By Our Special Correspondent
SHILLONG, Dec 15: Laitryngew village under Sohra Syiemship lacks tourism facilities. Several enchanting waterfalls are now opening up as tourist destinations in Laitryngew. In fact, there is one called ‘Kshaid dawai’, where people allow the waterfall to literally massage them and it is believed that the waters have healing powers.
The latest tourist waterfall that is experiencing a heavy footfall is Rangsohkham with a pristine and natural swimming pool just below the waterfall.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Secretary of the Laitryngew Dorbar, Reebokstar Diengdoh expressed a deep sense of regret that the Tourism department has neglected Laitryngew village even while other tourist destinations in Sohra are receiving a lot of attention.
“Laitryngew as you know was a coal mining area right from the British times. Mining has been abandoned years ago and the land is not fertile. It is mostly sand and pebbles, so agriculture is not an option. Thankfully we have beautiful sights and sounds that we wish to promote so that the people of Laitryngew get gainful employment through tourism,” Diengdoh said, adding that an urgent need is for a kiosk to sell tickets for people to venture into the waterfalls.
Located along the Shillong-Sohra road, there is a diversion to the right just short of Sohra which cannot be missed. There is a little lake where people go picnicking. But further down a rough track that only four-wheel drive vehicles can negotiate are the lovely waterfalls — Rangsohkham and Thwei Pynshad, a natural pool carved gently by time and the rhythm of the falls.
Laitryngew has reserved forests and sacred groves too. The Lawsuidnoh, a sacred forest of roughly about 1,000 acres is yet to be exposed to visitors. What it urgently requires are motorable roads and parking spaces some distance from the waterfalls. The rest of the journey could be covered by trekking over the rough paths.
The people of Laitryngew are disappointed that the foundation for the Rs 233-crore Integrated Development of Sohra Tourism Circuit which was laid at Kutmadan, Sohra, recently by Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and which is aimed at strengthening tourism infrastructure and enhancing visitor experience in and around Sohra has left out Laitryngew.
The project, funded by the Ministry of DoNER under the PM-DevINE Scheme, focuses on accelerating development and promoting sustainable livelihoods across the Northeast.
“So why is Laitryngew not part of the circuit?” ask the people of Laitryngew.
