The Megha Kayak Festival, which is held annually in Meghalaya, India's wettest zone, will be held from October 12-14 in the picturesque Ri Bhoi district. The course will open for practice from October 9-12. The registration for the event is open along with additional details on the festival's official website.
Adventure and water sports lovers can look forward to being occupied for a week. The festival aims to be the biggest kayaking fest in the Indian subcontinent and is undoubtedly the most exhilarating in India. The organisers have arranged for camping facilities for participants.
Meghalaya Tourism organises the event and showcases the beauty of Meghalaya through carefully curated locations. Over 80 white-water kayakers from around the globe participate in the Megha Kayak Festival each year. The motive of the festival is to promote and spread tourism in Meghalaya. People take part in Meghalaya's raging waters, creating an incredible spectacle of action and acrobatics. Players from places like New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Canada participate.
The festival will have events like Downriver Sprints, Kayak Cross Heats, Giant Slalom, and Post Race Party. The festival hosts different events for participants of various difficulty levels, from beginner to professional. Both male and female kayakers enrol themselves in equal numbers. Before the festival begins, travellers can practice and gauge the waters in Open Practice and attend the workshops.
The spectacle is so grand that it's not alone enthralling for participants but equally for the spectators. The kayakers must qualify for the Downriver Sprint, followed by a final. The final will be between four kayakers who must prove how well they tame the currents while being fast. There will be other races which will also be time-based, where the participants will rage against time.
The festival's travellers are advised to check the weather conditions and pack accordingly. You should also be mindful of the water conditions, the routes and transport fares, and other logistics.
Air: The closest domestic airport to the venue is Shillong Airport (25 km), while the international airport is Guwahati Airport (95 km).
Rail: The Guwahati Railway Station, Assam, is closest at 95 km.
Road:The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) have buses running from Guwahati to Shillong. The main interstate bus stand is near Guwahati railway station. Travellers can choose from AC, AC Sleeper, luxury, and Volvo buses at varying reasonable prices.
Meghalaya is a scenic place with a distinct cultures, music, food, and landscape. Here are some places you could visit.
Travellers in Meghalaya can visit the capital Shillong, which has scenic landscapes and waterfalls. The city is famous for its rich music and art scene and Ward’s Lake, which is situated in the heart of the town.
Located 69 km from Shillong, Mawsynram is the wettest place on earth, receiving the highest rainfall in India. It enjoys avid tourism dedicated to the rainfall, turning the landscapes into a pretty sight. People also go to witness the beauty of living root bridges that are across Mawsynram.
The town of Cherrapunji is a high-altitude location in Meghalaya. It is famous for its surrounding hills and the Mawsmai Cave, where people can see stalagmites. Travellers in Cherrapunji can indulge in activities such as river canyoning, boating, caving, and sightseeing.