Mawlynnong – Asia’s cleanest village and Dawki

Welcome to Mawlynnong –“God’s own Garden”,  a small village in Meghalaya India. So what’s so special about this village?  It is called “God’s own Garden” because of it’s cleanliness. And it was declared as Asia’s (not India’s only) cleanest village by Discover India , way back in 2003. Just an hour away from Mawlynnong is Dawki –  known for it’s cleanliness and the transparent river

So is being Asia’a cleanest village a reason enough to visit Mawlynnong ?

There are many reasons, but this one is really praise worthy, rooted in tradition and a way of life. So let’s talk about this first. The other reasons are equally compelling and makes it a must visit place .

So what is the story behind  this cleanliness?

The population of this village is around 600. People have imbibed a saying “if it is to be , it is up to me”. The accountability lies with every person residing in the village. The sight of locals cleaning the roads along with their own houses, picking up leaves and throwing garbage in the bamboo (and not plastic) bin is a very common here. What is interesting to see are the Bamboo garbage bins dotting the village. The villagers are very conscious about cleanliness and it is an age old tradition and a way of life for everyone in the village.

There are Bamboo dustbins outside each house and any fallen leaf on the road makes it way to the bin directly (not automated action J but done by the villagers). Smoking is strictly banned here and so is the use of plastic. These unwritten rules set by the village are followed by one and all, and defaulters are dealt with strictly. All the garbage is then dumped into a pit to create organic manure. The villagers not only clean their own houses but they take the responsibility of the streets as well.

Beautification with trees and flowers

Tree plantation is also a regular affair. Both adults and children take up the job of cleaning on a regular basis. On Saturdays, the village head assigns them any additional work that needs to be be taken care of. This additional work is usually towards community development or service and ranges from tasks like cleaning of schools, public property, manuring, plantation etc. it is quite evident that cleanliness, community service and environment protection is rooted right from the childhood.

Literacy and Matrilineal society

Besides, a 100% literacy rate, a matrilineal society which empowers women could also be a big factor in driving these. Mawlynnong is gradually gaining popularity amongst travelers and the homestays here can give a tough competition to others not in amenities but in upkeep.  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged this village as the cleanest in Asia and a role model for the country in one of his weekly Radio program called Mann ki Baat (from the heart).The locals are proud of this fact and they take ownership to keep this pride going.

Accountability by one and all

Picture this. Every morning a bunch of kids gather on the streets with broom and remove the  dead leaves and garbage before heading to school. They also take care of emptying the conical trash bins made up of bamboo,  after  separating the organic waste from burnable trash. Organic waste is used for creating manure and the other things are taken to a distant place from the village and burnt. There are dedicated gardeners who maintain the flowers lining the footpaths.

While no one knows how this tradition of cleanliness came into practice, it is believed that, people adopted strict cleanliness after the outbreak of cholera around 130 years ago.

No wonder Mawlynnong is a learning experience for every traveler.

What are the top things to do in Mawlynnong ?

Soak in the charm of clean villages and meet the locals: we have already spoken about this

Sky walk: A walk way made up of Bamboo  leading to a  vantage point that is 85 feet high. The views from the top are amazing and one can get a glimpse of neighboring Bangladesh also 

Mawlynnong waterfall: A good option to get refreshed and relax

Church of Epiphany::  Built in 1902, the building reflects a fusion of European and Khasi style.

Living Root bridges: Locally known as Jing Kieng Jri, these are bridges which are not built but naturally grown and directed to take the form of a sturdy bridge. These have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To read more about these click here.

A trip to Mawlynnong is incomplete without visiting Dawki

Dawki is approximately 35 kms from Mawlynnong and approx. 95 kilometers from the capital city Shillong. Dawki with its lush green surrounding is a delight for nature lovers.  Dawki is mainly known for coal mines and limestone exports. By the way, it is so close to Bangladesh that one can feel like being in two countries at the same time.

This scenic village is known for Dawki river, popularly known as Umngot river. You must have come across a lot of picture of Umngot river on social media. Remember, the image of a boat on transparent water? It is a fact that Umngot river is the cleanest river in India and when we look at the boats floating on it from a distance, it appears to be sailing on transparent water.

Top things to do in Dawki

River Umngot creates a boundary between Khasi and Jaitia hills on one side and it is also one of the Indo-Bangladesh borders on the other side. A suspension bridge was built by the British in 1932 to connect the two countries (then a part of undivided India). There is a small market in area in Dawki which allows people from both the countries to undertake the business.

Suspension bridge over River DawkiRiver Umgnot hosts an annual boat race in the month of March –April, which is a must if you are in Meghalaya during that time. However, the adventure apart, a normal boat ride at any point, on this large emerald green river, passing through the hills, is an experience in itself. The river is surrounded by limestone cliff which add to the beauty.

The boat ride takes around an hour and it is important to get those lenses and phones out to capture the surreal surroundings. Don’t forget to carry a pair of change. A swim towards the shallow end of the river is very refreshing. And why not, after all, this is a very clean river!  You can also capture the panoramic view of the hills from the suspended cable bridge. River Umngot is so clean, that one can see the bottom (15-20 feet dep),  from the boat itself. Isn’t that an experience in itself.

Intigued ?

Hope you liked the small introduction to Mawlynnong and Dawki. A place which lives and breathes “cleanliness is next to Godliness”. The state Meghalaya (abode of clouds) has a lot of gems which are not known to a lot of us. Did you know that the two wettest place in the world that is Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram are in Meghalaya?  In fact they are very close to Mawlynnong and Dawki . And the Krem Puri cave, the longest sandstone cave in the world is also very close to Mawsynram.

The list is long-Shillong, Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, Mawlynnong  , Dawki and more. I will be talking about Meghalaya separately. Till then keep watching this space for more

 

For more such cultural experiences in India, you could take a look at the article on India – The Spiritual Abode

In case you are keen on traveling to Mawlynnong & Meghalaya , you could take a look at the Meghalaya Itinerary and cover Mawlynnong and Dawki  as a part of this itinerary.

India is not just about spirituality. There are many more facets to this ancient land – culture, mystery, history, nature, wildlife and so on. Read more about how the different facets of India travel are celebrated here…

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How to reach Mawlynnong and Dawki?

It is well connected by road from Guwahati and Shillong. Or one can fly into Guwahati airport or Shillong airport and drive to Mawlynnong.

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Best time to visit Mawlynnong and Dwaki?

The best time to visit is between February to May. If cold is not an issue, the winter months from October to January are also great. While Monsoons are great in Meghalaya, the roads may get a little muddy and hike up to the living root bridges may get difficult.