The cleanest village of Asia: Mawlynnong of Meghalaya

Titled as the ‘cleanest village in Asia’ by Discover India in 2003, Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya is a model for the entire nation of India. The place is an absolute paradise holding natural root bridges to the brawny gushing streams and the flowery green meadows.

The inhabitants of Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya need not be taught a lesson on cleanliness, it’s a virtue imbibed in everyone’s subconscious and an integral part of their lifestyle. Declared as the cleanest village in India by 2005, Mawlynnong is a model fulfilling the Swach Bharat ambition of the Indian government.  Every household in this village has toilets installed since 2007. Beautifully handwoven conical trash baskets are spread across the village and the organic trash and burnable are segregated.

The residents of Mawlynnong village can be seen cleaning roads, planting trees and the children have a special duty of beautifying the village before the school starts with extra duties on weekends.

Another chain-breaking aspect that will grab your attention is the village’s matriarchal local tribe. Children here inherit surnames of their mothers and the property is also descended in matriline.

Natural Beauty is sure to ease you out!

Living-root bridges, the most iconic element of Meghalaya, will surely take you to the utopian green lands that most of us fantasized about as children. Had a longing to build a treehouse in the lush of forests just like Tarzan and Mowgli? Well, Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya is the place to make your childhood fantasies come true. These natural bridges take years to self-construct, by connecting aerial roots of one rubber tree to another over the sea.  They can hold fifty to sixty people in a go.

Apart from this, the century-old church of the Epiphany after a three-house climb is a vantage point to witness the ceaseless landscape of Bangladesh. The ten rupees entry fee is nothing compared to the mystified serenity of the place, which you will take home.

Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya is a sight for your sore eyes. The waterfall of this natural beauty will heal your soul with the natural sounds of chirping birds and gushing water.

No culture survives without its food!

If we talk about the local cuisine of Mawlynnong, everything is prepared organically from farm-grown items and the meat is also used from home-bred birds and animals for non-vegetarian dishes. Delicacies of this land would include Tungrymbai, which is a preparation of fermented soybean and bamboo leaves topped with local spices. Jadoh is a delight prepared from meat and rice, or if you want to go a little fruity, you can opt for the freshly cut banana flower.

Okay, when do I go?

The best time to visit Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya is in the monsoon season. The month of July is the best time to eye glaze the augmented greens of the forest, trees and beautifully groomed gardens of this village. The weather is pleasant throughout the year but the monsoon rains do work their charm on this land.

Also, Behdienkalam, the festival especially dedicated to the celebration of rains, is rejoiced around this time of the year. Although one can also look up to the Wangala, Nongkrem dance festival and many more in the month of September and December.

The blend of beauty and its appreciation by people of this region has kept the place spic and span, more than justifying the epithet – God’s own Garden.

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