By Nabamita Mitra
A broken road that abruptly deviates from the asphalt highway before reaching Cherrapunjee ignoring a few rusty signboards leads to Raitkteng village in Khliehshnong. The rough ride on the narrow path takes one’s mind off the speculations about and expectations of a new place at the end of the road and perhaps this is the reason why exultation rushes in on reaching The Varieties Spot.
The unambiguous name hints at the surprises in store. And if one gets to meet Pynskhembor Kharmih at the door of the modest restaurant under construction near the parking lot, then the mystery only gets denser.
“There is a plethora of beauty here. Discover it for yourself,” is what Kharmih would say with a smile, his lucid eyes follow his welcoming arms.
Kharmih is the owner of The Varieties Spot, which was started in 2005 but was opened to the public only a decade after, on January 1, 2015.
“It took me 10 years to build up the place as my resources were limited. The land belonged to my grandparents and I always wanted to preserve the natural beauty, at the same time make it a source of sustenance,” says the 34-year-old rural entrepreneur who has a degree in Economics.
Spread over 60,000 square meters, the place is a delight for picnickers. There is a fishing pond, a children’s park, a short forest trail, thatched resting places and ample space to be alone and enjoy the serene nature. But the centre of attraction is the elaborate Umtynghiang Waterfall. During monsoon, the foaming white water bickers down the slippery boulders and rushes forward to tumble down again forming a brook before spraying the foamy flakes.
Another interesting sight is the Tortoise Stone that remains partially hidden under the stream during heavy rain but shows its form when the water level is low. The Umiong Sacred Grove is also nearby and can be viewed from the site.
The Varieties Spot is a 100 per cent private venture though Kharmih says he gets government support.
“The land was barren as agriculture in this part of Sohra was not a lucrative option. So we got seedlings from the Forest Department and there are 300 trees now. Also, we got two water harvesting structures from the Department of Soil and Water Conservation under the Cherrapunjee Ecological project. We also got loans under the Prime Minister Rural Yojana and a subsidy scheme from the Tourism Department,” explains Kharmih adding that so far Rs 1.5 crore has been spent on the project.
The former student of Rama Krishna Mission Sohra says it was not an easy decision to develop the place as his family resources were limited. “My father was handicapped and I had to help him in agriculture and also with construction of roads as he was a PWD contractor. But my father was an expert when it came to trees. He would maintain plantations on the 300 hectares of land near Weiloi village that belonged to his mother. I am just trying to follow in my father’s footsteps,” says Kharmih who also worked as a PWD contractor for a year.
The place though not prominent on the Meghalaya tourism map is a popular destination for local revellers. In 2016, the monthly footfall was 1,000-1,500, informs Kharmih. “Sixty per cent of the visitors were locals, 38 per cent were national and 1 per cent was foreign tourists,” he adds.
The site has many thatched shelters with space for makeshift kitchen and is an ideal spot for picnic, that too for a nominal charge. It is also a favourite hangout for local youngsters and children.
Social media and word of mouth have helped Kharmih’s venture to grow. A portion of the property is still under construction and once the home-stays and restaurant are complete, Kharmih hopes to make a decent livelihood and at the same time provide employment to more jobless youths in and around the village.
When asked about his experience in tourism, Kharmih says he would visit tourist spots, restaurants, dhabas and hotels to observe how they run those places. “I would speak to them and ask about the nuances of the hospitality and tourism business,” says the self-taught man.
“We had a trial run of the home-stay in 2016 with two small rooms. We (including my three employees) earned as well as learned from the experience. At present, we have two cottages which we built with the state tourism subsidy scheme. Whenever there are guests we try to get their feedback on the place and likewise we improvise,” says the earnest young man, who spends most of his time at the site helping employees in the construction work or supervising the kitchen.
Initially, there was a small dining space for not more than eight people but visitors who come for camping and sightseeing often look for refreshment and food. This has prompted Kharmih to construct a cafe with a separate dining space.
For an entrepreneur, Kharmih has a humble demeanour. At any time of the day he could be seen in three-quarters, T-shirt and a jacket and running daily chores at the site and at the same time welcoming guests and showing them the way to the parking lot. The soft-spoken man with a calm countenance can easily make strangers feel comfortable.
Kharmih says his workload is lessened by members of his family who help him out during crisis.
However, he adds that there are hurdles that often make it difficult to run the business.
Finance is a perennial problem as “this is a private venture and 90 per cent of the government aid that we get is loan and subsidy”.
With a handful of workers, it is also a challenge to maintain the sprawling park and ensure cleanliness as well as safety and security of visitors.
“The area is about 60,000 sq m and most part of it is without fencing. Electricity supply is erratic and there is no water connection. Mobile phone connectivity is also poor and you have to be at the right spot to get through a number,” he smiles.
But Kharmih is determined to make the place a coveted destination for tourists. He says he believes in hard work and knows well that turnaround does not come in a day. “I want the place to grow slowly and steadily so that we can offer quality tourism. I also want to create employment for locals who are mostly poor farmers and make a paltry living out of the hard work,” he says with palpable sincerity.