Shillong, Jan 29: Mawlynnong, the famed village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills known as Asia’s cleanest, will no longer allow single-day tourists on Sundays starting January 2026, authorities announced on Thursday.
The village council, or Dorbar, said the move respects Sunday as a key day for religious observance, when most residents attend church services. “Mawlynnong will remain open to visitors from Monday to Saturday,” the Dorbar stated, noting that all tourist services, including restaurants, shops, stalls, and public toilets, will be suspended on Sundays.
Overnight guests staying in homestays or guesthouses who remain through Sunday, or check in on Sunday evening, will be exempt, with accommodation providers managing their services.
The decision aims to ensure residents’ full participation in worship while preventing inconvenience for visitors that could affect the village’s reputation. Similar measures have been adopted at other Meghalaya attractions, including Nongjrong sunrise village, where communities have restricted Sunday day visits.
