2D | 1N Weekend Adventure Trail

Leave behind the city stirrings of Shillong and venture deep into the hidden heart of Meghalaya’s South West Khasi Hills. As you drive toward Mawkyrwat, the roads grow quieter, the hills greener, and the spirit of adventure louder. This is a land where nature still reigns and time moves with the rhythm of the wind and water.

Trek to Od Rngai Falls – Where Waters Leap and Echo

Begin your journey with a rewarding trek through dense foliage and village trails leading to Od Rngai Falls. Here, the waterfall tumbles down mossy rocks with a thunderous grace, its spray cooling your face as you arrive. The trail, though rugged in places, offers moments of serene forest stillness, chirping crickets, and the distant rush of falling water guiding you along.

This isn't just a hike; it’s a baptism into the raw, untouched spirit of Mawkyrwat.

Swim in Nature’s Pool – Mawtem’s Hidden Gem

Just a short walk away lies a natural swimming pool in Mawtem, fed by the same pure streams that form the waterfall. The water here is cool, clear, and impossibly inviting. Dip your feet or take a full plunge, this is your private escape, where the sky above reflects in the ripples below.

Surrounded by rocks, greenery, and birdsong, it’s a moment of refreshing surrender to the elements.

Enroute, visit to Synrang Rngai Lake – Mirror of the Hills

Next, visit Synrang Rngai Lake, a quiet, sacred waterbody nestled in Mawten. Still and expansive, it holds the soul of the hills, its silence broken only by whispers of wind or the call of distant birds. A place of quiet contemplation, this lake is beloved by locals and offers a peaceful interlude before your riverside retreat.

Camp at Ursngikyllut Fish Sanctuary – Riverside Peace Beneath the Stars

By late afternoon, reach Rohbah village, where the Ursngikyllut Fish Sanctuary lies cradled beside a gently flowing river. Here, you’ll pitch your tent on soft riverbanks, beneath a sky stretching wide and free.

As the sun dips, cast your gaze over the clear waters, home to number of local fish species, undisturbed and protected. Gather around a campfire, share stories, and let the river sing you to sleep. The sanctuary is more than just a place, it’s an experience of balance between humans and nature.

Awaken beside the gentle murmurs of the river, where morning mist curls above the sanctuary and the air carries the scent of wild bamboo and firewood. Today is a slow dance with nature, unhurried, soulful, and scenic.

Morning Boating at Ursngikyllut Fish Sanctuary – Drift Through Tranquility

Start your morning with a serene boating session on the Ursngikyllut Fish Sanctuary’s sacred waters. As you paddle gently along the calm river, watch the reflections of overhanging trees ripple and vanish. The sanctuary, with its crystal waters and protected aquatic life, offers a peaceful communion with nature, an experience as meditative as it is memorable.

Keep your eyes peeled for sacred fish swimming beneath your boat, glimmering just beneath the surface, unfished, undisturbed, and revered by the community.

Markham Valley Drive – Where Hills Open into Harmony

After breakfast, bid farewell to Rohbah village and wind your way toward the Markham Valley, one of Mawkyrwat’s lesser-known treasures. Here, rolling meadows and open grasslands stretch beneath towering cliffs, creating a vast amphitheater of green. It’s a place where Khasi shepherds guide their flocks, and the sky feels impossibly wide.

Pause here for a short walk or picnic, breathing in the wild openness that contrasts so beautifully with the forested canopies of the day before. The valley isn’t a tourist spot, it’s a secret the land shares only with those who seek it softly.

Evening Return to Shillong – Back Through the Hills

By afternoon, begin your drive back to Shillong, as the highland light deepens to golden hues. Let the landscape slowly shift around you—from open valleys and sacred waters to bustling hill roads and pine-lined avenues.