By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 18: Mawlynnong on Saturday celebrated more than 20 years as a global tourism destination, a period during which the village of roughly 560 residents and 112 households has successfully maintained its reputation as Asia’s cleanest village.
To mark the milestone, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong unveiled five memorial stones dedicated to those who pioneered the village’s transformation. The memorials honour late RG Lyngdoh (former Tourism Minister), Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong, tour operator DD Laloo, the founding Kur Kharrymba clan, and village tourism leaders.
Addressing the gathering, Tynsong lauded the vision of the late RG Lyngdoh and DD Laloo, describing them as pathfinders who turned the village into a model for eco-tourism. “The people of Mawlynnong are so dedicated to serving tourists from across the country and abroad that they can hardly spare five minutes,” Tynsong said. He urged the Dorbar Shnong to continue innovating and encouraged the youth to prioritise education to further elevate the village’s status.
The village’s evolution began during RG Lyngdoh’s tenure as Tourism Minister, after DD Laloo introduced him to Mawlynnong. Together, they developed the concept of eco-tourism centered on the village’s inherent cleanliness. Reflecting on the village’s history, Thom Khongthohrem noted that Mawlynnong was once a poor settlement. In the 1980s, the community began implementing strict hygiene standards, including a 1989 initiative to build toilets in every home and restrictions on free-roaming livestock. Infrastructure followed later, with the first road reaching the village in 2003.
Further contributions came from Rishot Khongthorem, a teacher who used his own resources to plant the flowering trees that define the village’s aesthetic. The Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum later provided grants for guest houses, a move supported by local MLA Prestone Tynsong.
DD Laloo, in an emotional address, called for the community to work in unison toward a “New Mawlynnong” phase of development. Meanwhile, MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, representing the family of the late RG Lyngdoh, thanked the community for honoring her brother’s memory and encouraged residents to continue their hospitality toward international visitors.
The success of the Mawlynnong model is now spreading, with the neighboring village of Mawlam seeking guidance from Mawlynnong elders to develop its own tourism potential.
The event, chaired by Dorbar Shnong member Bikalson Kharduia, also saw the current Rangbah Shnong, Philemon Khonglanoh, thank the various contributors whose efforts remain etched in the village’s history. During the visit, Tynsong also interacted with international tourists, including a medical couple from the UK, who cited the village’s online reputation as the reason for their visit.
