Anand Mahindra calls Indian rain-soaked wonder a ‘poetry in motion’. It was once a world record holder destination

India has no shortage of dramatic landscapes. From snow-covered mountains to dense forests and roaring rivers, the country’s natural beauty often surprises even seasoned travellers. In the Northeast, where clouds hang low and rain shapes everyday life, waterfalls carve their way down steep cliffs with quiet authority. It is from this part of the country that industrialist Anand Mahindra recently shared a glimpse of a natural spectacle, describing it in just two words — “Poetry in motion.”

Anand Mahindra’s Post on Sohra’s Iconic Falls

In a post on X, Anand Mahindra highlighted the “Seven Sisters Waterfall” in Sohra, Meghalaya. He pointed out that Sohra once held the world record for the highest annual rainfall and wrote, “That’s a statistic. But it’s exhilarating to see how a mere statistic delivers poetry in motion.”

The message was brief, but it struck a chord. By connecting a well-known rainfall record with the sight of cascading water, he shifted the focus from numbers to experience.

The Seven Sisters Waterfall Explained

The waterfall he referred to is widely known as the Seven Sisters Falls and is officially called Nohsngithiang Falls. Situated near Sohra in the East Khasi Hills district, the falls plunge from a height of over 300 metres down limestone cliffs into the plains below.

According to Meghalaya Tourism, Nohsngithiang is among the most impressive waterfalls in India. Its most defining feature is its segmented formation. The water splits into seven distinct streams that fall side by side, which is how it earned the name “Seven Sisters.” During peak monsoon months, especially between June and September, all seven streams flow with full force, creating a wide curtain of white water against deep green hills.

The seven streams are often seen as symbolic of the Seven Sister States of Northeast India — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura — reflecting both unity and diversity in the region.

A Landmark in One of the Wettest Regions

Sohra, earlier known as Cherrapunji, has long been famous for its rainfall. As mentioned by local tourism platforms and the Shillong website, the region measures rainfall in metres rather than millimetres. The abundance of rain feeds multiple waterfalls across the plateau, but Nohsngithiang stands out because of its height and visibility.

The main viewpoint is located along the highway near Mawsmai village, making it accessible without a long trek. From here, visitors can see the streams drop into a wide valley that stretches towards the Bangladesh plains. During heavy rainfall, mist rises constantly, and the sound of water hitting the valley floor echoes across the cliffs.

However, travel platforms such as TripAdvisor often remind visitors that the falls are seasonal. Outside the monsoon, especially during winter and pre-monsoon months, the streams can reduce significantly, sometimes leaving only a thin trickle. Timing plays an important role in what visitors get to see.