When the days of the Fauji PME gets over, and the Golf Gods literally shouts out to you to take a break; it’s high time, two motorcycle enthusiasts, the evergreen Col Monappa and I, decided to ride to a little-known, unexplored yet mesmerizing spot not far from Shillong. The Rangkylliaw Bridge, supposedly the highest and the most dangerous man-made bridge in Meghalaya.
Route:
From the Kholadham mandir, ride straight to upper Shillong beyond the Eastern Air Command, and keep left along the Sohra route. Cross the Umseiniong and Marbaniang village, and then approximately 4 km short of the Mawkydok Dympep valley view point, take an abrupt left turn from the village Mawajrong and keep riding along State Highway Number 5 till you reach Village Mawrah. Cross the village, and within next 500 metres enroute to the village Kongthong, slightly on to the left along a jeepable track, is the small hut announcing the entrance to the Rangkylliaw view point; very missable if you are not careful. Pay Rs 30 per person entrance fee to the smiling Khasi lady, and ride along the track till around a km more, you reach a grassy meadow with a few tea stalls. Park your vahan there, and walk down the ridge along the very gently sloping foot track till you reach the majestic, awesome and inspiring, literally “Hanging on the Sky” Rangkylliaw suspension footbridge. Allow yourself the opportunity to be just shaken by the sheer desolation, raw beauty and innate beauty of the place.
Background Story
Rangkylliaw Bridge isn’t a Jingkieng Jri (traditional living root bridge) but a modern, high suspension bridge made and maintained by the local Khasi community, showcasing Khasi engineering ingenuity in a contemporary context. Built in 2019, as a part of the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) the 90 meter long, sky hang bridge has been constructed by local villagers without any assistance of professional architect or civil engineer. This is a perfect example of how skilled and experienced masons have created a marvelous structure of this magnitude. The project cost was Rs.80 Lakh, generated 28,960 man days work, provided 196 job cards to the local villagers with a total wage earned of Rs.50 Lakh. PWD Engineers are astonished till day, at the strength and beauty of this man-built bridge. So much for our own MES, God bless them.
Experience
Tied to two huge towers, the footbridge in itself is an experience. We perfectly understood why not more than 5 person are not advised to walk along it together. The sway and pitching of the bridge itself gives an immense adrenaline rush, and the feeling of the perfect vertical drop with nothing below, God only knows till what depth is an experience in itself. The feeling is indescribable, perhaps comparable to the skywalk in Toronto that I once experienced. Chill with the experience, and then walk beyond the bridge along the foot track for yet another km, and you reach another hidden wonderland; a small pool of water, amidst the green near jungle, with a small jhoom hut by it. Breathe, be, forget the self importance and be one with nature.
Succour
A small 12 year old girl Ritalyn and her dog Kai ran from the parking spot with a kettle of hot tea and some chana for both of us, the sole living being around; Col Monappa graciously tipped her a hundred bucks for the twenty bucks of tea and chana that we had. Ritalyn only ran around, up and down and clicked the beautiful pictures of both of us standing on the bridge from different spots. God bless her.
Time to return, with a heartful of thankfulness for our plenty; an opportunity for such a ride and company, and to share more such hidden gem of Meghalaya. Khublei .. till we ride again…
The Legend of Symper and Kyllang
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