Nartiang Monoliths

Where

Nartiang village, West Jaintia Hills

Altitude

About 1,200 m

Distance

About 56–65 km from Shillong; 25 km from Jowai

Timings

Daylight

Entry fee

Free

Permit

Not needed for Indian citizens

Best time

October–April

Time needed

1 hour

Nartiang was the summer capital of the Jaintia kings, whose main capital was at Jaintiapur, now in Bangladesh. What remains is a grove of standing stones: tall upright menhirs and flat table stones (dolmens), raised in memory of the dead and to mark important events. It's thought to be the largest single collection of monoliths in Meghalaya.

What you'll see

• The tallest menhir, about 8 m high and some 18 inches thick, among the tallest in the region.
• Dozens of upright stones and flat table stones under the trees.
• The Durga temple, about 500 years old, a short walk away, where human sacrifice was once practised until the British banned it.

History and legend

The monoliths are generally dated between about 1500 and 1835 CE. Local legend credits the biggest stone to Mar Phalyngki, a lieutenant of the Jaintia king, who is said to have failed several times to raise it. The stones are still revered, so treat the site with respect.

How to reach

Drive from Shillong towards Jowai and turn off before Jowai towards Nartiang; drivers know the road. It pairs well with Phe Phe Falls or Krang Suri Falls.

Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing. Drive times are what we see on these mountain roads, not map estimates.

Weather

Monthly averages for 2015–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the site's elevation (about 1194 m). Rain and snow are rated relative to this location's own year.

Things most guides don't tell you

• Don't climb or sit on the stones. They are memorials.
• Get a local guide at the gate if one is around; the stories make the stones come alive.
• Morning light is best for photos; the trees shade the site after noon.

Nearby

• Phe Phe Falls and Krang Suri Falls.
• Krem Chympe, further east.