Mawlynnong's Sunday Pause: The Village That Bans Tourists for a Day

Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong, famed as Asia’s cleanest village, began banning Sunday tourism in January 2026 to reclaim real village life, attend church, and protect hygiene norms; gates close and stalls shut on Sundays, cutting weekend income though most shops were already closed that day. The policy aims to balance public cleanliness and cultural identity with livelihoods as visitors flock on Saturdays.