Text and photos: Sudipta Dey
At around 1500 metres (4921 feet) above sea level, Mawlynnong is not just a village, but a mirror that reflects how simple life can be! On Earth Day today, we take you to Asia’s cleanest village to discover how divine nature can be.
Tucked deep within Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, Mawlynnong defies common notions of rural life. Spread across just 20 square kilometres, it is home to around 516 people living in 107 households, yet its influence feels far greater. Dubbed “Asia’s Cleanest Village” by Discover India Magazine in 2003, this remote hamlet continues to inspire a global audience with its lush greenery, bamboo pathways, and a collective spirit rooted in cleanliness and sustainable living.
With 27 welcoming homestays for visitors, the village extends its hospitality to the world while maintaining its rooted way of life. Education is treasured here: one primary school and one secondary school stand quietly amidst flowering gardens, nurturing young minds.
Life in Mawlynnong flows at a thoughtful pace. Villagers travel nearly 20 kilometres to access the nearest larger market, and when the local market shuts at 9 PM sharp, a quiet discipline settles over the hills. In a world spinning ever faster, Mawlynnong reminds us that true progress sometimes lies in slowing down, respecting the boundaries of nature, community, and time itself.
The Welcome Sign: Entrance to a Different World
A simple sign framed by riotous blooms and thick mist tells visitors what to expect: a paradise shaped not by grand architecture, but by human dignity and the humble stewardship of nature.
The Sky View Tower: Over the Horizon
From atop the Sky View, it becomes clear that national boundaries fade when the earth is so profoundly alive. Mawlynnong lies cradled between countries, yet it belongs, truly, only to nature.
Sweeping in Harmony: Rituals of Care
Here, cleanliness is not a rule but a ritual woven into daily life. Each sweep of the broom is an offering—an act of respect toward ancestors, neighbours, and the soil itself.
The Living Root Bridge: Nature’s Architecture
Guided by patient Khasi hands, the roots of rubber fig trees have, over decades, formed bridges strong enough to carry generations. These structures are not merely functional; they are acts of living engineering, adapting and growing with the forest.
Solar Power: A Village Bathed in Sunlight
Harnessing the abundant sunshine, Mawlynnong’s homes and schools quietly power their daily lives through solar panels. It’s a modern intervention done the village’s way—clean, non-intrusive, and always in harmony with the natural world.
Bamboo Dustbins: Sustainable Solutions
Waste management in Mawlynnong doesn’t involve heavy machinery or chemical plants. Instead, it leans on centuries-old indigenous craftsmanship—bamboo, ingenuity, and shared accountability.
Natural Reservoirs: The Wellspring of Life
Beneath the lush canopy, natural reservoirs carved by ancient streams continue to nourish Mawlynnong. Rainwater harvesting and careful preservation of freshwater springs ensure the village’s survival through changing seasons, honouring a sacred bond with nature’s gifts.
Homes and Gardens: Living Works of Art
In Mawlynnong, homes are extensions of the forest. Flowers are not mere decorations; they are declarations of gratitude to the land, visible at every doorstep and woven into every fence.
The Village Schools: Seeds of Tomorrow
Tucked between gardens and winding lanes, the two Mawlynnong schools pulse with youthful energy. Here, under sloping tin roofs and breezy bamboo walls, children learn English, Khasi, and the universal lessons of respect and environmental care. With minimal resources but abundant dreams, this schools nurture the village’s future custodians—the boys and girls who will one day carry forward the delicate balance of tradition and progress.
Church in the Midst: Faith Rooted in the Soil
Christianity found a home in Mawlynnong in the 19th century, merging seamlessly with Khasi customs. Faith here does not conquer nature—it honours it, echoing the same humility and reverence found in every swept path and every blooming garden.
A Legacy: Strength in Softness
The strength of Mawlynnong rests on the shoulders of its tourism.
