Nongriat’s Double-Decker Root Bridge

I decided to explore the world-famous double-decker root bridge in Nongriat, Meghalaya after reading a couple of very interesting articles and seeing some wonderful images of it on Internet.

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I knew it would be a treacherous journey, but I had already made my mind.
The trip to this unique place was part of my Meghalaya sojourn. The owner of the guest house in Cherapunji, where I was staying, told me that I can explore this place on my own and that no guide was needed. So next day, I hired a cab to Tryna village and reached there at around 9:30am.

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Then started the first trek of my life – the trek to the root bridge. The trek covered over 3,000 steps and a couple of iron and small root bridges.

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It took me approximately 2 hours to cover this 3km arduous journey (one way). A couple of small shops have been built where you can buy some snacks, tea, coffee, bottled water etc.

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Surrounded by dense forest, the 250-year-old bridge is located in a small village ‘Nongriat.’

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According to the owner of my guest house, the man-made bridge was built to help local people cross over the river. I was mesmerized by the natural beauty surrounding the double-decker bridge and even went father to see the natural pool.

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It was indeed a good idea as the crystal-clear water of the pool left me gob-smacked. The enchanting natural beauty around the place mesmerized me and left a deep imprint on me.

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I trekked from one mountain to another and what an exhilarating experience it was. I was very tired while returning and might have taken hundreds of mini breaks. If you ever visit Meghalaya, make sure you don’t miss this beautiful ‘tiny paradise.’ Just do keep in mind that physical strength and good stamina is a must for this trek. Also, try to start your journey little earlier so that you won’t see crowds. When I reached the place, I found only few local workers, who were collecting pebbles.

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Maharashtra’s Impressive Elephanta Caves

My search for an attractive tourist destination in Mumbai ended when a friend of mine suggested me to visit Maharashtra’s famous Elephanta Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage site, which draws thousands of tourists everyday.

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Surrounded by thick forest and Arabian Sea, the caves are divided in two parts – an array five caves and two Buddhist caves.

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Perched on Elephanta Island, the collection of rock art is believed to be built during the mid-fifth to sixth centuries AD. According to Archaeological Survey Of India, a number of dynasties, including Chalukyas of Badami and Yadavas of Deogiri had their control over this majestic place.

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Among all the caves, Cave 1 turned out to be impressive. The main cave includes Andhakasuravada murti, Nataraja; Kalyanasundara murti and Gangadhara murti.
In my opinion, the Elephanta Caves is a must place to visit for those who admire ancient art and architectures.

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Exploring the entire place takes almost 1 and ½ hours. Elephanta Caves is just 10 kilometer away from the famous Gateway of India. The boat services for this place start at around 9am.

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