One of the noted sacred forests in Meghalaya is Mawphlang, about 25 km from Shillong. The sacred grove has an amazing life form of plants, flowering trees, orchids and butterflies. An ideal site for nature lovers, the forest has been preserved by traditional religious sanction since time immemorial. 

Legend has it that the forest is protected by the  Lyngdoh clan. Though it was earlier ruled by the Blah clan, they struggled to control the massive forest and decided to choose another protector. The clan found a woman belonging to the Lyngdoh clan, who had a son. She acceded to their demands on the condition that if the five saplings she had planted grew into trees, she would let her son take over the forest. As it turned out, the saplings grew beautifully.