Shillong, Nov 22: The Mawlynnong dorbar has announced that the village will remain closed for visitors every Sunday from January, 2026.
Mawlynnong, promoted as Asia’s cleanest villages, would open to tourists only from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, all tourist-related services, restaurants, local shops and stalls, and even public toilets, will remain shut, the dorbar said in a notification.
However, tourists/visitors who have already stayed at Guest Houses/Homestays in the village during weekdays, and have their stay extended till Sunday are exempted.
The dorbar clarified that the decision stems from the community’s needs, as villagers dedicate most of their Sundays to church services, leaving hospitality providers unable to offer proper assistance to visitors.
Such constraints have occasionally inconvenienced tourists, particularly senior citizens, and risked creating situations that could damage the village’s reputation among the visitors, the dorbar added.
