Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Cherry blossoms have been closely associated with Japan for a very long time. Well, now India too is beginning to make its presence felt and is getting itself associated with this beautiful tree. Now one must be wondering where in India they can find them. Well, the answer to that lies in Meghalaya's Khasi Hills.
From late October to mid-November, this area witnesses the bloom of the Himalayan cherry blossom tree, which covers the place in the hues of white, pink and red. The trees grow in the wild here and only recently the residents realised their beauty and started to appreciate their hidden charm. Very soon, the first edition of the Cherry Blossom Festival was held-last November-which not only celebrates the beauty of the cherry blossoms but also the community protecting it.
PC: Official Page
The Festival has been organised by the state government along with the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The state government and the institute together have planted over 3000 saplings in the 2015 to understand the tree better and are looking forward to transplanting more varieties from Himachal Pradesh.
The festival this year is scheduled to happen from 8th November to 11th November 2017 in multiple venues. Visitors are offered guided nature walks in the evenings around the Ward's Lake, under the illuminated cherry blossom trees. One can also enjoy choir performances and live rock shows which are put by the folk musicians of the place.
PC: Official Page
Apart from the various music performances, one would come across traditional board games, bicycle rallies, archery contests and even a beauty pageant. A must try at the venues is the local fruit wines which are prepared from plums and blackberries; have a taste of the local delicacies of smoked pork and various fish items while you would stroll through the streets enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossom trees and browsing through the local handicrafts stores.
So why travel to Japan or USA to watch the beauty of the cherry blossoms when you get to witness it closer to home?
How To Reach
By Air: The Umroi airport is a small airport which is located at a distance of 35 km from Shillong. However, this airport offers only flights to and fro Kolkata. Most people prefer the Guwahati airport, which offers better connectivity, which is located at a distance of 128 km from here.
PC: Official Page
By Train: The nearest railhead is the Guwahati Junction, which is located at a distance of 104 km from here. The station is well connected to major towns and cities across the country.
By Road: One of the best ways to reach the place is by road as it offers excellent connectivity by road. There are plenty of buses which operate to Guwahati and other major cities across the region.
