According to the myth, a heavenly ladder resting on the sacred Lum Sohpetbneng Peak (located in the present-day Ri-Bhoi district) enabled people to go freely and frequently to heaven whenever they pleased until one day they were tricked into cutting a divine tree which was situated at Lum Diengiei Peak (also in present-day East Khasi Hills district), a grave error which prevented them access to the heavens forever. However, seven out of these 16 families were stuck on earth while the other 9 are stuck in heaven. According to the Khasi mythology, U Blei Trai Kynrad (God, the Lord Master) had originally distributed the human race into 16 heavenly families ( Khadhynriew Trep). Khasi mythology traces the tribe's original abode to 'Ki Hynñiewtrep ('The Seven Huts'). Khasi woman and standing-stones, near Laitlyngkot, Meghalaya, India
