Meghalaya - Tourism - Waterfalls @ whatisindia.com

Elephant Falls
12 kms on the outskirts of the city the mountain stream descends through two successive falls set in dells of fern-covered rocks. At a short distance beyond the falls, there are two smaller falls which are none the less beautiful and captivating. These are the Wei Iaplam Falls and the Wir Phang Falls. A well paved footpath and a small wooden bridge facilitate access to these falls.

Sweet Falls
Situated near Happy Valley at a distance of about eight kilometers from Shillong. It resembles a straight pencil of water emerging from a large size water pipe, as it drops vertically over a distance exceeding two hundred feet. Most suitable for a day's outing and picnic, Explore it!

Crinoline Falls
Located in the heart of the city adjacent to the Lady Hydari Park with its mini zoo, lies the Crinoline Falls which cascades through its jungle path. At the foot of the falls there is a well maintained Swimming Pool which caters to swimming enthusiast of all ages. Beside swimming there is an attached restaurant and regular evening programmes are arranged for the benefit of tourist and visitors.

Noh Kalikai Falls
A few kilometres to the west of Sohra (Cherrapunji), a clear bubbling stream emerges from its steep mountain bed to hurl down a rocky precipice, into a deep gorge, creating a captivating view of breathtaking beauty. The cascading waterfall compares favourably with the well known Job Falls of South India.

Mawsmai Falls
About two kilometeres to the south of the David Scott Monument at Sohra lies Mawsmai village located on the edge of the mawsmai Ridge. Mawsmai was the ancient seat of the Sohra Syiemship(Kingdom). Close to this village, on the ledge of the Mawsmai Ridge stands a conspicuous Observation-Tower, from where one gets an unforgettable view of the famed Mawsmai Falls whose waters cascade down for over seven hundred feet to join the swift river below, leaving an indelible impression on every visitor. The falls are also known as Nohsngithiang Falls. The mist covered hillocks in the gorge below the falls and the distant sparkling expanses of water over the plains of Bangladesh, provide a view of unparalleled beauty.

Imilchang Dare
A waterfall of immense visual beauty is to be found close to the Tura-Chokpot Road in West Garo Hills district. The stream on which it is located, flows through a deep, narrow winding bed of crevice rocks till it suddenly emerges on to a broad wide opening and cascades in a thick, wide formation, over a broad chasm, creating an electrifying waterfall of unique beauty. The deep, wide pool at the bottom of the fall with its wide and expansive surroundings make it an exciting swimming pool, full of fish of varied size and colour, besides being an ideal picnic spot.

Dain Thlen Falls
Located near Sohra (Cherrapunjee) there exists a gentle but beautiful waterfall known as Dain Thlen Falls or the falls where Thlen was butchered. Thlen is the khasi name for Python, which according to local legend and belief personifies evil, nay the devil himself. Legend has it that once upon a time, the people decided to rid themselves of evil, hunted down the Thlen and captured it from the depths of a deep rocky crevice. The Thlen was then dragged to the wide flat rock sover-looking a gentle waterfall and butchered there. A mighty feast was prepared and the entire community partook of the flesh of the Thlen. One selfish individual, however, steal-thily hid a few pieces of the Thlen's flesh for his later use. Unfortunately for human society, the Thlen rejuvenated himself from these few pieces and evil filled the world again. Axes used by the people as they butchered the Thlen made deep scars on the surface of the flat rock where Thlen was butchered. These axe-marks are still intact and visible. Ever since, the waterfall at this place has been known as Dain Thlen Falls or the falls where Thlen was butchered.

Weinia Falls
Weinia Falls on the same river Kynshi and quite near to the Thum falls is another scenic cascade. It is quite deep (depth not yet ascertained) and water vapor rising up from the bottom of the falls, in sunlight, form the colors of the rainbow. Both the sides of the falls is surrounded with rocks of different shapes, sizes and colors. Massive step-like structures formed by natural agencies are also seen on one side of the falls.

Langshiang falls
Langshiang falls formed immediately after the confluence of the diverged streams of the Kynshi river, is situated near Sangriang and can be viewed prominently from Mawpon village. It presents a breathtaking scene to the nature lovers, who admire the challenges of adventure.

Rong’bang Falls
Locally known as Rong’bang dare, this waterfall is situated 25 miles away from Tura on the Tura Williamnagar Road, a little beyond Rombagre village. It is a tributary of the Simsang River which can be seen from this road but the real beauty and magnitude of it can be experienced when one goes down to the place at the bottom of the waterfalls.

This Sprightly fall, though perennial, is at its best during the monsoon months. It presents motorists driving from Asanangre towards Williamnagar, a romantic visual of lasting satisfaction. Although the fall is located about crow-flight kilometres away from the highway, the width and depth of the falls are enough to make it clearly visible and a sheer delight. Clustered on either side by vast evergreen hills of bamboo’s which sway, leaving the viewer with memories of ecstatic joy.

Iale falls
The Kupli river which flows for quite some distance as the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border has a unique river bed of limestone and soft rock for considerable length of its course. The turbulent Kupli has thus carved for itself deep valleys and chasms all over, beside a steep, star-shaped gorge near Garampani, where the whole Kupli falls over sixty feet to give rise to the well-known Iale falls also known in historical legends as Mahabati.

The Khandong reservoir of the Kopili Hydro Electric Project has now inundated Iale Falls and it cannot be seen for the better part of the year when the reservoir is fairly full. Iale Falls was indeed a magnificent sighting and a favorite with tourists, till recently, when man's ingress on nature has all wiped it out of the roll of honor in so far as places of interest of North east India are concerned.

Reference:
http://meghalaya.nic.in/

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