Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, many Indian travellers would have booked tickets to Shillong in Meghalaya which, at present, is looking like a painting with whimsical colours of pink and white dotting its landscape. In a strange way, as nature restricts the movements of human beings, it allows flora and fauna to flourish.
If you missed the cherry blossom season in Japan, Paris or DC, India’s Shillong is also one of the most sought after destinations to watch the streets turn pink. The cherry blossoms have bloomed in the city, and while the annual India International Cherry Blossom Festival held in Shillong stands cancelled this year, it has not stopped the flowers from blossoming and making the city look like a paradise.
It is expected that the flowers will continue to bloom till end of November. “I always like to be outdoors this season. I think Shillong is the most happening place after Japan for cherry-blossoms,” says a resident of Shillong.
The cherry blossom, also known as Prunus cerasoides, are the gift from the Himalayas and cover the whole east and west Khasi hills. These gorgeous and vibrant flowers grow in the wild but can be spotted across the state during this time of the year.
Besides Shillong, Japan too is renowned for its cherry blossom festivals. During this time of the year, the country turns into a cherry blossom wonderland and is visited by thousands of globetrotters. Similarly, Paris too has its cherry blossom days when the whole city turns all the more romantic and beautiful.
While the flowers bloom in Japan during the spring, in Northeast India, the colours arrive a tad earlier in November.
Coronavirus might have put a question mark on your international travel plans to witness the cherry blossom festivals, but you can visit Meghalaya and get mesmerised. All you need is a COVID-19 negative rapid antigen test report or a RT-PCR report, taken no more than 72 hours before boarding the flight.