Nature’s Artistry
In a world that’s going grey about grime and industrial waste spoiling the lungs of the city-weary soul, we’re glad we have one of the world’s cleanest villages surviving yet, in the Northeast that is slowly going the commercial way.
Nestled cosily between the plains of Bangladesh and the foothills of the War region, Mawlynnong which is a good three hours drive from Shillong is a cute, colourful little village renowned for its cleanliness. Autumn is the right season to visit this paradise on terra fi rma. The village is a picture perfect painting with a splash of colours. Vibrant red, yellow and green Coleus and Japonica grow profusely by the roadside giving the whole village the scenario of a piece of Eden.
DISCOVERY BY OVERSEAS TOURISTS
An unmistakable aroma of bay leaves invades your senses as you get closer to Mawlynnong. The pleasant climate is just right for some of the most exotic flora and fauna. Interestingly the first tourists to have visited Mawlynnong came from across the oceans. Several international visitors have come and gone leaving their imprints behind in a little journal. Every tourist narrates his/her unique experiences. A ninety-eight year old lady from Israel came to Mawlynnong to soak in its serenity. She even asked the local tourist guides to take her down to river Thyllong, a pristine piece of water body, perhaps one of the few left in our state. The matriarch wanted to see for herself the living root bridge that spans the banks of this river, not unlike the one you see in Laitkynsew village, albeit not so challenging and not a double decker, so it is easier to negotiate.
GUEST HOUSE
Mawlynnong’s fame is now drawing an endless stream of guests ranging from bus-loads of school kids to curious visitors from across the country. Although residential facilities are still scarce and are in the process of being developed, the existing one constructed from bamboo and thatch is quite hospitable and restful; the best part – it’s a tree house! It has a little machang (a sort of verandah) giving you a view of the river flowing beneath, and also rendering a cool zephyr. Mawlynnong is an artist’s delight and the sort of getaway that would titillate creative writers and poets, no less than it would attract serious researchers wanting to fi nd out how tourism has caught on in this remote destination.
Young men from this village have taken to being tourist guides, learning their trades through trial and error, and are eager to receive tips from experienced tourists. A crash course on tourism would defi nitely be benefi cial for these young lads. Mawlynnong has a range of sights and sounds, all natural. There are water falls, treks and picnic spots. The sparklingly clean streams and rivulets of this village are reminiscent of the good old days when all the rivers in this hill state were crystal clear and you could drink the water without the fear of it being polluted.
FRUITFUL SOUVENIRS
Mawlynnong is not just about sight seeing. There is a profusion of fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemon, and a range of vegetables growing in the village that tourists would like to take home. People pursue their traditional livelihoods growing betel nut, betel leaf and a host of spices. Bamboo crafts specific to the place are also gradually coming up.
Broomstick farming is a common occupation. This grass is easily cultivable and does not require the kind of care nor manure that other crops do. In January every year, which is the time when the harvested broomstick is suffi ciently dried and ready for sale, the mahajons or traders from Shillong come to pick them up in bulk. Farmers earn roughly Rs. 400 per quintal of broomstick. Mawlynnong is still largely forested with stretches cleared for plantation crops. People are enterprising and find something to grow all the year round.
THE OTHER SIDE OF TOURISM
But there is a flip side to this tourist friendly environment too. Promising a haven away from the rough and tumble of city life, Mawlynnong raises the expectations of the tourists who might like to determine their own comfort levels that the villagers may not be able to provide. It is here that Mawlynnong needs to assert its niche attraction. The idea is for tourists to live as close to nature as possible without looking for five-star comfort. Hopefully, Mawlynnong will preserve its simple lifestyle and not get carried away by the onrush of tourist expectations.
THE ROLE OF ECOTOURISM
At this moment what fears the concerned, is the propensity of the villagers to clear up virgin forests for broomstick cultivation. A tourist destination like Mawlynnong will be viable as long as there are forests to provide the ambience of serendipity. This is where ecotourism comes in as a strong contender and conserver of natural resources. If the Tourism Department works in tandem with the Forest Department, and the education of the people is taken seriously, they would be aware of the huge gains that come from eco-tourism and hence refrain from cutting the timber for earning money.
In states like Meghalaya with fragile bio-diversity, eco-tourism is the only alternative to logging and the rampant clearance of forests for mono-cropping. If Mawlynnong succeeds in drawing a steady stream of tourists throughout the year, the remuneration will spread more evenly across families. Even today the local villagers are earning their bit from providing hospitality and cooking the local cuisine.
TAKE A VACATION
Mawlynnong is a wonderful place to unwind and refresh one’s tired nerves. A brisk walk to any of the vantage points, and there are plenty, would not only churn up a good appetite but also give the tourist a rewarding experience of a good, sound sleep. Without your cell phone to disturb the even tenor of life and with just a transistor to keep abreast of the world, Mawlynnong is guaranteed to rejuvenate the bone weary and stressed-out city dweller. Here you are lulled to sleep by the chirping of the cricket and a dozen other fascinating sounds from the forest; sounds that this generation no longer recognizes.
Mawlynnong beckons those bitten by the adventure bug. A good number of visitors today are from Shillong. And many others come from different corners of the nation and abroad to soothe their frayed nerves in this home away from home. The prototypical Eden shall bring greater benefits, if only man upholds the gifts that Nature has over-
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