Umiam/Barapani ~ Cherrapunji

A very off the beaten track place, that I wanted to write about is one endowed with extreme natural beauty. The name of the place is Umiam, about 16 kms from a oft visited tourist spot, Shillong. This place is known as the Barapani by the locals and is located in the Ri-bhoi district of Meghalaya.I visited this place on the 3rd of December 2007, and was mesmerised by the endless serpentine lake, entwining the foothills of the Khasi hills.

The view of the lake from the Orchid Lake Resort, run by the Meghalaya Govt is nothing short of gorgeous. The slopes, leading down to the shores are heavily guarded by hefty pine trees and myriad flower shrubs, mostly those of what the locals call the chinese rose, and which I later discovered to be giant 'gandharaj' flowers. These are white in colour and emanates a sharp perfume, especially at night, which sort of numbs one's senses. I can keep on going back to that resort in the khasi hills if only to experience the peace evolving out of the moonlight shimmering on the Umiam, the hypnotizing smell of these 'Raat Ki Rani flowers and the feeling of 'there is no tomorrow'.

The shadows of the mountains on the waters of the lake, impart a serenity and peace to the place which is beyond articulation. Another added attraction is the water sports complex near the Lake Resort.

The 55 km drive from Shillong to Cherrapunji, touted as the wettest place on the earth, till it gave up its position to Mawsynram was comfortable.The rolling meadows offered a feast for the eyes. However, the showstopper was the dry, barren landscape of Cherrapunji. A farcry from the lushness and the greenery that my mind's eye had envisaged. The Ramkrishna Mission and the Noh kalikai falls are the only places worth visiting in Sohra. This is the name by which the locals recognize Cherrapunji.