Khasi Hills, Meghalaya 🇮🇳
A living root bridge running across the rainwater-fed river of Meghalaya
It's about time I shared this adventure I had with my friends in January 2024. We decided to explore a remote part of India that not many people have visited yet—Meghalaya, one of the seven northeastern states. My friends flew in from New Delhi, while I took a longer route from Luxembourg. It was quite a journey—two flights, a full day of driving, and then another half-day on winding roads—before we finally arrived at Sora, a small town deep in Meghalaya's wilderness.
Sohra was our base for four days, and it felt like we'd stepped into another world. We drove through forests that seemed untouched by time, with hardly anyone around except for a few tribal huts hidden among the trees. The roads were mostly unpaved, and we hit a couple of roadblocks due to ongoing construction. But the deeper we went, the more we realized just how far we were from our usual lives.
One of the most memorable parts of the trip was an epic hike through Meghalaya's dense forests. Our guide led us to a trailhead, and we began a steep descent of about 600 meters into the valley. The forest was stunning, filled with trees used to make brooms in India. The only sounds were birds and the crunch of leaves under our feet.
We passed tiny huts belonging to the local tribal people and even peeked inside one. It was humbling how minimal their lifestyle was—just the bare essentials. It made me think about how different their lives are from ours, completely removed from the modern world.
Eventually, we reached a pristine river with the clearest water I've ever seen. The river had formed perfect little pools around big boulders, and the water was so clean you could see the colourful pebbles at the bottom. It was one of those "wow" moments. What made this place even more surreal was a living root bridge hanging over the pool. This bridge wasn’t man-made in the usual sense; it was formed by the roots of trees on either side of the gorge, intertwined to create a natural crossing. The local tribes have been using these bridges for centuries, and seeing one in person was mind-blowing.
Walking across the bridge was an adventure in itself. There was a 30-meter drop below, and the bridge was as makeshift as it gets, held together by tree roots and some bamboo reinforcements. But the view from the middle, looking down at that crystal-clear water, was worth it.
After crossing, we scrambled down to the riverbank. Even though it was January and the water was freezing, we couldn’t resist taking a dip. The water was so clean and refreshing—it was one of the best swims of my life. While writing this blog, I can feel what I felt when I was there. Being hours away from any modern civilization, kilometres deep into the jungle and hundreds of meters down in an unknown valley away from cell towers and worries of modern life. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. We did not miss the opportunity to have a picnic next to the river in our swim shorts savouring the local flavours of the food prepared by our guide.
On our way back up the trail, we ran into a local tribesman sharpening his sickle on a stone. He gave us a friendly smile, which was both comforting and a little eerie, considering how remote we were. He even offered us some mysterious black substance (maybe tobacco?), but we politely declined. The whole encounter reminded me of just how different life is in these remote areas.
Looking back, this trip to Meghalaya was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The untouched beauty of the landscape, the simplicity of life in the tribal villages, and the sense of complete disconnection from the modern world made it truly special. It was a reminder of how amazing life can be when you step off the beaten path and immerse yourself in nature.
If you’re looking for an adventure that takes you far away from the usual tourist spots, I highly recommend exploring the wilds of Meghalaya. It’s a place where you can completely disconnect, take in the beauty of nature, and come back with stories you’ll be telling for years. Just remember to respect the beautiful jungles, leaving them just as you found them and allowing the peaceful, quiet places to remain undisturbed and serene.
