India, June 22 -- "We will be driving through Nongpoh, the headquarters of Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya, on our way to Umtham village," declared Samuel, my facilitator who had come to fetch me from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.

"How long will it take?" I asked.

"Nearly three hours," he replied.

Meghalaya nestles in the lap of verdant hills, wrapped in the embrace of ever-changing clouds and expansive blue skies. At first glance, a three-hour journey may sound long and tedious, but the untouched splendour of this state has a way of urging you forward. The misty valleys, crystal-clear rivers, verdant waterfalls, squeaky-clean villages, and rich cultural heritage had already left a deep impression on me. So...