Nartiang village Travel Guide

The Village of Nartiang is significant for its Summer Palace of the Jaintia King whose Capital was Jaintiapur. The remnants of the summer Palace is located on a hillock approximately two kilometres from the Nartiang market. The archway which can be seen to this day shows that they were well versed in the making of red bricks similar to the ones used by the Ahom Kings of Assam. From the cannons found in the Shiv temple it goes to show that they had skills in techniques of fire arms and metallurgy. At present there lies a Hindu temple in this vicinity and the priests who practice, there are direct descendants of the original priests that came from Jaintiapur.

Monoliths exist throughout the length and breadth of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. However, the biggest collection of monoliths or Megalithic stones in one single area is to be found north of the Nartiang market. These consists of Menhirs (Upright stones) Moo Shynrang and Dolmens (flat stones in the horizontal position) locally known as Moo Kynthai. Within the perimetre of these Megalithic collection stands the tallest Menhir erected by U Mar Phalyngki a trusted lieutenant of the Jaintia King to commemorate his victory in battle. Other monoliths were erected by U Mar Phalyngki, U Luh Lyngskor Lamare and various clans of Nartiang village between 1500A.D.and l835A.D.

Adjacent to the ruins of the Summer Palace of the Jaintia King in front of the arched gateway of red bricks stands the Durga Temple. It is believed that the temple was constructed by the Jaintia King on his conversion to Hinduism. It is said that the temple construction initially was like a typical Khasi house having a Central wooden pillar (dieng Blai) and the roof was in thatch. Later, the thatch was replaced by a corrugated tin roof. Further modification on the roof as we now see has a steeple like a Church.

During the rule of the Jaintia Kings, human sacrifices were offered to Goddess Durga. Within the temple there is a tunnel that reaches the river Myntang and it is through this hole that the heads were rolled down to the Myntang River. Human sacrifice was banned during British rule and goats are now sacrificed.