Perhaps the most famous of all, this legend tells of a woman named Ka Likai, who once lived near what is now Nohkalikai. After losing her first husband, she remarried. But her second husband, consumed by jealousy, murdered her daughter, cooked the flesh, and fed it to Ka Likai unknowingly.

When she discovered the truth, she was overcome with grief. In despair, she ran to the edge of the cliff and leapt. From that moment, the waterfall was named Noh-ka-Likai, meaning “the leap of Likai.”

The Legend of Dainthlen Falls

Another waterfall with a powerful myth attached. Local Khasi tales speak of a demon-serpent named U Thlen, who terrorized the people near Dainthlen. After years of suffering under its cruelty, the villagers rose up and defeated it—some say through cunning, others by brute force. They cut the serpent into pieces, and from this victory the falls and surrounding area came to be called Dainthlen.

Khasi Waterfalls

Khasi folklore is rich with such tales, often tied to natural landmarks—forests, cliffs, peculiar rock formations, and trees. They usually feature spirits, shapeshifters, guardian animals, demons, or tragic human stories.

Possible Myths of Pungkhlein Falls

Though Pungkhlein may not yet have a famous legend, its setting makes it fertile ground for stories. Drawing from recurring Khasi motifs, here are some plausible myths:

1. Guardian Spirit or Demon of the Falls
   Many Khasi waterfalls are believed to be guarded by spirits—sometimes benevolent, sometimes malevolent. Locals might whisper of a water spirit or demon living in the pool of Pungkhlein, its presence revealed through voices, flickering lights, or shifting shadows in the mist.
2. A Tragic Love Story
   As with many waterfalls around the world, Pungkhlein could be tied to a tale of doomed lovers. Perhaps a young woman, betrayed or heartbroken, leapt from its cliffs—giving the falls an aura of eternal sorrow.
3. Ancestral or Creation Legend
   The falls might be linked to Khasi creation stories—explaining how the stream was formed by divine beings, or how the flora and fauna around it have mythical origins.
4. A Cautionary Tale
   Folklore often carries moral lessons. A tale might warn against greed, disrespecting nature, or mistreating loved ones—with punishment delivered through the falls.
5. Mysterious Disappearances
   Some legends speak of people vanishing at waterfalls during monsoon mist or moonlit nights. Warnings of voices heard, shadows seen, or strange lights could easily form part of Pungkhlein’s lore.

Mythic Possibility: The Whispering Maiden

It is said that on rainy nights, when moonlight fights through the heavy mist, the roar of the falls is joined by a soft lament—the whisper of a maiden who once lived nearby.

According to one version, she was the daughter of a forest gatherer. She fell in love with a man from a neighboring village, but his family forbade the union. On the night he promised to visit, he never came. Heartbroken, she walked to the lip of Pungkhlein, mist curling around her feet, and stepped off—never to be seen again.

Some claim her voice echoes in the pools below, while others swear they glimpse a pale figure lingering in the mist above the cascade.

Why Myths Matter

Myths transform landscapes into living memory. They make waterfalls more than just geography—they become stories of love, betrayal, spirits, warnings, and ancestral wisdom.

For the Khasi people, such tales preserve oral heritage: history, feelings, and attitudes toward nature. For travelers, knowing these myths adds depth to every visit—enriching the experience and allowing one to see not just water falling, but a world of stories flowing through it.