This autumn, Northeast blushes in cosmos

Sunsets are hazy and fog blankets the faraway woods, hills, and valleys. Autumn’s calling as we take a cab to Mylliem, a nondescript village about 17 kilometres from Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, which has the best expanse of pink blossom — cosmos. With October, among all things autumnal, comes cosmos, the ephemeral blossom that shrouds different parts of the Northeast in mostly pink, but also yellow, orange and white. In any other season, Mylliem stands as a roadside stop en route more popular destinations of Meghalaya, but this time of the year one can spot the spreads of cosmos growing on hilltops, random roadside areas and in the villagers’ patios — making it a destination on its own. Mylliem has several roadside restaurants, cafes and local Khasi eateries offering travellers a scope to cherish good food amidst stunning backdrops. The cosmos and the wild kans grass contrast the yellowing paddy by the hills. Our chase for the cosmos in Mylliem brought memories of our very first encounter with this flower, on a trip to Manipur in 2022 before turmoil hit the state. Manipur boasts several specific locations for cosmos sighting such as the Naamai Zho in Koide village of Senapati district and the Paorei village in Ukhrul. Locals in different parts also organise festivals to celebrate the bloom. Our sighting of its bounty, however, was at the Ramva village en route Ukhrul. The driver had halted the Sumo for a tea break, and we were left to exalt at the beautiful sighting of the cosmos. With a marketplace for local produce and food at the entrance, the Ramva Village looked yellow and orange in an abundance of cosmos. We ran to the neighbourhood courtyards and gardens to soak in the sighting in the brief window we had before we continued to Ukhrul.