‘India’s cleanest village’ keeps serenity

MAWLYNNONG, India: In the tiny hamlet of Mawlynnong in India’s far north east, plastic is banned and spotless paths are lined with flowers—but its reputation as Asia’s cleanest village has proved a mixed blessing.

Until 2003 no tourists visited the remote community of 500 inhabitants high in the mountains of Meghalaya state, which had no roads and was accessible only by foot.