The next morning, the journey became more scenic. Elephant Falls was the first stop, with water rushing down three rocky levels surrounded by thick greenery. From there, she continued towards the Mawkdok Dympep Viewpoint, where the hills opened up into a dramatic valley. The road then led towards Cherrapunji, with the landscape getting wilder and greener as Snehal moved deeper into Meghalaya.
Cherrapunji Turned Up the Adventure
Cherrapunji brought a full day of exploring. Snehal visited Seven Sisters Waterfalls, where several streams drop down the green cliffs, and NohKaLikai Falls, one of the most striking waterfalls in the region. She also made her way into Mawsmai Cave, squeezing through its naturally formed limestone passages and seeing a completely different side of Meghalaya.
Arwah Caves added another layer to the adventure. The caves are surrounded by forest and feel far removed from the more familiar sightseeing spots. Snehal got to explore the rocky formations while enjoying the feeling of being somewhere a little wild and untouched. By the end of the day, she had gone from waterfalls to caves and back through the misty Cherrapunji landscape.
Then Came the 3,500-step challenge
The Nongriat trek was easily one of the biggest adventures of Snehal’s trip. She travelled to Tyrna Village before beginning the descent towards the Double Decker Living Root Bridge. Around 3,500 steps stood between her and the bridge, with the trail passing through thick greenery and winding deeper into the forest.
The effort paid off when she finally reached the famous root bridge. Instead of being built from concrete or steel, the bridge has been shaped from the living roots of trees over generations. Standing in the middle of Meghalaya’s forest and seeing the roots form a functioning bridge made the long climb and descent feel like a pretty incredible travel story to take back home.
Mawlynnong Took Her Into Another Side of Meghalaya
Snehal’s next stop was Mawlynnong, where the pace became calmer. The village is surrounded by greenery and offers a glimpse into the local way of life. She explored Riwai Village and came across the Single Decker Living Root Bridge, another example of the Khasi community’s remarkable relationship with nature.
The Balancing Rock added a fun little stop to the day before she continued towards Dawki. By evening, Snehal had reached the riverside destination and checked into her stay. After several days filled with sightseeing and trekking, Dawki gave her a chance to simply take in the landscape and enjoy the slower side of Meghalaya.
Krang Shuri Made the Journey Back Memorable
The journey back towards Shillong came with another beautiful surprise. Snehal stopped at Krang Shuri Waterfalls, where clear blue-green water sits between rocky cliffs and dense forest. The setting had a completely different character from the waterfalls she had seen around Cherrapunji.
Once she reached Shillong, she had some free time to explore the city at her own pace. The final morning brought one last stop at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati before she headed towards the airport or railway station. Six days earlier, she had arrived ready to discover Meghalaya. She left having trekked through forests, explored caves, crossed living root bridges and seen some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Northeast.
Why Snehal Chose Thrillophilia for Her Solo Trip
Planning a solo trip at 21 can make the little details matter just as much as the big experiences. Snehal travelled through Meghalaya on shared transfers, stayed at each destination along the route and had the itinerary organised around the major experiences she wanted to cover.
Kush Malhotra handled the trip from the sales side, helping Snehal get the journey planned before she set off. The Thrillophilia team also stepped in whenever support was required during the trip and made the necessary arrangements on the ground. That gave Snehal the freedom to focus on the fun part: waking up each morning and wondering what Meghalaya had waiting for her.
Her experience ultimately left her looking ahead to another journey with Thrillophilia. For a first solo trip, Meghalaya gave Snehal plenty to remember and perhaps a pretty strong reason to start planning the next one.
Also Read: Samyami & Ankush’s Meghalaya Adventure with Thrillophilia
