Discover Meghalaya

From Varanasi to the green landscapes of Meghalaya

After a few intense days in Varanasi, it was time to continue travelling. I had experienced one of the most unique and chaotic places of the journey and felt that I needed a completely different environment. The next stop was Meghalaya in northeast India. It was almost difficult to believe that I was still in the same country. From the narrow streets, traffic and crowds of Varanasi, I had now arrived in a place with green mountains, waterfalls and much calmer surroundings.

The first thing I noticed was the nature. Meghalaya is incredibly green and the landscape changes constantly as you travel through the area. The roads wind between the mountains and in many places you get views over deep valleys and green hillsides. After being surrounded by people almost constantly in Varanasi, it was very relaxing to simply sit and look out of the car window.

I spent a lot of time travelling around and exploring different parts of the area. It was not only the destinations themselves that were interesting, but also the journeys between them. Sometimes we stopped along the road to take pictures or simply enjoy the views. The pace was much slower and I felt that I could actually take in the landscape instead of constantly thinking about the next attraction.

One of the things I appreciated the most was all the waterfalls. The water, mountains and dense greenery created an environment that felt very far from the image many people might have of India. In some places I could simply stand and look out over the landscape and think about how big the contrast was compared with the rest of the journey.

I also enjoyed walking around and exploring smaller areas. There was not the same stress as in the larger cities and it was nice to walk around without constantly having to think about traffic. The air also felt different and it was a very welcome change after the heat and intensity further south and in Varanasi.

Meghalaya became mainly a place where I could slow down. After all the strong impressions earlier in the journey, I did not need to fill every day with activities. Sometimes it was almost as enjoyable to simply sit down, have something to drink and look at the mountains. It was one of the first times during the journey when I really felt that I could relax.

Another thing I enjoyed was the food. I tried different local dishes and ate at both smaller restaurants and simple places along the road. The food often felt simple but very good. I think those are exactly the kinds of meals you remember from a journey, when you sit down at a small place after a long day and simply order something without really knowing what you are going to get.

After Meghalaya, the journey continued south through India. I had already experienced many different environments during the trip, but the next part would bring another major change. I travelled towards Kerala and especially Munnar and Alleppey.

Munnar was somewhere I had really been looking forward to. After visiting different parts of India, it was exciting to return to the mountains. The first thing that struck me was all the tea plantations. The green hills covered with tea bushes followed the landscape and made the area almost look unreal.

I really enjoyed travelling around Munnar. The roads went up and down through the mountains and almost every time I went around a corner, a new view appeared. It was the kind of place where I often wanted to stop just to take a picture. At the same time, it was nice not to have to rush because the road and landscape were such a big part of the experience.

One of my favourite parts was simply walking among the tea plantations. It was quiet and green and felt very far away from the big cities I had visited earlier. I had my camera with me almost all the time because the light and landscape kept changing.

Munnar also had a much more comfortable climate than several of the other places I had visited. After the heat in places such as Varanasi, it was almost a relief to reach the mountains where the air felt cooler. I could spend more time outside without becoming completely exhausted by the heat.

After Munnar, I continued towards Alleppey, which became another completely different experience. Here the mountains and tea plantations were replaced by water, palm trees and Kerala's famous backwaters. It was difficult not to be impressed the first time I saw how the canals wound through the landscape.

Taking a boat through the backwaters in Alleppey was definitely one of the highlights of the journey. The pace became extremely calm and it was almost the complete opposite of Varanasi. I sat on the boat and watched small villages, palm trees, houses and people along the water while the boat slowly moved forward.

What I liked the most was how everyday life was still happening all around. It was not just a tourist experience. You could see people working, children playing and families living their normal lives along the water. It made the boat trip feel more like seeing another side of Kerala rather than simply travelling around and looking at the landscape.

I also enjoyed the evenings in Alleppey. After a day on the water, it was nice to walk around a little, eat something and simply relax. Kerala had a very different feeling compared with northern India. It was green, humid and peaceful and I really felt that the journey had slowed down again.

Munnar and Alleppey therefore became two of the places I enjoyed the most during this part of the journey. Munnar for the mountains and tea plantations, and Alleppey for the backwaters and the peaceful life around the water. The contrast between the two places also made travelling through Kerala especially enjoyable.

What I especially take away from Meghalaya and Kerala is the nature. After spending a lot of time in cities and places with large crowds, it was incredibly relaxing to get out among the mountains, water and greenery. It gave the journey a completely different balance.

When it eventually became time to leave Kerala, it felt almost a little sad. I had gone from the intensity of Varanasi to the mountains of Meghalaya and then on to the tea plantations of Munnar and the backwaters of Alleppey. It was another reminder of how incredibly varied India is.

The next part of the journey would continue through India, but Meghalaya, Munnar and Alleppey will definitely be some of the places I remember best. Mainly because of the feeling of being able to slow down, enjoy nature and simply let the journey take its time.