Everything you need to know about Nongrait
3500 steps and more! Witness the miracle of Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya
After spending hours of research and gaining barely any clarity, I prepared my Meghalaya itinerary. Here’s what I learnt — Meghalaya works better without an itinerary!
If you are planning to enter into the land of massive and gigantic clouds, N number of waterfalls & treks existing every 500 yards, or caving, there are a few things you must remember.
Meghalaya will require every cell of energy or you will miss out on the most beautiful places in the state. I deep dove into Meghalaya in the blog: Things to do in Meghalaya. Here, I will share the information about Nongrait, the trek to Living Root Bridges. (The Internet failed me when I was planning my trip!)
The first and foremost thing to remember is to make sure the Nongrait trek is the last to-do in your itinerary.
Why? Because it is going to a long trail of steps and it can kill your lower body. You will not be able to walk, sit, stand or do anything with a body crumbling down like that. I am not exaggerating. (This is mainly for the ones who have barely stepped into a gym).
So, how to reach Nongrait?
There are a couple of ways you can get to Nongrait. I took the most popular one: Reach Tyrna village from Cherrapunji and spend an overnight. If you can, try catching the sunset at Tyrna. It is an absolute treat to your eyes. From Tyrna, you can walk to the main trek point and there will be several guides or even the hotel staff to help you out.
Coming to guides — the trek trail to living root bridges is pretty clear and it is not really necessary to get a guide unless you’re carrying heavy backpacks. (Because it can get pretty exhausting while coming back to Tyrna). Everyone there might talk you into getting a guide, but we found it was unnecessary. The guide will charge Rs.700 per day and Rs.1000 if you are going to Rainbow Falls. If you are planning to spend a night at Nongrait, mind you, there are barely any good stays.
About the trek…
They say it is around 3500 steps, but believe me, it feels like 7500–15,000. (This is of course including the Rainbow Falls). As soon as the trek begins, you will come across a few homestays, a village and slowly you’ll trail off deep into the forest.
First comes Single Decker Living Root Bridge. Spend some time here. Devour the hues of turquoise blue water and the fact that you’re standing on the roots of some 500 odd-year-old tree, the gigantic stones — ah! What a delight!
On your way, try out their local lemonade. It’s fermented and tastes different from the normal lemonades we make at home. You will also find a lot of snacks from Bangladesh and seasonal fruits.
You will be way too busy admiring the beauty of nature, making you barely tired. Once you make it to Nongrait, if you have booked a stay, leave out your backpacks and move to Rainbow falls. It’s around 3 km from the village. Make sure to eat something before you start that track, as that is some real deal.
Believe me, when I say, that waterfall could be one of the most magnificent cascades you will witness. The lucid water will scare you! There is a tiny waterfall on your way to Rainbow Falls. Reach there before 3 PM to witness rainbows if the weather permits. I suggest you take a dip, play around while coming back to Nongrait and shed away your tiredness. If anything, it is absolutely refreshing!
Remember to complete your tasks before 5 Pm as it gets pitch dark by then!
Things to remember while trekking to Nongrait and Rainbow Falls
- Wear athleisure
- Hydrate
- Eat your breakfast before trekking
- Carry a pair of dry clothes to change after your dip in waterfalls (You’ll not be able to resist once you see it!)
- Buy the cane stick for the trek (Many of them will be selling at the entry point)
- Carry biscuits/energy bars
- Good shoes
- Pain killers and Volini
If you are planning to take up this trek, it is highly advisable to prep your body. If not, it can get really tiring and almost impossible to come back as it is a steep ascent and descent. Keep this trek to the end! (No one will tell you this!)
