Shillong November 22: Tourists who wish to make one day visit to Mawlynnong, one of Asia’s cleanest village in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya will not be able to do so on a Sunday from January 2026 onwards.
However, tourists/visitors who have already stayed at Guest Houses/Homestays in the village during weekdays, and have their stay extended till Sunday are exempted.
This decision was taken by the Mawlynnong Dorbar Shnong and conveyed the same to the public through Rangbah Shnong (headman), Philemon Khonglanoh and secretary, Remdor Khongthohrem who informed that
from January 2026 onwards, Mawlynnong village would remain closed to all ‘One Day Tourists/Visitors’ on Sunday.
The place would be open only on weekdays i.e. from Monday to Saturday but Sunday would remain
closed to visitors and all tourists related activities & services including restaurants, shops/stalls, public toilets would henceforth remain closed.
The Village Dorbar has come to this decision after a long and careful deliberation considering the fact that in Mawlynnong, Sunday is when almost everyone has to attend religious services in Churches for most of the day, hence they would not be able to offer or render any kind of Services or hospitality to the visitors.
“This fact alone used to cause great hardship and inconvenience to the visitors especially to elderly citizen, this could probably lead to bad feeling and discontentment among the visitors and could ultimately ended with bad name and bad reputation to the village and its people and honestly, we do not wish that to happen,” the public notice said.
Stating that exceptions are for tourists/visitors who have already stayed overnights at Guest Houses, Homestays during weekdays and have their stay extended till Sunday, the Mawlynnong Dorbar Shnong informed that tourists/visitors who wish to book rooms on Sunday night are also exempted from this and they
could do so and check-in on Sunday night.
However, the Village Dorbar made it clear that on both of the above cases the onus of services
and hospitality concerning such visitors would rest fully on the Guest Houses/Homestays’ owners and would gratefully appreciate for the co-operation of all concern.
Mawlynnong village, around 85km from Shillong in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya has become a major and most sought tourist destinations.
The village is clean from road to footpaths and its surrounding as no plastic or other waste materials could be found in and around the village. Near Mawlynnong village, one can also visit the Living Root Bridge, which is also the top attraction for the visitors.
