Mawlynnong, a remote village close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, in the East
Khasi hills, is a storybook village that comes alive every autumn with its burst
of colourful flowers and fruits amid the splashy greens that crop up after the
rains. What is unique about this village, which is dotted with bamboo huts, is
that it is totally free of litter and garbage. This has earned it the distinction
of being the country's cleanest rural tourist destination.
The village— about 90 km away from Shillong— sits atop a hillock overlooking
the vast plains of Bangladesh. Mawlynnong came in touch with the Anglican missionaries
of Dhaka over a century ago, which opened the village to foreign visitors, much
before domestic tourists began to flock there. This early exposure to the outside
world and people had a very positive influence on the villagers, who developed
a sense of hygiene and an amiable attitude towards outsiders. The village is dotted
with bamboo made dustbins. We noticed a group of boys, shovel up the muddy dirt
flakes, deposited by the tyres of a bus, the moment it left its stop. All the
waste' from the dustbin is collected and kept in a pit, which the villagers use
as manure. The villagers are now on a mission to ban plastic. With cent per cent
literacy, they are spreading the message of conservation and protection of the
forest. Locals plant trees to replenish their forest.
You can opt for homestays, live in houses on stilts and imbibe the eco-friendly
habits of housemates. We quite liked the bathroom that was built separately. The
water supply was through a hollow bamboo pipe and with the floor of the bathroom
being made of bamboo too, it just fell through.
Mawlynnong and its adjoining villages offer many activities. For example, you
could do a quiet trek through narrow forest paths, past cascading waterfalls,
sparkling streams and rivulets. Majority of the families grow betel vines and
areca nut, bay leaves and oranges, while few others depend on broom grass. And
of course, bamboo.
It is a perfect location for those who want to slip away from the hustle and bustle
of city life and soak in serene environs. Well mannered young guides take guests
around. Guest houses have two two-bedded rooms with an attached balcony. From
the balcony, one can walk over a bamboo footbridge carefully to reach out to a
viewpoint overlooking a gurgling stream.