Places to visit in Cherrapunji

60 kilometers away from Shillong lies Cherrapunji which is located at a height of around 4,500 feet above the sea level. It has earned a name for itself in the Guinness Book of World records as the wettest place on earth. Here, rainfall is recorded in feet rather than millimetres. However, most of the times, it rains heavily in the night so no daytime activities are disrupted. Another important fact to be known is that if it rains in one part of the town it might not necessarily rain in the other part. In fact, it might be completely dry.

The atmospheric humidity is usually high during the peak monsoon period. The word ‘Cherrapunji’ means 'land of oranges'. This place produces the best oranges and pineapples. It also possesses an astonishing variety of orchids, ferns and other species of plants.

It also has incredible bridges made out of roots and barks of trees. The Mawsmai Falls here is the fourth highest waterfall in India (1035 feet). Trekking and camping can be conducted along the way. The tourist attractions include the Khasi Monoliths near the Mawsmai Falls where there are rock stones in the memory of ancestors. The underground passages and tunnels are exciting explorations for adventure enthusiasts. November to February are months that are apt for trekking, rock climbing and river canyoning. It also possible to experience the cool mountain springs, waterfalls, streams and baths in natural springs. Winters are also the best time for bird watching since 200 species of migratory birds come here.

?The average temperature is around 11.5 °C in January and 20.6 °C in July, and the annual mean is 17.3 °C .The nearest airport is in Guwahati. There are plenty of buses and taxis that one can take from Shillong and other cities to Cherrapunji.