This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
David Scott Trail: Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang
A 16 km walk on an 1800s mule track built under British rule, part of a roughly 100 km trade route through the Khasi Hills. It starts near the Mawphlang sacred grove and descends through grassland, pine forest and streams along the Umiam river, passing an old British-era stone bridge, to Lad Mawphlang.
Trail Map
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Trail Profile
General Instructions
16 km one way, usually 5-7 hours. Best October to April when the trail is dry; streams rise in the monsoon. Arrange a vehicle pick-up at Lad Mawphlang, about 25 km from Shillong.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
25.4450, 91.7576
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: 25.4450, 91.7576 @ 1831m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- Visit the Mawphlang sacred grove before starting
- Cross the British-era stone bridge
- Use the stepping stones over the Umiam streams
- See the Khasi Heritage Village at Mawphlang
- Picnic by the river pools
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+293 m
Total Descent
-386 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
48.3
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
1.55
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 14.6 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
Reviews & Discussion0
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Plan this trip
Before you go: David Scott Trail: Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang
Best time to go
Oct–Mar
October to March suits most of the country. The southwest monsoon (June to September) floods the Western Ghats and Kerala, but it is also the main season for Ladakh and Spiti, where high passes are usually open only from June to October.
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