Jaishink at 20:31, 11 April 2026

2026-04-11T20:31:21Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kongthong
| native_name = Kongthong
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = ''Singing Village''<ref name=m3/>
| settlement_type = village
| image_skyline = 10 Shnongpdei 1.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = A living root bridge near the village of Kongthong undergoing repairs. The local War Khasis in the photo are using the young, pliable aerial roots of a fig tree to create a new railing for the bridge.
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Meghalaya#India
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Meghalaya
| coordinates = {{coord|25.18|N|91.48|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Meghalaya]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[East Khasi Hills district|East Khasi Hills]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1530
| population_total = 567
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 793110
| area_code = 03637
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate =
| website = http://cherrapunjee.gov.in/
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Khasi language|Khasi]], [[English language|English]]
| blank_name =
| blank_info =
| blank1_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info = [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)|Cwb]]
}}

'''Kongthong''', popularly called the '''''Singing Village''''',<ref name=m3/> is a village and tourist attraction in the [[East Khasi Hills district]] of [[Meghalaya]] state in the [[Northeast India|Northeast]] hilly region of [[India]].<ref name=m1/><ref name=m2/> Kongthong, India's entry for [[United Nations]] [[World Tourism Organization]] (UNWTO)'s ''World's Best Village Contest'',<ref name=m2/> is also aiming for the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage]] status.<ref name=m7/>

Kongthong is a popular tourist destination known for the panoramic picturesque views and the unique culture of inhabitants who use the [[whistled language]] ''"Jingrwai Iawbei"'' and build ''[[living root bridge]]s''. Tourists and language researchers from several nations, including America, Germany, and Japan flock here.<ref name=m1>{{cite web|url=http://amazingindiablog.in/kongthong-a-village-in-meghalaya-where-people-whistle-to-communicate/|title=Kongthong – A Village in Meghalaya where People Whistle to Communicate|website=amazingindiablog.in|date=10 August 2017|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219050452/https://amazingindiablog.in/kongthong-a-village-in-meghalaya-where-people-whistle-to-communicate/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=m2>{{cite web|url=https://assamtribune.com/north-east/kongthong-among-3-indian-entries-for-unwto-best-village-contest-meghalaya-cm-1202328 | title= Kongthong among 3 Indian entries for UNWTO 'Best Village Contest': Meghalaya CM | website= Assama Tribune | date= 9 September 2021 | access-date= 14 September 2021 }}</ref><ref name=m7/> Each native of the village has a unique name, which is a whistling [[lullaby]], and villagers call each other by whistling the lullaby.<ref name=m1/>

== Background ==

=== Etymology ===

Kongthong acquired its popular name the ''Singing Village'' from the ''"Jingrwai Iawbei"'' - [[whistling language|whistling]] [[lullaby]], where each native has a unique whistling lullaby name for him and her and they call each other by whistling this lullaby.<ref name=m3/><ref name=m1/>

=== Geography ===

Kongthong village is a serene and picturesque hill village in [[East Khasi Hills]]. It lies uphill in remote area between Sohra ([[Cherapunji]]) and [[Pynursla (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Pynursla]] ridges.<ref name=m6/><ref name=m2/><ref name=m3/><ref name=m5>[https://eastkhasihills.gov.in/villages/ Villages by Blocks in East Khasi Hills district], eastkhasihills.gov.in, accessed 14 September 2021.</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Demography ===

The village has a population of nearly 500 to 700 people.<ref name=m1/><ref name=m6/>

=== Jingrwai Iawbei whistling language ===
{{anchor | Language | Jingrawai | Jingrwai Iawbei | Jingrwai Iawbei }}

People of Kongthong belong to the Khasi tribe who speak the [[Khasi language]] - a spoken language. However, Kongthong also has a remarkable tradition of assigning unique whistling tunes as the name to each member of the village.<ref name=m3/>

Kongthong is known for its unique language, developed as a consequence of its geographical isolation, in which '''Jingrwai Iawbei''' (lit. ''"melody sung in respect of the root ancestress"'' in Khasi language)<ref name=m7/> is assigned as the unique name to each newborn by the mother which becomes the permanent identity of the person.<ref name=m1/> This name is not a word, instead a unique [[call sign|call name]] or [[caller tune]] in the form of a whistle, i.e. ''"the caller hums a tune, which is a unique "name” that can only be understood by the villagers."'' This naming of babies is a [[Matriarchy|matriarchal tradition]] in which mother repeatedly hums the specific musical tune in the form of whistle, which the growing babies gradually become accustomed to, and this unique whistling tune or ''jingrwai Iawbei'' lullaby becomes the unique name and permanent identity of the person. Every child is assigned a unique lullaby or tune as their name which is transmitted among children and adults as the unique name of the person. All villagers call each other using the unique caller tune assigned to them as the name. Each ''jingrwai Iawbei'' or unique name of a person has 2 versions, shorter and longer.<ref name=m1/><ref name=m3>{{cite web | url= https://grand-eastern.com/trips/kongthong-village-the-place-of-jingrwai-lawnei | title= KONGTHONG VILLAGE – THE PLACE OF JINGRWAI IAWBEI | website= /grand-eastern.com | date= 14 September 2021 | access-date= 14 September 2021}}</ref>

According to the researcher Piyashi Dutta, who has researched this tradition, ''"Each clan has a [[Matriarchy|root ancestress]]. Each time a tune is created for a child, respects are being paid to her. Jingerwai Iawbei is a melody (jingrwai) sung in respect of the root ancestress (Iawbei). There are matrilineal implications attached to this tradition"''.<ref name=m7/>

There are several folklore about the origin of the tradition, which are centred around ''"how a man when struggling with some goons climbed on a tree. He whistled the names of his friends to come and rescue him, without letting the goons have the slightest idea"''. This unique way of communicating has attracted tourists as well as language research scholars from across the world.<ref name=m1/>

=== Religion ===

Inhabitants practice a traditional religion called the ''[[Khasi people#Religion|Seng Khasi]]''.<ref name=m1/>

== Integration ==

=== Administration ===

The village has a middle school up to 8th class.<ref name=m7/> The village falls under the ''Khatarshnong Laitkroh'' [[Block (district subdivision)|Development Block]]<ref name=m5/> and [[Sohra(Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sohra Vidhan Sabha constituency]], which is a [[Reserved political positions in India|reserved constituency]] for the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribes]] (ST).

=== Economy ===

The economy of the village is based on agriculture. Villagers climb down the hill for long trips to markets to sell their crops where they also buy week's worth supplies for the whole village.<ref name=m1/>

=== Transport ===

Kongthong, located nearly 65 km southwest of Shillong,<ref name=m7/> which as of 2017 remains remote as the village but recently connected to a motorable road.<ref name=m1/> Cherrapunji (southwest), Khatarshnong (north), Pynursla (southeast), and [[Dawki]] (southeast, a [[India-Bangladesh Border Haat|haat]] and immigration checkpoint on [[Bangladesh–India border]]) are nearby larger towns - all of which are connected by national and state highways. [[Shillong Airport]] (65 km northeast) and [[Shella Airport]] (75 km southeast) are the nearest airports. [[Mendipathar railway station]] (272 km northwest) is the nearest railway station.

== Tourism ==
[[File:Beautifull Mawkdok Dympep Valley.jpg|thumb|Beautiful view of Mawkdok Dympep Valley.]]
[[File:Mawsmai Cave Meghalaya.JPG|thumb|Mawsmai Cave]]

One can travel to Khatarshnong and then to Kongthong, which winds through hill routes with gorges on one side and cliffs on other and is a remarkable experience. The village is surrounded by panoramic hills, some of which are among the wettest place on the earth with highest rainfall (earlier [[Cherrapunji]] used to be the wettest, now taken over by nearby [[Mawsynram]] as the wettest). The area has living root bridges, water falls, and geographical formations such as the ''Jingkieng Myor'' which is a natural stone bridge connecting two cliffs with ''Wah Sohra River'' flowing hundred feet under it.

Kongthong is renowned for its natural beauty and unique tradition of assigning a unique singing whistling tune, called the ''jingrwai iawbei'', as the unique name to each inhabitant. Tourist enjoy the Hospitality of the local homestays.<ref name=m6/> ''"The Traveller’s Nest"'' in Kongthong, with comfortable traditional eco huts, is a community [[homestay]] run by the natives which also serves as a base for exploring the region.<ref name=m6/>

[[Nohkalikai Falls]], [[Caves of Meghalaya|Mawsmai Cave]], [[Mawkdok Dympep Valley]], [[Laitlum Canyons]], [[Wah Kaba Falls]] and honey bee farms are important tourist attraction in the area.<ref name=m8>[https://www.oyorooms.com/travel-guide/guide-to-kongthong/ 8 Spectacles That Make Kongthong A Unique Beauty], Oyo, accessed 14 September 2021.</ref>

=== UNESCO Heritage and UNWTO's ''World's Best Village'' ===

Kongthong was India's one of 3 entries for ''United Nations World Tourism Organization'' (UNWTO)'s ''World's Best Village'' award in 2021.<ref name=m2/> [[Government of India]] is also trying to obtain the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage]] status for the village.<ref name=m7>{{cite web | url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shillong/whistling-village-pins-hope-on-unesco-tag/articleshow/82126096.cms | title= Whistling village pins hope on UNESCO tag |author=Chandrima Banerjee |agency=TNN | date= 18 April 2021 |publisher=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> UNWTO's ''The Best Tourism Village'' award is given to those villages which demonstrate innovative and transformational approach in leveraging the tourism as an opportunity to conserve their heritage and develop their rural community towards [[UN]]'s [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDGs), diminish economic and social disparity, reduce the population flight, and conserve and enhance the bio-cultural diversity.<ref name=m2/>

=== Living root bridges ===

The area is known for the ''living root bridges'' including those at Kongthong, [[Nongriat]] and other nearby places, all of which are tourist attractions.

Sohra (Cherrapunji) and [[Elephant Falls]] are other popular tourist destinations nearby.<ref name=m6>{{cite web | url= https://www.meghalayatourism.in/destinations/khat-ar-shnong-kongthong | title= Khatarshnong Laitkroh Block population census 2011 | website= Meghalaya Tourism | access-date= 14 September 2021 }}</ref>

=== Conservation and development ===

The villagers, who have concerns for the survivability of their unique tradition of ''jingrwai iawbei'' tunes as the names of inhabitants,<ref name=m1/><ref name=m7/> have been demanding an upgrade of the school to higher classes and teaching of the whistling language in the school. [[Silbo Gomero]] whistling language in [[Canary Islands]] with 22,000 practitioners and [[Turkish bird language]] with 10,000 practitioners are taught in the school and both were recognised as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013 and 2017 respectively. Whereas, ''jingrwai iawbei'', with only 700 practitioners, is not taught in the school, thus causing the concerns for its conservation. Dr Piyashi Dutta, a published researcher on ''jingrwai iawbei'',<ref name=m10>Piyashi Dutta and Kedilezo Kikhi, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/26368036 Folk Practices of the Khasi Tribe: A Description of Jingrwai Iawbei in Kongthong village], [[Indian Sociological Society|Sociological Bulletin]], Vol. 65, No. 2 (May - August 2016), pp. 237-252.</ref> highlighted the challenges in documenting this whistling language which is just a floating sound without the lyrics or proper [[Scale (music)|musical scale]].<ref name=m7/>

[[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] affiliates [[Seva Bharati]] and [[Rakesh Sinha]] - a member of the [[Parliament of India]],<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sonal-mansingh-ram-shakal-among-four-nominated-to-rs/articleshow/64985955.cms | title=Sonal Mansingh, Ram Shakal among four nominated to RS | work=[[The Times of India]] | date= 14 July 2018 | access-date= 17 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prsindia.org/mptrack/rakesh-sinha |title=Rakesh Sinha |website=PRSIndia |access-date= 11 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="FE-ideologue">{{cite web | url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-is-rakesh-sinha-rss-ideologue-nominated-to-rajya-sabha-by-president-kovind/1244578/ |title=Who is Rakesh Sinha? RSS ideologue nominated to Rajya Sabha by President Kovind | website=Financial Express | date= 14 July 2018| access-date= 11 May 2021}}</ref> have adopted Kongthong village for its development.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2020/11/09/mp-kick-starts-devp-of-his-adopted-village/ | title=MP kick-starts devp of his adopted village |date= 9 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/bjp-mp-adopts-villages-in-meghalaya-bihar-sends-soaps-sanitary-pads/1927049| title=BJP MP adopts villages in Meghalaya, Bihar; sends soaps, sanitary pads| date= 1 September 2020}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [https://teerkhelaresults.com/ Shillong Teer Khela]
* [[Hill tribes of Northeast India]]
* [[Tourism in Northeast India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/26368036 Folk Practices of the Khasi Tribe: A Description of Jingrwai Iawbei in Kongthong village] by Piyashi Dutta and Kedilezo Kikhi in [[Indian Sociological Society|Sociological Bulletin]].

{{Meghalaya}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
{{Northeast India}}
{{Tourism in India}}
{{Whistles}}

[[Category:Villages in East Khasi Hills district]]
[[Category:Geography of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Tourism in Meghalaya]]

Kongthong - Revision history

Jaishink at 20:31, 11 April 2026