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Cherrapunjee is essentially a sub-divisional town situated in the East Khasi Hills District of the state of Meghalaya. This town is the traditional capital of the Hima state, known as Churra or Sohra. Cherrapunjee refers to the land of oranges and is considered to be the second wettest region in the world.
Even though the town features excessive rains, yet the local inhabitants face acute water shortage along with unsuitable conditions for irrigation due to washing away of the topsoil. Khasis are the local inhabitants, who have been living in the region since the 16th century. These inhabitants used to live in the Khasi Hills and were ruled by the Syiems of Khyrtim between the 16th and 18th century.
In 1883, this region came under the rule of the British, due to the submission of the main Syiems, Tirot Singh. Cherrapunjee has an average elevation of around 1484 metres and faces the plains of Bangladesh. Cherrapunjee is about 600 metres above the surrounding valleys and has poor soil due to deforestation. Moreover, it is located approximately 4500 feet above the main sea level.
Cherrapunjee holds two Guinness World Records; one for having the maximum amount of rainfall in a single year between August 1860 and July 1861. The second record is for the maximum amount of rainfall in a single month, in July 1861. This region experiences an annual average rainfall of around 11,430 metres. Further, it is the only place in India which experiences monsoon all year round.
The rainfall in the region varies from heavy to medium to light, with majority of rainfall occurring during the night. Between May to September, Cherrapunjee experiences heavy downpour, with clouds and rain descending earthwards. After September, the pattern of rainfall becomes gentle with soft pastel shades in the sky.
The major inhabitants in the region are Khasis, who practice a matrilineal culture. In this culture, the husband of the youngest daughter lives with his in-laws and owns the property of the family. The Khasi children usually get the surname of their mother.
This tribe is divided into different clans and their descendants are called as kiaws. Shi Kur and Shi Kpoh are the sub-clans that have common ancestry and individuals belonging to these clans are not allowed to marry within the clan.
Cherrapunjee is famous for its living bridges, where the Khasis grow roots of trees. This process generally takes around 10 to 15 years, with the bridges lasting more than 100 years. Tourists can ideally visit Cherrapunjee between September and October, when the rainfall varies from medium to light, with clear skies during the day time.
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Perched at an altitude of 4,500 ft above the sea level, Cherrapunjee is not only known for its natural beauty, but also for its tourist attractions. The town is home to the fourth highest waterfall in India, Mawsmai falls, which is one of the most prominent attractions. Double Decker Living Root Bridge, another popular sightseeing place, is an exclusive example of bioengineering in the nature. This is a natural root bridge made of Indian rubber tree.
In addition, tourists can also head towards the beautiful orchid gardens located in large number in all over Cherrapunjee. Nohkalikai Waterfalls and Dainthlen waterfall are the other popular attractions of the destination. Tourists visiting the Dainthlen waterfall can explore the natural rock carvings, which depict the story of a snake, after which this waterfall has been named.
For nature and wildlife lovers, Nokrek National Park is one of the ideal places located in Cherrapunjee, where they can spot different species of animals and plants. Several other places which attract tourists are Khasi monoliths famous for stones erected in memories of ancestors. Apart from these, Krem Phyllut, Mawsynram, Thangkharang Park, Mawkdok Dympep Valley View and Ka Khoh Ramhah are some of the popular sightseeing places located within the destination.
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