Travelogue of Laitlum Canyons “The End of Hills” Shillong: The Scotland of East. Abode in Clouds.

People like me, who love adventure in travelling and love to stay close to nature, breathing virgin air, can’t miss a visit to Laitlum canyon. Once you reach the top, the views are breathtaking and you can feel the clouds touching you and passing by as you are living in an Abode in Clouds. 

Laitlum Canyons literally translates to “end of hills” and it does justice to its name. It is true to call   Laitlum canyon valley abode in clouds. The pristine Laitlum lends a majestic view down to the valley of the East Khasi hills, overlooking the Raslong hamlet.

Police Bazar-Shillong 

Police Bazar-Shillong

At Laitlum, all one can see are breathtaking gorges and steep winding stairways that snake their way down to the lush valley. The rolling hills beauty around Shillong reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, they would also refer to it as the "Scotland of the East "The Scotland of East. 

Our adventurous journey to Laitlum Canyons started from Police Bazar in Shillong at 7.30AM. From here we hired taxi after a bargain at Rs 1200.00 for up and down trip. In Madras Café, adjacent to the Shillong bus stand, we satiated our hunger by delicious breakfast of masala dosa  soft idly and South Indian filter coffee then preceded the journey.

On  Way to  Laitlum Canyon 

Laitlum canyon is situated around 30 km from Shillong, on Mizoram highway, nearby Smit Village. The pristine Laitlum lends a majestic view down to the valley of the East Khasi hills, overlooking the Raslong hamlet. Clear blue skies and green meadows with mid-height trees plotting alongside the road. The Scotland of East.

 Landscape changes throughout the way. Somewhere it is only meadows, somewhere low-lying pastures and somewhere small town settlements. But amidst those, some things are constant, like the smiling faces of children, their innocent playfulness, the women carrying bamboo baskets over their head, men enjoying an afternoon siesta over a porch and many more.

At entry gate, they charge Rs 50/=. This fund goes for the welfare of the village. The hill top is a vast area surrounded by fields and meadows, with just a single traditional thatched tea shop on top of the hill. The tranquility here is enigmatic; one literally has to strain to hear any sound and would feel frozen in time for a while. 

The moment we entered here, we were in a totally. Different world. Thick fog covers the canyon blurring it from the view of the people. When we reached, we could not see beyond 3 meters. The fog was so thick and the wind so chilly that we started shivering. However, it does not steal the thrill, instead, doubles it up. 

There are several steps leading down to a few viewpoints and later we learned that it leads down to the village that lies at the faraway base of the canyon.

The hill top is a vast area surrounded by fields and meadows, with just a single traditional thatched tea shop on top of the hill. The tranquility here is enigmatic; one literally has to strain to hear any sound and would feel frozen in time for a while.

There is a trail that ends up in a steep flight of steps and then down to reach a small local village called Raslong. It seems as if someone left the village there and forgot about it. It lies in such an extreme depth and is quite disconnected from the other villages.

 

This village Ra Song has 300 odd inhabitants. The stairway that leads to Ra Song has close to 3000 steps and you will pass through bamboo plantations and wild orchid groves on the way. Incidentally, this rather arduous path is the only way villagers can go to the nearest market.

Their only way of transportation as it appeared was the tiny steps that make up to 3000 according to sources and may take upto 5 hours for the hike. There is a trolley attached to a house by the edge of the canyon that transports food and other essentials to the villagers. A few men guard the house and look after the trolley service.

 

Little boys with a bamboo basket hanging on their back, selling boiled eggs to make a living, are a mark of the self respected and hardworking Khasi inhabitants of the Raslong village. We climbed down a few steps to a viewpoint from where we looked over the canyon and the village, which looks so tiny from there.

 

The perfect place to stand and stare at nature, a 270-degree viewpoint that will present you with the view of the 4 nearby waterfalls. Climb up to the flattish grass filled hilltop that overlooks the valley for a surreal experience.

 

Some journeys are so dreamy and peaceful that it rings in your heart long after you have left that place. Laitlum happened to be one such place for me. True to its name, Laitlum - The Edge of the Hills; the view from the edge of the cliff is simply breathtaking.

The End