Welcome to Cherrapunji. The wettest place on earth!

SumitB · 22nd July 2007, 20:46

Guys and Gals, welcome to Cherrapunji!

It was a wet day, as usual. We left at 1230 from Shillong. Could not take much pics on the way as it was too rainy and my camera had no protection. But did take a few pics. All the waterfalls are in a single location. Distance from Shillong is roughly 53 kms. Mostly a pleasure to drive other than about 15 kms. from Cherra. FYI, Cherrapunji is now called Sohra.

Duration: It took me 90 mins to get there and 50 mins to get back

I was enjoying tailing a car from Assam and scaring the crap out of the occupants while on my way back. The females in the car were probably praying that I don't hit them

Lukeskywalker · 22nd July 2007, 20:54

Whew! Huge pics those, what camera and my comp screen ain't enough to view them, nice though, the waterfalls look awesome. Why not write a bit about the place also?

Laxminarayan · 22nd July 2007, 21:00

Hey Sumit,

Those pics are lovely. Would be better if you post thumbnail, it's taking hell a lot of time, Otherwise the waterfalls with full of water is fantastic.
Now after resizing looks better, and a quite a fantastic thumbnail view as well.

esteem_lover · 23rd July 2007, 00:19

Man, those are some of the best waterfalls i have ever seen. Fantastic pictures too. Looks like a visit to shillong is certainly in the making.

speedzak · 23rd July 2007, 07:29

Great job!
Had been hearing about this place from school days and these are some good pictures I got to see of it.
Thanks for sharing it here.

I think a bit more in write up will do lot good!

akroy · 23rd July 2007, 07:39

Nice pics sumit, THanks for sharing that part of India to us...

You are becoming an ambassador of NE in this Forum....Gr8 going....

Abhi

1100D · 23rd July 2007, 07:47

Oh thank you for these pics, we missed this when we went there (it did not rain and the falls were covered in fog!)

SumitB · 23rd July 2007, 09:14

Guys, thank you for all the encouragement. As far as a write up goes, I don't have much to add as all I did was get there and return while clicking these on the way. This because it was very wet and I just recovered from a fever. Same was the case with wifey. My objective of going there was not sightseeing anyways. We just went there for a drive and that was it.

Sohra now has a few resorts for people wanting to stay there for a couple of days to enjoy sights. Also, there are a few caves and an Eco Park there. Another place of tourist interest would be a wildlife sanctuary. If anyone wants any details, I can look it up and provide the same.

DriverR · 23rd July 2007, 10:57

Nice to see you promoting Shillong, Sumit.

Next time you go down to Guwahati, do take some pics of Bara Pani and post it. I'm sure it will blow the minds of the people here... I just hope that water levels are ok, as it was supposed to be very low a few months back.

hvkumar · 23rd July 2007, 11:23

How good is the condition of the road? I remember when I travelled a few years ago that the road was outstanding, with good signages.

15 kms from Cherrapunjee, try out the Cherra Resort (hope that is not closed down), a great place overlooking the Valley.

Incidentally, the waterfall is called Nokhalikai Falls and is best seen at Cherrapunjee Point, 5 kms from Sohra Town.

SumitB · 23rd July 2007, 12:09

Barapani or Umiam as it is locally called, is now full till the brim. The govt. on Friday last issued a notification and advised all the villages around the area to move away from the stream, which generally indicated that water will be released from the dam any day. That is a sight to behold! If it happens, yours truly will present you all with some outstanding pics.

The resort is there for the taking.

The roads are okay other than a few kms. of potholes caused due to landslides and heavy vehicle movement.

DriverR · 23rd July 2007, 14:12

Great to hear that Barapani is full now. I last went to Shillong about 2 years back. I was born there. Grandmom was from Shillong. Used to go there every year for the vacations. Past 5-6 years I have not got much time or chance to go there... Still good to see you have having a fantastic time there and have managed to influence others to visit there! You can take up home tourism!

madan80 · 23rd July 2007, 14:15

man, the pics are awesome.

rjstyles69 · 23rd July 2007, 15:43

Nice pics there mate.

Which is the wettest place in India, guess its not Cheerapunji. Any thghts folks? I vaguely remember having seen a program on NGC which said it was some place near Cheerapunji(I could be wrong too).

SumitB · 23rd July 2007, 16:05

Mawsynram and Cherrapunji (about 30 kms apart), share the title of being the wettest places on earth. A few years it is Cherra and a few years it is Mawsynram. Both places are in Meghalaya and both places are a must visit for all tourists.

22nd July 2007, 20:46	#1
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 989 Thanked: 265 Times	Welcome to Cherrapunji. The wettest place on earth! Guys and Gals, welcome to Cherrapunji! It was a wet day, as usual. We left at 1230 from Shillong. Could not take much pics on the way as it was too rainy and my camera had no protection. But did take a few pics. All the waterfalls are in a single location. Distance from Shillong is roughly 53 kms. Mostly a pleasure to drive other than about 15 kms. from Cherra. FYI, Cherrapunji is now called Sohra. Duration: It took me 90 mins to get there and 50 mins to get back I was enjoying tailing a car from Assam and scaring the crap out of the occupants while on my way back. The females in the car were probably praying that I don't hit them Last edited by SumitB : 22nd July 2007 at 20:55. Reason: Images Resized
	() Thanks

22nd July 2007, 20:54	#2
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,396 Thanked: 1,244 Times View My Garage	Whew! Huge pics those, what camera and my comp screen ain't enough to view them, nice though, the waterfalls look awesome. Why not write a bit about the place also?
	() Thanks

22nd July 2007, 21:00	#3
Laxminarayan BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 170 Thanked: 0 Times	Hey Sumit, Those pics are lovely. Would be better if you post thumbnail, it's taking hell a lot of time, Otherwise the waterfalls with full of water is fantastic. Now after resizing looks better, and a quite a fantastic thumbnail view as well. Last edited by Laxminarayan : 22nd July 2007 at 21:07. Reason: Images resized now..
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 00:19	#4
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 513 Times View My Garage	Man, those are some of the best waterfalls i have ever seen. Fantastic pictures too. Looks like a visit to shillong is certainly in the making.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 07:29	#5
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,346 Thanked: 29 Times	Great job! Had been hearing about this place from school days and these are some good pictures I got to see of it. Thanks for sharing it here. I think a bit more in write up will do lot good!
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 07:39	#6
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 2,424 Thanked: 88 Times View My Garage	Nice pics sumit, THanks for sharing that part of India to us... You are becoming an ambassador of NE in this Forum....Gr8 going.... Abhi
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 07:47	#7
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,117 Times View My Garage	Oh thank you for these pics, we missed this when we went there (it did not rain and the falls were covered in fog!)
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 09:14	#8
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 989 Thanked: 265 Times	Guys, thank you for all the encouragement. As far as a write up goes, I don't have much to add as all I did was get there and return while clicking these on the way. This because it was very wet and I just recovered from a fever. Same was the case with wifey. My objective of going there was not sightseeing anyways. We just went there for a drive and that was it. Sohra now has a few resorts for people wanting to stay there for a couple of days to enjoy sights. Also, there are a few caves and an Eco Park there. Another place of tourist interest would be a wildlife sanctuary. If anyone wants any details, I can look it up and provide the same.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 10:57	#9
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 415 Thanked: 526 Times	Nice.... Nice to see you promoting Shillong, Sumit. Next time you go down to Guwahati, do take some pics of Bara Pani and post it. I'm sure it will blow the minds of the people here... I just hope that water levels are ok, as it was supposed to be very low a few months back.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 11:23	#10
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,368 Thanked: 3,467 Times	How good is the condition of the road? I remember when I travelled a few years ago that the road was outstanding, with good signages. 15 kms from Cherrapunjee, try out the Cherra Resort (hope that is not closed down), a great place overlooking the Valley. Incidentally, the waterfall is called Nokhalikai Falls and is best seen at Cherrapunjee Point, 5 kms from Sohra Town.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 12:09	#11
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 989 Thanked: 265 Times	Barapani or Umiam as it is locally called, is now full till the brim. The govt. on Friday last issued a notification and advised all the villages around the area to move away from the stream, which generally indicated that water will be released from the dam any day. That is a sight to behold! If it happens, yours truly will present you all with some outstanding pics. The resort is there for the taking. The roads are okay other than a few kms. of potholes caused due to landslides and heavy vehicle movement.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 14:12	#12
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 415 Thanked: 526 Times	Great to hear that Barapani is full now. I last went to Shillong about 2 years back. I was born there. Grandmom was from Shillong. Used to go there every year for the vacations. Past 5-6 years I have not got much time or chance to go there... Still good to see you have having a fantastic time there and have managed to influence others to visit there! You can take up home tourism!
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 14:15	#13
madan80 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,358 Thanked: 82 Times View My Garage	man, the pics are awesome.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 15:43	#14
rjstyles69 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bengalooru.. Posts: 4,343 Thanked: 845 Times View My Garage	Nice pics there mate. Which is the wettest place in India, guess its not Cheerapunji. Any thghts folks? I vaguely remember having seen a program on NGC which said it was some place near Cheerapunji(I could be wrong too).
	() Thanks

23rd July 2007, 16:05	#15
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 989 Thanked: 265 Times	Mawsynram and Cherrapunji (about 30 kms apart), share the title of being the wettest places on earth. A few years it is Cherra and a few years it is Mawsynram. Both places are in Meghalaya and both places are a must visit for all tourists.
	() Thanks