Tourism and challenges in Shiliang Jashar, the next tourist hub of Meghalaya

The place is dotted with cascading waterfalls and natural formations that offer an enthralling experience in the lap of nature and to promote the place, the villagers have taken up the initiative under the banner of Shiliang Jashar Eco-Tourism cooperative society.

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SHILLONG:

Kitkhialang Khongthohrem, a 20-year-old, is a tour guide at one of the lesser-known picturesque villages in Meghalaya – Shiliang Jashar. Kitkhialang left his studies after Class V to work as a tour guide along with 21 others from the village and today, is the sole bread-winner for his family.

Located approximately 63 kilometres from Shillong, Shiliang Jashar is home to some 200 households and offers adventure-seeking enthusiasts everything they can dream of – camping, hiking, trekking, adventure sports, you name it.

The place is dotted with cascading waterfalls and natural formations that offer an enthralling experience in the lap of nature and to promote the place, the villagers have taken up the initiative under the banner of Shiliang Jashar Eco-Tourism Cooperative Society with Larishisha Khongthohrem as the leader.

Larishisha, who has been training the youths to be tourist guides, opined that since they didn’t receive much help from individuals or organisations alike to train the youths or promote the place, he took it upon himself by enrolling in the first batch of Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), the institute that offers free training to youths in the state willing to work as tourist guides.

"We have tried approaching individual investors as well, but since they don't see the potential of the tourism sector in the village, they shy away from making any commitments," said Larishisha.

Larishisha trains the youth of the village to guide tourists who come for trekking along the Jashar River beside the village. “The entry fee at the check gate has been kept at Rs 50 per head, and it is compulsory for the visitors to have a guide along with them, who charge Rs 600 depending on the distance and complexity of the trek and the number of people in a group,” he says.

The training is helping youths such as Kitkhialang earn during the weekend, informed Larishisha. "While the charge of the tour guide goes to the individual guiding the tourist, the Rs 50 entry fee goes to the cooperative society," Larishisha added.

Larishisha further mentioned, "I haven't been able to earn much since the initiative started. Only when we get to take people for tours, we earn, otherwise, we don't. Things are difficult here. It has been this way before and after the pandemic as well."

The Northeast Today (TNT) learnt that youths in the area face various challenges and have been unable to take advantage of the IITTM course as the training needs matriculation as minimum qualification. There are only about 50 youths who are eligible for the course.

"We don't have dedicated tour guides or a team here. Since everyone in the village knows the river, I would call them on weekends or at times when my tour guide friends from other parts of the state would inform me about tourists visiting. I would pick and choose the youth to guide the tourists as per requirements. If there are tourists from outside the state and there is difficulty in communication, I would go and help out myself," he added.

He pointed that since the turnout of tourists have been thin for a while, the society has been unable to employ the 21 members full-time.

What is unique about this place is the authenticity that Larishisha and the team are trying to preserve. Tour guides like Kitkhialang would take visitors for the trek after briefing them about the place at the entrance so that visitors can complete any particular trek they look for. Taking people through the trek, Kit would show them the places, tell them about the river, brief them about the strange living root bridges both small and big along the trek and take care of their safety.

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