Shejuti Pasha :Mayabi means spellbinding or enchanting and the spellbinding waterfall that snakes its way through the giant boulders is a scene to behold. Nestled among the foliage, the waterfall splashes through massive rocks and comes down in a mighty stream. In order to reach this marvellous beauty, you will have to take a 20 minute boat ride from the banks of the Piyain river at Zero Point, Jaflong. If you are not staying in the vicinity and decide to travel from the center of the city, you will have to ride to Jaflong first. For that you could go for either one of two options: hire a mini car or auto rickshaw, or pick one of the more affordable options and take a bus straight to Jaflong. I decided to take an auto rickshaw instead and spent the entire drive looking at the splendid scenery on both sides of the highway.

Throughout the way you can behold a series of beautiful waterfalls that flow down the hilltops in the distance. You will also come across mini bridges where you can get down from the auto rickshaw for a bit and take in the breathtaking view of the surroundings. I sure did!

Once you reach Zero Point, you will suddenly be surrounded by innumerous guides who are all eager to take you to the various tourist spots nearby. If you are a big group and want to spend the day in the area, you can take a large package where the guides will take you to multiple spots. Do remember to bargain! The guides here sometimes charge extremely high prices and if you don’t negotiate, you are sure to return with a lighter wallet!

Since, I had been to Jaflong before, this time I decided to visit the waterfall only. A 20-minute boat ride from the banks of the Piyain river took me there, but I did face some difficulty. My guide chose to take a steep pathway towards the river bank and I found it quite arduous to trudge down the slope. It was drizzling while I made the descent and it seemed nothing short of a Herculean task. Talk about breaking a leg huh!

A short boat ride later, I was finally at my destination. I could hear the sound of the water running and splashing even before I reached the place. After I disembarked from the boat, I had to stride for a while before reaching the enchanting cataract. Photo: Moheen Reeyad It was a breathtaking view. I had no idea that such splendid beauty resided in Jaflong. I realized I could stare at it for hours without moving. Unfortunately, I couldn’t. The place was heavily flocked by tourists, with everyone posing for pictures or busy climbing the boulders. I had to struggle quite a bit to get a picture of the beautiful waterfall alone. Nonetheless, the rush of the water flowing down the rocks was exhilarating and I did manage to pose for a few photos before strolling through the uneven path back to the boat a quarter of an hour later.

It was raining heavily as I made my way towards the city. The impression the place left on me is indescribable and I don’t think I will be doing justice to its memory by merely describing it in words.

As I have come to know, there are countless places to visit in Sylhet and the Mayabi Jharna adds to the many. So, if you do travel to Sylhet and get a chance to go to Jaflong, don’t forget to pay this place a visit.