Lum Sohpetbneng, Jowai, Meghalaya India

The navel of Heaven is a place of pilgrimage for the Khasis of indigenous religion. Located on top of a hill, legend has it, that on this spot a golden ladder connected Heaven and Earth, God and Man. However, the connection was severed in accordance with divine decree. Once a year, in the month of February the indigenous Khasi people gather here to conduct rites and rituals and offer prayers. For visitors, a view of the surrounding countryside from the hill top is breathtaking and the feeling of space and vastness is truly an experience to be cherished.

The Lum Sohpetbneng peak (1434 metres), is a legendary peak that is said to be the navel of Heaven, symbolizes the deep rooted spiritual belief of the Hynniewtrep – the Sevenhuts people, predominating the West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jiantia Hills districts of East Meghalaya who descended to earth from a Golden Vine Bridge, atop the Sacred U Lum Sohpetbneng Peak, to be crowned rulers of creations of the Divine Creator- U Blei. Legend has it, that on this spot a golden ladder connected Heaven and Earth. The Golden Bridge signifies the human Golden Heart and soul in communion with the Divine Creator.