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Nohkalikai Falls
The Nohkalikai Falls is India’s tallest plunge waterfall and is a popular tourist attraction in Cherrapunji.

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Nohkalikai Falls, CherrapunjiStanding tall at an elevation of 4, 065 ft, the Nohkalikai Falls is located in the East Khasi Hills in the north eastern state of Meghalaya. The total height of the Nohkalikai Falls is 1, 115 ft and has a total width of 75 ft. It is one of the highest waterfall plunges in the country and is located near Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth. The waterfall is surrounded by lush greenery and is fed by rainwater. The plunge pool formed at the foothills of the Nohkalikai Falls is somewhat green in colour.

Legend of Nohkalikai Falls
The word Nohkalikai is a Khasi word which literally translates to "jump of Ka Likai", here, "Ka" is a prefix to the female gender and "Likai" is the protagonist of the legend. As per the legend surrounding the Nohkalikai Falls, it is said that there was once a woman named Likai in a village called Rangjyrteh. She after losing her husband had to take his job as the porter and thus could not provide much time and attention to her infant daughter. The little time she used to get, Likai would shower the baby with her love and attention. Everything was hunky dory until she got married again, her new husband was a vile man who despised the bond that Likai had with her daughter and wanted the love and attention for him instead. He murdered the baby in cold blood and cooked her flesh after throwing away her severed head and bones to hide all trace of the murder. After Likai returned home, he fed her the meal and later when Likai was having her usual betel leaf, she found a severed finger near the basket. She realized what has happened and the thought of cannibalizing on her dead daughter unknowingly made her jump off the edge of the plateau. The waterfall where she jumped from was named Nohkalikai Falls as a grim reminder of a tragedy that befell an unfortunate woman.

Visiting Information on Nohkalikai Falls
The Guwahati railway station is the nearest at a distance of 140 km from the Nohkalikai Falls and the Guwahati International Airport is the closest at a distance of 166 km.


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