One might think it is a bad idea visiting the wettest place on earth during the monsoon, but this is the time when all the hidden waterfalls reveal themselves – even though some might still be just a little stream flowing over the edge.
The north-eastern state of Meghalaya is home to some of the wettest places on earth – Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in the East Khasi Hills, which receive more than 11 meters (430 inches) of rain per year. This waterfall is just south of Cherrapunjee and south-east of Mawsynram. This is where India meets Bangladesh. From here you can see the endless plains of Bangladesh, and where the water from Meghalaya feeds the slow-mowing rivers of the lowland.
I stayed in Meghalaya for about 3 days, and two of those days it was sunny to partly cloudy, which was a big surprise. This ensured amazing views of the waterfalls, but the low rainfall also meant low water level in the rivers and streams feeding the waterfalls. Kynrem was wonderful to behold, but was perhaps just a third of what it would be after normal rainfall at this time of the year.
As with many waterfalls in this state, they are inaccessible and far away from any trails or roads. This is shot with a 200mm lens and as you can see, getting to this section of the waterfall and its pool requires some very serious mountaineering skills.
Weather patterns have become more and more erratic and this year it seemed the southern state of Kerala had become the new Cherrapunji with a deluge of rainfall not seen in many decades, while Meghalaya was in a kind of a dry spell. On my last day the weather did change back to wet and foggy, and how little you see when the clouds kiss the ground! I must say I was grateful for all I had seen during my visit, as I would have been somewhat disappointed if all I could bring back was the sound of roaring waterfalls and nothing else.
Elevation: 513 meters
Last updated on 7 September 2021
