A small town Dawki is delineating new script of global sustainable eco-tourism across the International Radcliffe Line between India & Bangladesh where mesmerizing greenish bluish River Umngot drains into the plain of Bangladesh dissecting the Ri Pnar/Jaintia Hills & Hima Khyrim/Khasi Hills in the State of Meghalaya.

3. Darling Dawki; A Dazzling Destination
Trade & Tourism are two building blocks that define strong ties
between two neighboring nations. A small town Dawki is delineating new
script of global sustainable eco-tourism across the International
Radcliffe Line between India & Bangladesh where mesmerizing greenish
bluish River Umngot drains into the plain of Bangladesh dissecting the
Ri Pnar/Jaintia Hills & Hima Khyrim/Khasi Hills in the State of
Meghalaya.

6. Umngot River which originates from the Eastern Shillong Peak which is
1800 m above sea level drains into the plain of Bangladesh at a point
near Dawki Town where the native Khasi inhabitants call it River
Dawki. The Suspension Bridge over the Dawki River on NH-40 was
constructed way back in 1932, is one of the busiest bilateral trade
route between India & Bangladesh. This route is the main trade gate of
coal, limestone, boulders, oranges, pineapples, tomato, vegetables,
maize, rice etc.

10. Town Dawki is around 95 kms away from the State Capital Shillong.
Though Taxi drivers are available in abundance despite you need to be
a smart tourist cum a modest bargainer. Normally you would hire a Taxi
lump sum between Rs 2000 to 2200. It’s a manageable package & if you
sum up Rs 500 more you would get an opportunity to visit Asia’s
Cleanest Village Mawlynnong in the East Khasi Hills. Try to depart as
early as possible around 8am-9am from Shillong; you would arrive to
Dawki within 2.30 hrs.

12. Small Town Dawki is one of the darling destinations for not only
travelers from the two neighboring nations but travelers from all
across the world. Indo-Bangladesh Border is porous without fencing
here. Town Tamabil is the nearest settlement in Bangladesh, just
1.5kms away from Town Dawki. Large number of tourists gathers out at
the boating point Snnongpdeng from both the Countries irrespective of
the international obligations & rules. Though the Border Security
Forces remind us not to cross the respective territory what the
International Radcliffe line demarcates despite of the fact it’s such
a paradise ecotone zone for two neighboring counterparts where calm
transparent streamline lush greenish bluish mesmerizing River Dawki
flowing between the hills of Jaintia & Khasi.

15. When one looks from the Dawki Bridge suspension we can see the
pebbles, boulders & the stones through the lush blue green fresh water
which gives the appearance that light traverses the transparent
crystal clear water as such that the boat seems stationary & the base
of the boat is somewhere visible down the water. Such a clean lotic
biome appears to be a lentic ecosystem covered from lush green moist
deciduous rain forest from both sides of the hills & streamline water
flows from the shallow & deep down the pebbles, stones & boulders,
passes the Suspension bridge near Dawki & drains into a large plain
area of Bangladesh. What is mesmerizing to the eco-tourists is what
the greenish bluish water & pelagic fish species visible from the boat
in the shallow placid water.

18. This is one of an important angling site for the local Khasi
inhabitants & tourists too enjoy out angling in the Umngot River.
Catfishes, Golden carps & Silver Carps are species in abundance.
Boating with angling is attracting a large number of Indo-Bangladesh
tourists as well as a significant bunch of overseas travelers.
Umngot River isn’t only known for her scenic pristine appearance but
the annual boat race in the month of March-April at Umsyiem is one of
the traveler’s hotspot attractions. Boating is a significant
occupation for the native Khasi. They earn around Rs 300-500 per trip.
This is what tourism can explore a massive source of economic &
employment generation without degrading the key component of ecosystem
for the native communities. Fuel based motor boats are wholly banned
to maintain the placid nature of lucid & luminous transparent bluish
green water.

20. At the boating point of Snnongpdeng, I saw a large number of Local
Bangladeshi’s folks are selling ‘Chatpate Masaledar Bhuja, Homely
Potato Chips etc. as well. Fishing is an important source of
occupation for the native communities. We can see a large number of
anglers with their boats adopting diverse tactics of fishing in the
River Dawki, assists a live opportunity for the travelers to observe
such angling tactical strategies closely.

22. Though such manual boats are not wholly safe for the travelers as the
depth of water is apparently variable from place to place in the
river, tourists should avoid riding boats in over-loaded state
otherwise chances of capsizing can’t be ignored. When I visited this
place I observed serious degree of disaster preparedness lapses as
only one emergency B.S.F speed boat was there & I find neither the
NDRF nor any equipped emergency disaster response team from the State
Tourism Department.

25. Right after a week, there was reportedly an incident of capsizing
occurred on 19 December 2015 when there happened causality with an
Assam MLA’s son Mr. Rituraj Phukan who was unfortunately died in the
incident, though his two friends were safely rescued by locals.
Thereafter an emergency meeting of the Dorbar shnong Shnongpdeng
called on 20th December 2015, they issued additional rule and advisory
to all the visitors with a unanimous voice to be exercised strictly as
follows;

27.  Any one staying the night at Shnongpdeng village or on the banks
needs to be registered and seek urgent recommendation from the
village authority concerned.
 Location of the camp site and picnic spot will be determined by
the village authority concerned.
 All staying or visiting need to wear life jacket while swimming
and boating.
 Boating and swimming is allowed only from 10.am to 4.pm.
 Those sitting on the boat need to listen to the boat man as well
as those swimming need to listen for supervision when needed.
 Do not litter the area; keep it clean all the times.
 Do not use abusive language or behave in an appropriate manner.
 Do not request or use children from the village who are below 18
years to navigate the boat.
 Your safety is our concern but accidents disturb our daily
routine.
 We welcome you but we have the right to ask you to leave.

30. I hope that the visitors must cooperate the Dorbar shnong, Shnongpdeng
in building a disaster resilient tourism in the River Dawki. The
Dorbar Shnong should create an awareness drive through posters &
hoardings in & around the boating spot at Shnongpdeng.
Most of tourism destinations are administered by Gram Panchayat/Local
Self Government bodies in Meghalaya under the flagship of Meghalya
tourism. Such local administrations are managing such dazzling eco-
tourism destinations as such that they have been exploring a new
paradigm shift in sustainable tourism in the State. The Panchayat Body
has well connected through social networking channels & they have
their pages & groups over Facebook & Twitters. Local youths are
promoting this Dawki River/Umngot River.

32. Native communities are well aware of the role of tourism sector in
their livelihood generation. So they developed an ecological etiquette
over a period of time which sets a heritable disciplinary gene of
designing sustainable tourism. The concept of rural eco-tourism is
gaining momentum at Shnongpdeng. Dawki Suspension Bridge is one of the
busiest trade routes that connects town Sylhet via Tamabil in
Bangladesh. Dawki River at Shnongpdeng incorporates the tourists from
the city of Shillong & Sylhet.

34. Matrilineal Society in this Khasi dominant region is extracting
natural capital value in a gender inclusive economy where the women
are the driving wheel of socio-economic empowerment. They are self-
reliant in energy, education & employment. They have adopted farming,
fisheries, mining & tourism as a part of generating employment &
livelihoods.

36. This Dawki town has developed banking, postal & communication centres
apart from the basic market needs for essential day-to-day
commodities. These women sell their farm products particularly juicy
oranges & vegetables. Khasi women drives sustainable business skill &
they have set up rural business centres in their Panchayat where they
sell their farm products as well as handicrafts. Such small business
centres attract tourists to purchase their products. It also helps in
establishing a market chain through which they are promoting tourism &
business together.

40. While talking to the BSF Jawan that this boundary is completely porous
& therefore there is an increased chance of cross border intrusion &
smuggling, the patrolling Jawan denies of such occurrences on the
ground of two separate & distinct cultural communities reside
alongside of the International Radcliffe Line. They speak different
languages. Despite such differences, Indo-Bangladesh Government
granted this tourism spot as a common pool where visitors across the
border enjoys the placid, pristine & pleasant Dawki River. This could
be adopted as a model for our other neighbors as well.
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