On the way to Mawlynnong

Welcome to Mawlynnong, The Cleanest Village in Asia

Photography: Nirjhar Chakravorti

In 2003, Discover India (a magazine published by Media Transasia along with the Union Ministry of Tourism, India) has announced Mawlynnong as Asia’s cleanest village.
Mawlynnong is approximately 80 km away from Shillong. Shillong is the state capital of Meghalaya. Shillong is known as Scotland of East. Definitely the road between Shillong and Mawlynnong is picturesque, beautiful and awesome. The roadside small houses represents typical Khasi (community who live at Meghalaya) huts. The huts are small, but they are unique. The road side landscape is beautiful. The hill, the valley, the curves in between two peaks are really breathtaking.

To Know about Mawlinnong, please visit:
http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome-to-mawlinnong-asias-cleanest.html

Mawlynnong: Ambassador for Mission Clean India

Mawlynnong, a new image of Incredible India

As India is going ahead with the mission "Swachh Bharat", we need to know our own strengths and potentials. How we can keep our places clean and healthy? Mawlynnong is the biggest answer for the same. As we Indian, as a Nation, are not clean and hygiene conscious, so we do not like to keep ourselves informed about places like Mawlynnong. But now a national drive is underway for cleaner nation. So it is time to know about our own incredible stories about cleanliness. In this juncture, Mawlynnon become relevant.

If you do something special with utmost care and accuracy, people will automatically discover you from anywhere. This is truly applicable for Mawlynnong. It is a small remote village of India, which is situated near to Bangladesh border of Meghalaya.
In 2003, Discover India (a magazine published by Media Transasia along with the Union Ministry of Tourism) has announced Mawlynnong as the cleanest village in Asia.
Mawlinnong is around 80 km from Shillong, Capital of Meghalaya State. Journey to Mawlinnong from Shilong through a picturesque road is a great experience.
In Mawlynnong, little tiny tots from every house are always busy to clean their surroundings. From ancient time, the villagers are involved to make their village clean. Cleanliness has become a community culture in Mawlynnong. Bamboo based dustbins can be found at all the places across the village, where villagers store dirt and these dustbins are discharged in a proper schedule. Each and every house of the village has beautiful systematic eco-fencing. Even many of the houses are fenced with different flowers and colourful trees. It can be termed as the Garden Village of Asia. Walking through the village is an experience. Neither Mawlynnong is a very rich village, nor are the people of the village highly educated. But they have very high social education and their basics regarding social civilized values are very strong. They are socially united and there upbringing is clean. People of this wonder village do not do extraordinary things, but they do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. This is the specialty of the people of Mawlynnong.
Mawlynnong has a guest house, which has been made above a tree. This guest house adds a new dimension to the beauty of this beautiful village.
Mawlynnong is a newly explored spot for Indian eco-tourism. India is gifted with various wonders; Mawlinnong, God’s Own Garden, is a new addition in this list.
Photograph: by Shipra & Nirjhar

ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MEGHALAYA TRIP: Our travel plan & some experiences

ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MEGHALAYA TRIP: Our travel plan & some experiences
http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-you-want-to-experience-adventurous.html


I had visited some part of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya (and Guwahati city at Assam) during last week of October and initial of November, 2010. My wife, Shipra was with me. The trip was planned by Late Sanjit Chaudhury (Who was India's one of the finest technologist for steel plant environmental control system). Late Mr. Chahdhury along with his family was with us. My other colleague, Partha was with his family. We were seven members in total.



I am writting here my travel plan. Based on my experience I am giving different contact persons name and contact, at Arunachal, Meghalaya and Assam. The persons and agencies, where from I have got good services, I am mentioning their names. Also, where my expereince was not good, I am mentioning specifically. But these are only based on my personal experience. Anybody can differ from my experience. This travel plan is nothing more than my personal plan & experience. In most of the cases, I had opted for economic option. So if anybody is searching for costly option, then my travel plan will not match. Also, my travel plan was little hectic.


Some important tips from our experience: 1. Collect permission from Arunachal Bhawan (mandatory) 2. Better to visit Arunachal in a group, 3. Must take BSNL post paid mobile for contact, 4. Try to settle your tour and possible spot visits with Car Service before the trip itself, 5. Better not to pay (full amount) to car service before completion of trip.



Day 1: Base Location: Tezpur;
Morning/ Noon: Departure from Home city airport (for Guwahati)
Afternoon: Arrival at Guwahati
3-00 PM: Departure from Guwahati (for Tezpur), at public transport from Guwahati station
Evening: Arrival at Tezpur & night stay,


Staying at Tezpur: Any convenient hotel

Our Team (Shipra, myself, Late Mr. Sanjit Chaudhury, Soumyo, Mrs. Chaudhury, Madhu & Partha)

Day 2: Base Location: Tenga;
8-00 AM: Departure from Tezpur (for Tenga)
Afternoon: Arrival at Tenga
Rest of the day: Relax at Tenga

Staying at Tenga: Hotel Aphet, Contact: Ratan Bhattacharya, Phone: 09436224443, 03782-273506




At Tenga: A real picnic spot

Day 3: Base Location: Bomdila (Avoid Sateurday, because at Saturday, Bomdila market is closed);
8-00 AM: Departure from Tenga (for Bomdila)
10-00 AM: Arrival at Bomdila
Rest of the day: Roaming at Bomdila

Staying at Bomdila: Any hotel, we stayed at Hotel Korfu (Our experience: Ordinary)

Bomdila: A real religious place

Day 4: Base Location: Tawang
8-00 AM: Departure from Bomdila (for Tawang)
Noon: Shela Pass
Afternoon: Arrival at Tawang
Rest of the day: Beauty of Tawang


Day 5: Base Location: Tawang
Full day & night:At Tawang, Pass collection for Bumla, Tawang Monastery & try so-called Madhuri lake, too
Day 6: Base Location: Tawang
Full day & night:Visit Bumla border, and onway sightseeing

Staying at Tawang: Govt Tourist Lodge; Phone: 03794-222359


Tawang: Welcome to world's one of the largest monastery

On the way to Bumla: Natural ice flakes

Day 7: Base Location: Dirang
8-00 AM: Departure from Tawang (for Dirang)
Afternoon: Arrival at Dirang
Rest of the day: Go as you like at Dirang

Staying at Dirang: Dirang Resort; Phone: 09436238290 (Our expereince: Private owned, economical, service satisfactory wrt price)


Dirang: A small busy town, full of life

Day 8: Base Location: Bhalukpong
8-00 AM: Departure from Dirang (for Bhalukpong)
Noon: Arrival at Bhalukpong
Rest of the day: Enjoy Bhalukpong, including Tipi Orchids


Staying at Bhalukpong: Prasanti Tourist Lodge; Contact: Noren Kalita, Phone: 09436256310 (Our expereince: Assam Government owned, economical, service satisfactory wrt price)


Bhalukpong: On the bank of river Kameng

Day 9: Base Location: Guwahati
8-00 AM: Departure from Bhalukpong (for Guwahati)
Noon: Arrival at Tezpur and start for Guwahati, by public transport from Tezpur bus stop
Afternoon: Arrival at Guwahati
Rest of the day: Time pass at Guwahati

Staying at Guwahati: Hotel Prasanti Tourist Lodge (Govt of Assam Undertaking)


Guwahati: A peaceful religeous place

Day 10: Base Location: Shilong
8-00 AM: Departure from Guwahati (for Sholong)
Noon: Arrival at Shilong
Rest of the day: Relax at Shilong and visit don bosco museum, ward lake, etc


Day 11: Base Location: Shilong
8-00 AM: On the way to Cherapunjee (Sohra) & back from Cherapunjee at afternoon


Day 12: Base Location: Shilong
8-00 AM: On the way to Mawlinnong Village & some sightseeing at Shillong during afternoon


Staying at Shilong: Hill Top Guest House, Contact: Mrs. Aisharya; Phone: 09862201461/ 09863141921


Shillong: Full of beauty



Scotland of East

Day 13: Base Location: Guwahati
9-30 AM: Remaining spot of Shillong
2-00 PM: Departure from Shilong (for Guwahati)
6-30 PM: Arrival at Guwahati
Night: Marketing at Guwahati, Buy Assam Silk, etc


Staying at Guwahati: Hotel Prasanti Tourist Lodge


Day 14: Base Location: Guwahati
Early Morning: Kamaksha Temple visit
Afternoon: Guwahati sightseeing, zoo, kalakshetra, etc
Evening: Leave for Guwahati Station
Night: Departure from Guwahati


Day 15: Base Location: Home city
Afternoon: Back to home


Car service & Important Contacts at Different Places:

For Arunachal Pradesh: Car Service: Our Car Service provider was Mr. Ajit Saikia (Our experience: Very Poor);

Possible Car Service: Possible better car service provider can be Mr. Ratan Bhattacharya. Contact: Ratan Bhattacharya, Phone: 09436224443, 09436862031, 09402293105, 03782-273506

At Shillong: Car Service from Hill Top Guest House: Mrs. Aisharya, Phone: 09862201461/ 09863141921

At Guwahati: Kamaksha Temple, Priest: Mr. Chintamani Sarma, Phone: 09854070167, Car Service: Sangeeta Deka: 09864331336, 0361-2130556

For Arunachal Pradesh Information, visit http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-you-want-to-experience-adventurous.html

For Mawlinnong information, visit http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome-to-mawlinnong-asias-cleanest.html

(The write up is dedicated to Late Mr. Sanjit Kumar Chaudhury, who was planner for our trip to Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Mr. Sanjit Chaudhury was a man with great vission and mission. He was not only a great engineer and dedicated manager, but was an honest and varsatile man with varied activities. He was a true silent social worker, who equally valued every human being irrespective of position, status, economic condition, race and  social standard. He had huge contribution to Indian steel industries for establishing pollution control and gas cleaning system. I am fortunate to work with a person like him. He was not only my senior at office, but was a brother, guide and philosopher for me. His unfortunate and sudden death due to brain cancer is a huge loss for many people like me and for Indian engineering sector.)