Dawki bridge and the Tamabil border
The road down to Dawki crosses the Umngot gorge on a narrow suspension bridge built in 1932, during British rule. It is still in use, with one-way traffic controlled at each end, and the view from the approach shows the river, the boats and the rock walls of the gorge in one frame. We stop briefly on the approach and walk onto the viewpoint when it is safe.
Below the bridge the town spreads towards the border. The Dawki–Tamabil crossing handles trade in stone and coal, and lines of trucks are a constant. You do not need to cross to see the landscape change: the hills stop and the plains of Sylhet begin, flat and green, within a few hundred metres.
Your guide explains the history of the old trade routes between the Khasi hills and Sylhet, when oranges, betel nut and limestone went down to the plains and salt and cloth came up. It is a short stop, but it gives context to everything else you see on the Dawki road.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Can tourists cross into Bangladesh at Dawki?
The Dawki–Tamabil crossing is an official land port, and travellers with a valid Bangladesh visa and the right port of entry can cross, subject to immigration rules on both sides. Procedures change, so check current status before you travel. Our journeys use the riverside only.
When was the Dawki bridge built?
The suspension bridge over the Umngot at Dawki was built in 1932 under British rule and is still in use. It is narrow, so traffic moves one way at a time. A new bridge has been proposed and discussed for some years.
Is Dawki worth visiting if the river is not clear?
Less so. The clear-water effect is the main draw, and it disappears in the monsoon. Between June and September we suggest other Meghalaya outings and save Dawki for November to April. The drive and Mawlynnong are still pleasant, but the boating usually stops.
Also in Dawki and Shnongpareng
More hours to plan around
