Rippling, meandering, falling, and flowing through the valleys separating the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, the Umngot has remained one of the cleanest rivers in India.
It's fame has spread, and now it has become the focus of tourists who throng to it to capture it in photographs and for a boat ride. The river flows past the three main tourist destinations of Meghalaya, the border town of Dawki, known for its iconic bridge and up-close views of a neighbouring country, and the two resort villages of Darrang and Shnongpdeng.
You can indulge in camping, ziplining, angling, kayaking, snorkelling and scuba-diving at the river. Or a ride on the traditional canoe on the serene waters of the river. When you are at Umngot, you can also experience guided treks into the forests and the village of Kudengrim, known for its living root bridges, and waterfalls.
The river remains pristine due to the absence of human-settlement-based waste or mineral-mining affluents flowing into it via any of its tributaries. By the time they join the river, its course is through the steep uninhabitable landscape, and the three villages, far from its banks, have ensured that the river remains clean.
The locals have also protested hard against the proposed hydroelectric project on the river, as it will affect their livelihood, which comes from paddy farming, fishing, and, most importantly, tourism.
Best time to visit: October - March
By air: The Umroi airport is 107 kilometres, and the Guwahati airport is 196 kilometres away.
By rail: The Guwahati railway station is 173 kilometres from the Umngot River.
By road: Shillong is 85 kilometres away, at a three-hour drive.
For more information, check the website.
