[kaushik_s]

Normally the wettest place title is being toggled between Mawsynram and Cherrapunji. And yes, Mawsynram is near Cherra.
BTW,Sumit, the part where the dam is a restricted area and not allowed to be photographed. I didn't know that and I almost got caught there by Security and lucky to escape without my camera being seized. I was able to convince them I'm not any miscreant/terrorist and just photographing the beauty of the Lake ;-)

[gt_bhp]

Beautiful pics. Never realised it was this beautiful over there!

[n_aditya]

Nice pics. How about a detailed review? The waterfalls look amazing.

Originally Posted by SumitB

... and my camera had no protection.

Keep some in the camera pouch. You wont have to regret it next time.

[SumitB]

The dam is restricted, but you can get to the old bridge and click a snap of the water being released ;-)

[1100D]

One question, is this the Waterfall on the way to cherrapunji? Or this is the one AT Cherrapunji. I always forget the names.

[SumitB]

it is at Cherrapunji View Point (5 kms. from the Cherra town)

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by 1100D

One question, is this the Waterfall on the way to cherrapunji? Or this is the one AT Cherrapunji. I always forget the names.

Maybe you are referring to Elephant Falls which is on the way from Shillong to Cherrapunjee. Nokhalikai Falls is the one you see from Cherrapunji Point.

[SumitB]

The falls in the picture are the ones visible from the view point. None of these are the Nokhalikai Falls. That would be a different falls for which we have to take a diversion at the market at Cherra.

[1100D]

Originally Posted by SumitB

The falls in the picture are the ones visible from the view point.

This view point is in the Cherrapunji town itself, isn't it, thats the one I am talking about that I missed because of fog settled at the bottom.

[srirambr]

Such an amazing place. Sohra!!!.......i'm coming. Great Snaps Sumit.

[1100D]

Ok another question, permit for Arunachal, where can we get it from. Given that there is an office at Guwahati which issues the permits, but that would mean wasting a day or two at Guwahati. Can the Arunachal permits be had from Calcutta itself?

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Ok another question, permit for Arunachal, where can we get it from. Given that there is an office at Guwahati which issues the permits, but that would mean wasting a day or two at Guwahati. Can the Arunachal permits be had from Calcutta itself?

I don't know about the Kolkata Office, but when I went to Tawang (and about to go to Miao/Namdapha) in Arunachal Pradesh (and also for Nagaland/Manipur), I got a travel agent in Guwahati to do it for me in advance, that meant I drove into Guwahati, picked up the permits and kept going. The travel agent's costs were nominal, besides I got lots of casual info on roads, places, hotels, etc. In case you book hotel rooms through them, maybe they will also do this permit work free.

I took the permit for Mizoram at Silchar on my own and it was a miserable affair, running around sarkari babus and wasting half a day in the process, hence such work is better left to specialised palm-greasers.

[SumitB]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I don't know about the Kolkata Office, but when I went to Tawang (and about to go to Miao/Namdapha) in Arunachal Pradesh (and also for Nagaland/Manipur), I got a travel agent in Guwahati to do it for me in advance, that meant I drove into Guwahati, picked up the permits and kept going. The travel agent's costs were nominal, besides I got lots of casual info on roads, places, hotels, etc. In case you book hotel rooms through them, maybe they will also do this permit work free.

I took the permit for Mizoram at Silchar on my own and it was a miserable affair, running around sarkari babus and wasting half a day in the process, hence such work is better left to specialised palm-greasers.

From what I have found out from the local Arunachal Bhawan in Shillong, the RAP (Restricted Area Permit) is just a piece of paper with a serial no. which has an entry in the issuing office's register. It hardly takes 5 mins to get it done here provided that the visitors have the identity proof with them at the time of getting it done. For ID proof, a Driving License or PAN Card or your Passport will do. It has some fees which I don't remember but it was negligible.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by SumitB

From what I have found out from the local Arunachal Bhawan in Shillong, the RAP (Restricted Area Permit) is just a piece of paper with a serial no. which has an entry in the issuing office's register. It hardly takes 5 mins to get it done here provided that the visitors have the identity proof with them at the time of getting it done. For ID proof, a Driving License or PAN Card or your Passport will do. It has some fees which I don't remember but it was negligible.

Theoretically, you are right, but I guess Government offices don't really work that way. I will giev you some more instances of how these permits are granted - in Ladakh, when you go to the DC's Office, you are told that the saab is not around, and I have waited up to 5 hours for the signature. And needless to say, goverment offices work to their own stretchable timings, often only 5 days a week.

[yogesh sarkar]

Fantastic pics Sumit