Visiting the North East has been on my bucket list for a long time. Luckily I got an opportunity recently to visit Meghalaya with my school friends Rupali and Sarikawhich. I thought of sharing some of our experiences and tips for anyone else planning a similar trip. By the way,  Meghalaya means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and we realized how true it is. 

We had our week long trip itinerary planned in detail which proved to be very helpful.

Visitors can fly into Guwahati to reach Meghalaya. Guwahati is quite close to Kaziranga National Park situated in the northeastern state of Assam. So we decided to combine the Kaziranga National Park visit as a part of our Meghalaya Tour. The park spreads across the flood plains of Brahmaputra River and is home to tigers, elephants and one-horned rhinoceros. 

We had planned the following itinerary for Meghalaya 

Day 1: After landing in Guwahati at 6 am we quickly freshened up at the airport and then proceeded to Kamakhya Temple on our way to Kaziranga. The same evening we attended a beautiful cultural show that provided a glimpse of Assamese culture. Our first halt was in Kaziranga

Day 2: We took an  early morning Elephant Safari. Tip: You have to book elephant safari well in advance. Subsequently we took a jeep safari and also visited the Orchid Garden in Kaziranga. While leaving for Shillong we were able to squeeze in the Market visit on the way to Shillong. Tip: Take a stay near Laitlum Canyon so that you can visit it within a short duration. 

Day 3:  We went to Laitlum Canyon which I can say is a must visit if you are in Shillong. Afterwards, a visit to the local market and we were on our way to Shnongpdeng. On the way we also visited Dawki, famous for its Dawki or Umngot River. That night we stayed in Shnongpdeng. Tip: This is a good place to enjoy camping and bonfires by the riverside. 

Day 4: Day 4 started with an early morning trekk, cliff jumping and kayaking. We started our journey to Mawlynnong Village where we spent a few hours exploring the village. It is Asia’s cleanest village. We then made our way to Cherrapunji.  Tip: One can visit Nohwet View Point on the way. It is worth while to see the Bangladesh Border from there. In Cherrapunji, try finding lodging near the Double Decker Living Root Bridge.

Day 5: We went to Double Decker Living Root Bridge in Tyrna. It is 3500 steps one way but worth the effort. Will not recommend it to someone with knee issues as it takes almost 5 – 6 hours to complete this trek. Those who want to push their limits, the Rainbow Falls is an additional 3 hours further in this trek. 

Day 6: We stayed in Cherrapunji and visited different waterfalls like Wei Sawdong Falls, Dainthlen Falls and Nohkalikai Falls. I would recommend the Mawsmai caves near Sohra that takes approx 30 minutes. Do try the Khasi Outfit available at the exit point to Shillong. 

Day 7: There is a Beautiful Tea Garden in Shillong which can be visited for an entry fee early in the morning. If time permits, you can plan for the Police Bazar or Bada Bazar visit. Do try boating at Umiam Lake. It is a very short duration boating but worth the time. Umiam Lake is a mesmerizing man-made reservoir. This marked the end of our trip as we headed back to the airport realizing the heavy traffic on the way to Guwahati airport. We left Assam and Meghalaya with very sweet memories.

Travel and Fashion are two industries that share some common characteristics. Both showcase freedom, creativity, discovery, leisure, comfort and a bit of fantasy. Many contemplate traveling to taste the freedom it may bring.  In India, solo traveling by females has been picking up lately. Freedom is the essence of solo traveling. Many women perceive both travel and fashion as a symbol of their freedom or creativity. Infact, when one travels, he or she may need to purchase clothes for different climate conditions. Some prefer buying utility based clothes and some prefer glamorous clothes for traveling while some prefer fancy clothes with a comfort level. We all generally plan what to wear during the journey (train, bus or flight), destination etc well before the travel. The decision depends on the individual choices of comfort and leisure that one wants to enjoy and experience during the trip. While the male fraternity may not fuss about the travel clothing but the fairer sex is very diligent about their travel clothing.

Urban Tribe brings a very thoughtful and comfortable collection of Travel Wear for women. You will find comfortable one-piece dresses for trekking as well as Midi Dresses for road or air travel.  You can also try our Indo-western skirt and tops if your travels include a visit to religious places of worship. Jumpsuits from Urban Tribe are also a stylish attire option for traveling. Co-Ord Set is another option to replace the jumpsuit. Co-Ord Set offers the convenience and style of smart Casuals. These dresses are light weight to avoid your luggage from becoming heavy. I have shared some images for reference. I can assure that our fit and flair Midis will let you become one with the flowing winds at high altitudes. I hope our itinerary for Meghalaya and Assam Tour helps you with your travels too. 

Thanks

Nine2Five Team

Content Credit: http://www.urban-tribe.in/travel-outfit-ideas-for-meghalaya-the-abode-of-clouds/