Author: Badal Nyalang

RootsandLeisure_DoodleArtist_Rinchin

Doodling for Delight: A Doodle Artist and Her Assorted Journey So Far | Meet Rinchin Choden from Shillong

Published by Badal Nyalang

  Bonded to art by sheer fate, here’s a conversation with a budding artist from Shillong, who doodles her way out to find the inspiration she has always wanted. Meet Rinchin Choden, a doodle artist from Arunachal Pradesh, living her dream amidst the other creative talents of Shillong and creating  an art form that’s a part of her now. Let’s hear what she has to say about her journey till now. From Arunachal to Shillong, how did your journey start? I came over to Shillong for college. It was a three years degree course but luckily right after graduation, I bagged a job as an intern at a design studio. So I decided to stick around and now the love affair between me and Shillong has spanned for 12 years. Your have a great collection of doodle art, tell us something about it. How did you get started as an artist? Thanks! Strangely, I was never an art lover, till I started doodling in 2016 out of sheer boredom and fell completely in love with …

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A Blossoming Crowd at the International Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong,2017

Published by Badal Nyalang

  Not long after the first International Cherry Blossom Festival pulled in almost 30,000 tourists from the nearing states to Shillong last year, Meghalaya yet again geared up for the second international cherry blossom festival. It was held at different locations across Shillong from the 8th November – 11th November 2017 to commemorate the cherry blossom spread through out the state. A quick look back!  The Himalayan cherry blossom grown wild in Meghalaya has long been associated with Japan. This annual festival is a reminiscent of the local heritage with its white and pink blooms all over the hills of Shillong. With around 5,000 trees planted along the Umiam Shillong road, Mawphlang and Ward’s Lake, the government of Meghalaya further targets to plant 20,000 trees by the festivals’ 50th anniversary. Day One of this years’ event kicked off at the 5th Ground, Polo Grounds, Shillong hosted by the Meghalaya Minister for Forests & Environment, Clement Marak. The opening day was marked by a pleasant painting and drawing competition followed by story telling, local folklore and fashion show accompanied by a great display of lights at …

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Badal On A Trip To Krang Shuri – A New Tourist Hot Spot in Meghalaya

Published by Badal Nyalang

Recently, my expedition took me to yet another unexplored site in the hills of Meghalaya. It seemed as if nature has blessed these hills with innumerable locations that travelers from afar get attracted to. Here’s how it began. After almost an hour journeying from Shillong towards Jowai, then taking another 45 minutes towards Amlarem, we finally reached our destination, Krang Shuri. A beautiful bliss of nature and a must visit for everyone travelling to Meghalaya. You would need to walk another kilometer or so to reach the location but on the way,  you can see the waterfall from a distance. My friend, who came along couldn’t resist taking a picture. From this place walk for about 5 minutes and you will reach the ticket counter. A minimum of ₹30 per person is charged as an entry free to Krang Shuri. Upon entry, we saw a huge crowd carrying their life jacket (for safety of course) heading towards a mini dam like structure where you could swim. We arrived near the natural pool and the first …

RootsandLeisure_Travel_Monolith

Travel | Cluster of Age-Old Monoliths Amidst the Hills of Meghalaya

Published by Badal Nyalang

What exactly is a monolith ? Why are they there in the first place? With these questions in mind I wandered off to look for answers and got my reading glasses ready to do some research. The word monolith comes from the Greek word “monolithos”, derived from mono (“one” or “single”) and lithos (“stone”). I begin my exploration in the hub of all monoliths in Meghalaya, Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district. It is the place to start if you are looking for a rocky site full of traditional memories and hidden stories. They call it the “Monolith garden”. These monoliths are said to be a testimony of a sovereign strength. They are a symbol of tradition in the Jaintia Hills among the “pnar” tribes. It is said that these monoliths were erected to mark the reigns of the erstwhile Jaintia king. There are folktales to explain the existence of these ancient monuments. Looking for these stories was the highlight of my mini research. I always wondered on how the monoliths came to be in such …

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Travelling to Ozakho – An Unexplored Village in the Hills of Arunachal Pradesh

Published by Badal Nyalang

When one talks about Arunachal Pradesh, the mind instantly conjures up images of the lush green hills, the dense forests and the rich heritage. The largest in area of the North-East states, not many know this but Arunachal is home to thirteen ethnic tribes who live in harmony.  The land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains has hidden and unexplored jewels nestled between the peaks. Amidst the pristine landscape, is  a village Ozakho inhabited by a tribe called Wanchos.  Twelve hours away from Guwahati, I reached Ozakho, the unscathed hamlet in Arunachal Pradesh and had the opportunity to explore the lifestyle and the being of the Wancho tribe. My ignorance made me curious and their reality overwhelmed and gratified my curiosity. The tale of Ozakho: In an unexpected but delightful twist of fate, I met Ngamnon Joham, a student from Shillong who was well acquainted and had toured the regions around with her friends. As our conversation proceeded, I asked her to tell me her travel tales. That is when she narrated the unheard tale of Ozakho …

RootsandLeisure_MaplePineFarm

Discovery of The Most Beautiful Cottage in Meghalaya | Maple Pine Farm

Published by Badal Nyalang

Surrounded by waterfalls that tumble down and pound on the rocks and hill, the rivers that susurrate tales of the tribes, the slopes that run craggy in places, gentle otherwise; meandering mountain roads, our contributor, Badal had started out to explore the South West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya when nature exposed her flawlessly fallow fragment – unsettling him in the most gratifying manner. Perhaps, the Japanese author, Haruki Murakami is right when he says, “Whatever it is you’re seeking won’t come in the form you’re expecting.” Our friend Badal shares his experience of discovering a beautiful Bed & Breakfast guest house in the midst of nature – about 25 kms away from Shillong If you’ve ever visited Shillong, Meghalaya, what is the best thing you can remember? Waterfalls, hills, rivers, rain, cloud and what else? Well, one thing that’s heard of very often from this part of Northeast India, are the monolith and of course the sacred groves. If you haven’t visited, then that’s a must-visit. Exploring the South West Khasi Hills with Badal “My short expedition started …