Markham Valley is a stretch of open, treeless grass hills that fold away toward the horizon in wave after wave of green, with terraced paddy fields in the hollows and one thin road winding through the middle. There is no waterfall here and no monument — the landscape itself is the attraction, and in the weeks after the monsoon it is as green as anywhere in India.
Because it is open country, the light does all the work. Early morning brings mist sitting in the folds; late afternoon throws long shadows that make the hills look sculpted. Cloud shadows move across the slopes all day. It is the single best stop on any Meghalaya itinerary for photography, and the least demanding — you simply stop the car and walk out onto the grass.
Carry a windcheater, because the ridges are exposed and the wind is constant. Sunrise and sunset are both worth planning the day around.
