David Scott Trail :: Interestingly while on a break from the hectic schedule of routine life, I found a new hobby- That’s photography. And photography to me, is something that lightens up my mood and mind. While on one such trip hiking-photo trip, through the history of East Khasi Hills. Took up the 14km David Scott Trail for a hike, starting from Mawphlang Heritage Village to Sohra Road.

“Some where between the Hills and the Valley, the deep woods and the forest prevails, and bring the essence of Nature at its best.“

Trail starts with steep down hill hike into to the Umiam River Valley. The rocky path, once laid with pebbles meanders its way gently down the hills. Once used by Britishers’ horse carts to travel from Guwahati to Cherrapunjee, and the reminiscences can be seen with memorials/burials along the trail. ANd As it twists and turns slowly into the river valley, some sections are covered with dense tropical canopy near the Umiam river bank stretch. Thickly preserved forest by the locals that forms a part of the Sacred Grooves of Mawphlang.

“Rugged Nature and Mossed rocks on a tiny tributary to Umiam river“.

Crossing the river brings a mixed of modern and heritage kind of feeling. Walking through the rusty steel suspension bridge, with some of the trails lost its presence with time, and found it hard to find the way in some section, but anyway found it somehow. Then starts the most difficult part of the trail, an up hill hike. Waiting ahead at the top is some Maggi and Warm Tea at Laitsohma Village. As we climb up the hills, surrounded by local flora and fauna perching into the trail.

“Look there! The trail ahead“, Exclaimed my friend, happiness of finding the lost trail.

At last after few calorie burning-walk, we arrived at Laitsohma, with our belly growling with hunger. A tiny hut with dried creepers overhanging it, awaits with warm bowl of maggie and tea. Never had maggie tasted so good before, that’s the craving of our drained body.

“Famous arch bridge built by David Scott“. Now a landmark on this trail.

Here on starts the gentle trail, flat and easy section and the most beautiful part of this trail. As we walk we were greeted by gentle undulating hills and mild rivers. Through the grasslands the trail meanders through the curls into final summit of the trail.

At the end of the trail, we were drained but filled with beautiful memories and moments captured within DSLR. Life is all about up-hills and down-hills and will drain us out but what matters in the end is the memories we make it on our way.