Nestled in the West Khasi Hills, some 140 km from Shillong and surrounded by lofty hills, the scenic beach, which has a Mediterranean climate, has much to offer.
The annual festival, organized by the Mawkyrwat Sub-Division Officers' Welfare Association (MSDOWA) includes trekking, angling, rowing, swimming, beach volley-ball, Beach Queen beauty contest, fashion show, and bonfire and night-long musical carnival besides mouth-watering local cuisine.
"Additional attractions this year include scuba diving, river cruising, beach football and floating restaurant," says KL Nongbri, president of MSDOWA. "Indian Institute of Hotel Management will set up several restaurants."
Spending a night in "holiday huts" by a swiftly flowing river and waking up to the calls of exotic birds can prove to be the perfect get-away for the urbane. "We had mainly targeted domestic tourists from Shillong and they do turn up in huge numbers every year," SDPO Aditya Goenka says.
"The locals have come out with overwhelming support for the festival because they have realized it's they who stand to gain the most in economic terms," he says. "The local boatmen do brisk business ferrying tourists. Most of the food stalls are also run by the local people and the 100 odd holiday huts are also built by them," the officer adds.
Situated on the Indo-Bangla border, Ranikor is one of Meghalaya's most popular spots for angling, with an abundance of carp and other freshwater fish. Considered as one of the last "wild fishing spots" left in the state this place has become famous amongst the local anglers for fish species such as Golden masheer, Chocolate mahseer, Goonch (Catfish) and eel."
"The success of the festival will also attract tourists from across the border," says an official in the state tourism department, which facilitates holding of the festival.
Ranikor also offers great birding experience. It is not difficult to see the rare Brahmini kites gliding in for a catch. Some of the other bird species found are kingfishers, lapwings and sunbirds. "I never knew about this place till I went last year. It's awesome," says John Marbaniang, who is raring to go to the festival once again with his family and friends. "This is paradise!" agrees Pamela Sohtun, a college student from Shillong, who too is packing her haversack.