A Sacred Forest and a Trail

Day 61 and 62 at Mawphlang, 6200 ft.

The day unfurled on a century old trail laid by David Scott who was the British administrator of this region in the 1800/. This incredibly beautiful trek is 16 kms long and was once a very important trading route in the Khasi Hills. It winds through thick sacred forests, rivers and streams and across an iron bridge. It is one of the most well preserved areas in Meghalaya. We did half of the trek and were on the trail for four hours, filling water at lovely streams, taking pictures of birds, admiring the rhododendron, oak and pine tree forest filled with teeming plant life. We also explored a hill at Mawphlang from where we could see the Umiew river and the dam. In the evening near the Mawphlang Sacred Grove, I walked up another small hill to take pictures of the ancient monoliths some more than 800 years old. The stones lie majestically and serve a traditional ritualistic purpose and are held in great esteem by the indigenous people.