By Kynsai L Sangriang
MAWKYRWAT, April 25: The tourism sector in South West Khasi Hills is expected to flourish soon.
This small but beautiful district, which is blessed with green hills, caves, monoliths, hot springs, waterfalls and a favorable weather, is the latest addition to Meghalaya’s tourism map.
An attractive tourist destination in the district is ‘Photsumshrieh’, located in the middle of the 200-metre-long cliff of Nongnah. It is considered one of the most dangerous natural pools of the world.
Photsumshrieh is a swimming pool of the monkeys. People scarcely explore this “dangerous” place.
There is a waterfall above Photsumshrieh and the place becomes more beautiful during summer. Some steep mountains around Photsumshrieh make the place unique.
Nongnah, the tableland of the district, appears like a bed from a distance. Located 30 km away from district headquarters Mawkyrwat and 100 km from Shillong, it is one of the most beautiful places in the district.
It has eight villages – Mawtaiem, Nongbah, Nongkdait, Nongktieh, Nongkdait Nongtwah, Domsohkhai, Thangrai and Mawendeng.
The tourist attractions include the Mawtynhiang cave, which is one of the longest caves in the state; Riat Pairo falls and Thlu Iawpaw falls, Iawpaw Hill etc. From this plateau, one gets a bird’s eye view of the surrounding hills and valleys, the plains and the rivers of Bangladesh and the Himalayas.
The family of Tesmandar Lyngkhoi owns the place. Lyngkhoi told The Shillong Times that their forefathers had named the pool ‘Photsumshrieh’ as the monkeys frequent it to swim.
“Not only they came and swam, but they also stayed and slept at this place. They come, swim and sleep even today but not as often as before,” Lyngkhoi said.
Not many tourists have been to Nongnah and other touristic sites in South West Khasi Hills before. The poor road condition from Shillong to Mawkyrwat and Ranikor is blamed for this.
Lyngkhoi said the flow of tourists, both foreign and domestic, has started picking up. He advised tourists visiting Photsumshrieh to look and walk carefully as the path to the pool as well as the site is steep.
“I urge people coming here to obey the instructions to avoid any unpleasant incident,” Lyngkhoi said.
He added that Photsumshrieh is temporarily closed for all visitors as a footpath is being constructed.