Meghalaya, the abode of clouds, is one of the most beautiful states in North-East India offering a variety of sights, activities, food and festivals to the tourists. Well known for Cherapunjji, the place which receives one of the maximum rainfall in the world, Meghalaya can mesmerise you with its hills, valleys, lakes, caves and waterfalls which when combined with the beautiful clouds, give it a very serene, beautiful look.
Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya, and it?s the most urbanised area you will see in the entire state. Shillong has a lot of leftover British colonial influence that is evident from the plentiful British architecture. Owing to the magnificent lakes all around the town, and the hills surrounding it, Shillong has often been called the Scotland of the East. Cherrapunji is famous for its rainfall, and it used to be the wettest place on Earth before the title was taken over by Mawsynram, which is less than 100 kilometres away from Cherrapunji. The Living Double-decker Root Bridge is a famous attraction in Cherrapunji, where trekking and hiking activities are offered for tourists.
If you want to take a look at Asia?s cleanest village, don?t forget to visit Mawlynnong. Lying on the border separating India from Bangladesh, Mawlynnong is an amazingly clean village in Meghalaya where every street corner has a bamboo dustbin to ensure nature-friendly disposal of trash. The focal point of attraction of this village is the Sky Watch, which is a bamboo structure that offers sweeping views of the Bangladeshi plains from the top. Meghalaya has a history of rich craftsmanship, and wood-carving and artistic weaving are famous crafts here, especially in the Jaintia and Khasi districts.
Often called the abode of clouds, the best time to visit Meghalaya is between October and June. Most tourist destinations in the state receive temperatures that rarely go beyond 30°C, making it a perfect escape between March and June which is the summer season in the country. It is also a favourite during autumn and winters, i.e. from October to November and December to February amongst tourists who come from high or moderate temperature zones. Considered the wettest region in the country, Meghalaya is not often recommended to tourists during peak monsoons. The state receives an average rainfall of 250 cm. The season begins in May and goes on till the end of September or sometimes till mid-October. One can, however, explore the beautiful state in the beginning or by the end of the monsoon season when the rains are not heavy and the terrain is mesmerisingly beautiful.
Weather in Shillong, Meghalaya
MEGHALAYA WEATHER CONDITIONS
Baghmara
34°
Cherapunjee 25°Jowai
26°
Madanrting 25°Mairang
25°
Mawlai 25°Nongmynsong
25°
Nongpoh 30°Nongrah
25°
Nongstoin 25°Nongthymmai
25°
Pynthorumkhrah 25°Resubelpara
32°
Shillong 25°Shillong Cantonment
25°
Smit 25°Tura
30°
Umlyngka Village 25°Wahiajer
26°
Williamnagar
30°
How to Reach Meghalaya
How to Reach By Air
Meghalaya is slowly opening up to the rest of the country and people are also just now discovering its riches and beauty. For this reason, the state is not yet as developed as its other sister states. Nevertheless, it is high on the list of many Indian as well as international tourists who want to come here to see the rugged beauty of the state for themselves. Meghalaya’s only airport is in Umroi which is around 35km from Shillong.
Many visitors often make plans to arrive at this airport and then move forward to other destinations. There are taxis and buses that can take you to wherever you need to visit in Meghalaya. This airport is not very well-connected to other cities in India and you will typically find only Air India operating flights here.
Due to its poor connectivity, the other airport that people use to travel to Meghalaya is the Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati which is 128kms from Shillong. From this airport, lots of people choose to take shared cabs to their destination. There’s also a helicopter service which is used to travel to Meghalaya and as it’s affordable, some people use this way to reach the state. It takes only 20 minutes to reach Shillong from Guwahati by helicopter and it’s quite convenient as well. The service does not work on Sundays.
How to Reach By Rail
There’s no train station in Meghalaya and subsequently, no railways lines as well. The closest one is in Guwahati. It’s roughly 100kms away from Shillong and can be used to arrive at the capital of Meghalaya. The Guwahati station is well connected with all the other cities in India and is often used as a conduit into the state of Meghalaya too.
How to Reach By Car
Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) is well connected to several cities within the state as well as neighbouring states. The highway that connects Guwahati to Shillong is NH40 and it is well-maintained and easy to navigate. If you want to go sightseeing, then you can book a cab to take you around. Travelling by road in Meghalaya during the monsoons however can prove to be a bit challenging because of slick roads, but otherwise, this is a good way to reach the state.
You can also drive down to Meghalaya if you have your own vehicle. If you are planning to come here from Guwahati, you’ll have to begin in Guwahati’s Bara Bazaar from where you will reach NH37. Following this, you will come across Kamrup District and then NH40. Another 65kms from here, you will enter Meghalaya through Nongpoh.
The drive to Meghalaya is stunning and most enjoyable and if you like the idea of going on an adventurous road trip, this is certainly the best way to reach the state.
How to Reach By Bus
Many people opt to travel by buses as they are convenient and economical, although not always comfortable. There are several tourist buses, both deluxe and regular which you can choose based on your convenience. However, these also tend to be slow and thus, many people prefer to hire cabs or taxis to take them to their desired location in Meghalaya.
Transportation In Meghalaya
Getting around in Meghalaya
By Bus
Within cities like Shillong, you can travel using local buses. In Shillong, there are two kinds of buses that you will come across – Shillong City Bus and the Bazaar Bus. The former is for tourists and visitors while the latter is for villagers who are travelling from other parts of Meghalaya to come to Shillong. Local bus travel is cheap but also quite slow and not the most comfortable way to travel.
By Taxi/Cabs
In most cities like Shillong, you can take a taxi to wherever you want to go for sightseeing. These are unmetered however and it’s best to ask your hotel or lodging employees to give an estimate of what rates to expect. Taxis are faster than buses and they can also be taken as shared cabs. If you want to rent a taxi for yourself for the entire day, that’s also possible.
Taxi rates on a shared basis are actually quite low, not going more than Rs. 15. Negotiating the fares will result in higher fares but that will also give you privacy as the driver will not stop to take other passengers. If you want to spend the day sightseeing, it’s always a good idea to hire a taxi for the entire day. Fix the fare before you begin your journey or haggling later can become quite troublesome.
Do Note:
Meghalaya is still a developing state and you might not find the infrastructure here to be very good or to your standards. Nevertheless, tourism plays an important role for the state and its people, so do be mindful of that. Don’t forget to enjoy the many bounties of nature here.
BEST TOUR PLACE MEGHALAYA
Possibly Meghalaya's most famous attraction, deep in the dense tropical forest and shrouded in cloud and rain for much of the year, are some astonishing man-made natural wonders known as living root bridges. Inventive members of the Khasi tribe have trained them to grow from the roots of ancient rubber trees, native to the northeast region. There are two places that you can see the bridges: near Cherrapunji and Mawlynnong.
In addition to having an easily accessible living root bridge nearby, scenic Mawlynnong village was named the "Cleanest Village in Asia" by a travel magazine. Also dubbed "God's Own Garden", the village is an outstanding example of community-based ecotourism. The locals have constructed a remarkable Sky View platform from bamboo atop the highest tree in the forest, nearly 80 feet up. It offers a bird's eye view of the village and panoramic view across to Bangladesh (the border is just a few kilometers away). Mawlynnong is a three hour drive south of Shillong in the East Khasi Hills. It's possible to stay there in a basic village guesthouse or house on stilts.
Dawki–Shnongpdeng
About an hour east of Mawlynnong, in the West Jaintia Hills, the border town of Dawki is worth visiting for its pristine emerald Umngot River. The absence of security makes it hard to believe that the International Radcliffe Line border between India and Bangladesh is situated there (and yes, locals from both sides do cross and intermingle). It's possible to go on a mesmerizing boat ride along the river, which is said to be one of the cleanest on earth. If driving from Mawlynnong to Dawki, do stop at magnificent Bophill Falls along the way. Shnongpdeng village, a short distance further on from Dawki, is the best place to stay.
In Meghalaya, there are waterfalls and there's Krang Suri. This small but stunning waterfall is tucked away near Jowai, about an hour northeast of Dawki and about three hours southeast of Shillong in the West Jaintia Hills. Be prepared to hike for around 20 minutes down a trail of steps to reach it. Entry tickets cost 50 rupees. It's possible to go swimming although you'll be told to wear a life-jacket. Changing rooms and toilets are provided.
Approximately 45 minutes southwest of Shillong in the East Khasi Hills, Mawphlang is home to a sacred plant grove of the Khasi tribe. It's full of medicinal plants. Tribe members also perform animal sacrifices and burn the bodies of their dead inside it. There's a Khasi Heritage Village next to the sacred forest, with different styles of mock tribal huts. If you're feeling energetic and want to spend a day out in nature, try the picturesque David Scott trail from Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang. It's part of an old horse trail dating back to the British era. Read more about how to visit Mawphlang Sacred Forest.
Combine a day trip to Mawphlang Sacred Forest with Laitlum Canyon, where you'll feel like you've reached the end of the world. It's only an hour or so south of Shillong, and an hour and a half east of Mawphlang, in the East Khasi Hills. If you can tear yourself away from gazing across the open expanse of the gorge, it's possible to descend down a steep stairway to the village of Rasong. The 350 or so inhabitants of this remote village rely on a rustic cable pulley to transport food and other essential goods up and down the valley.
Meghalaya is the best destination for caving in India. There are more than 1,000 caves in the state, including the recently discovered longest sandstone cave in the world (Krem Puri in the Mawsynram region of the East Khasi Hills). The most frequently visited cave is Mawsmai, near Cherrapunji (two hours from Shillong). It's maintained as a show cave for tourists and is lit up all the way through. The Garden of Caves, near Laitmawsiang village on the way to Cherrapunji, is spectacular and has waterfalls. Arwah Cave can also be explored in the area and is known for its prehistoric fossils. Other caves are more challenging to visit and are suited to caving expeditions with appropriate caving equipment. These include Siju (a bat cave), Mawmluh (with a pool inside), Mawjymbuin (notable for its stalagmites) and Krem Dam (a long sandstone cave) near Mawsynram, and Liat Prah (the longest natural cave in India). Meghalaya Tourism has a list of caves in the state. The Meghalaya Adventurers' Association conducts week-long caving expeditions from Shillong.
Many mysterious monoliths can be found spread across Meghalaya's Khasi and Jaintia Hills, erected by the regions' tribes as a symbol of remembrance. However, the largest collection is located in the vicinity of Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills, about two hours east of Shillong. This village used to be the summer capital of the Jaintia rulers and is a lesser-known tourist destination perfect for escaping the crowds. Some of the many monoliths there are up to 10 meters tall!
Thrill seekers will love the new Mawryngkhang Trek, which opened in 2017. It starts out from Wahkhen village, about two hours south of Shillong in the East Khasi Hills, and will take you to the top of massive Mawryngkhang -- the legendary "King of Stones". The trail extends over a series of connected bamboo bridges built by locals and terrifyingly hugs the side of a huge sheer rock-face in part. Below is a deep gorge and river. Although the trek is quite easy and can be completed in two or three hours, definitely skip it if you're scared of heights! There aren't any accommodations in the area, so you'll have to return to Shillong or Cherrapunji the same day.
If you're a nature lover who really wants to get off the beaten track, then head to the densely forested Garo Hills in the western part of Meghalaya. This vast area is home to the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Siju Wildlife Sanctuary, and Balpakhram National Park. It's pristine and full of biodiversity, including hundreds of species of butterflies. Tura, the second largest town in the state after Shillong, has a helpful tourist office that can organize guides and trips.
Regarded as one of the largest traditional-style markets in northeast India, this hectic and congested market in the heart of Shillong is where local Khasi women come to sell their fresh produce and livestock. You'll get some tasty local street food there too. The market is a fascinating place to walk through, especially if you're into street photography. It's open daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. except on Sundays. (Go early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds, otherwise brace yourself!)
If you think man-made lakes cannot be as beautiful as natural lakes, a visit to Umiam Lake is all you need to change your opinion. The lake is vast in a literal sense as it covers an expanse of 221 sq. km. Umiam is a perfect place to capture perfect frames and to admire the flawless creativity of nature and human’s limitlessness.
Watching a setting sun here is a sight so magical that you would want to treasure the moments. Surrounded by green hills, this reservoir is quite popular among tourists being one of the most scenic places to visit in Meghalaya. You can also indulge in various fun water-based activities at Umiam Lake including boating, yachting, and skiing.
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