Nohkalikai Falls is located 8 kms from Cherrapunjee (the wettest place in the world) in the state of Meghalaya. As it is considered to be the tallest plunge waterfall of India, Meghalaya Tourism Government tries to maintain the site in the best possible way to attract more tourists. It has height of 1115 feet (340 metres) and is the most popular tourist attraction of Cherrapunjee.

You need to drive from Cherrapunjee by approx 20 min through a high tableland area (road condition is good) and need to hike a little distance to reach view point of this falls. You may go down through steps to reach nearer to waterfall, but the best view comes from top part only, as eyes can cover more panoramic view of region.

Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Noh Ka Likai, in local Khasi tribe’s language means ‘the leap of Likai’. The story behind name of this fall is there was a widow named Ka Likai in near village. She loved her daughter very much, so to give father’s love and security, Ka Likai remarried a man. She spent much time with her daughter, this thing made her new husband uncomfortable and he started hating daughter. One day when Ka Likai went outside for some work, her husband killed the infant in cold blood and cooked her flesh after throwing away her severed head and bones to hide all trace of the murder. When Ka Likai returned she thought her daughter must be playing outside and had meal happily. She was happy with husband as he cooked food for her. Later, as she picked up the betel nut basket she found her daughter’s fingers in it. She was angry and filled with remorse, sadness and grief. She committed suicide from the cliff and hence, this fall was named as Nohkalikai.

Nohkalikai Falls are fed by the rainwater collected on the summit of a comparatively small plateau and decrease in power during the dry season in December - February. Below the falls there has formed a plunge pool with unusual green colored water. The best to visit here are monsoons when fall is in full current.