A tragic tale hidden beneath stunning beauty

Contrary to the beauty and serenity of Nohkalikai Falls, did you know that there is a rather tragic tale associated with it? According to local legend, a widowed woman named Likai lived in the village of Rangjyrteh, upstream from the famous Nohkalikai Falls. She found herself forced to remarry while raising her infant child alone. Struggling to balance work and motherhood, she hoped her second marriage would provide some relief. However, her new husband resented the presence of the child.

One day, while Likai was away at work, her husband, consumed by jealousy, committed a horrific act. In a fit of rage, he killed the child and, in a gruesome twist, cooked the remains. Exhausted from work, Likai returned home and unknowingly ate the meal he had prepared. To her horror, she soon discovered the terrible truth - she had eaten her own child. Overcome with unimaginable grief and despair, she ran to the edge of the cliff and threw herself off.

Thus, the waterfall was named after her tragic story. "Nohkalikai" translates from the local Khasi language as "The Leap of Ka Likai" (with "Ka" being a respectful term for women in Khasi culture).