Key hubs
Mawlynnong airport and railway station
- Airport
- Guwahati (GAU), about 3 hours from Shillong by road and a further 2.5 to 3 hours to the village; Shillong (SHL) has limited services
- Railway station
- No railhead nearby. Guwahati (GHY) is the usual station, with Shillong as the overnight halt
- Getting around
- Hired car and driver or a shared taxi from Shillong; the village itself is covered on foot
How to reach Mawlynnong by air
Guwahati (GAU) is the main airport, about 3 hours from Shillong by road, then a further 2.5 to 3 hours to Mawlynnong. Shillong (SHL) is closer but has limited services, so check flights first.
How to reach Mawlynnong by train
There is no railhead near Mawlynnong. Guwahati (GHY) is the usual station, from where most travellers drive to Shillong and break the journey before continuing to the village.
How to reach Mawlynnong by road
Mawlynnong is about 90 km from Shillong, a drive of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours via Pynursla on winding roads. Signage is limited, so a driver who knows the route helps. Landslides can slow the road in the monsoon.
Getting around Mawlynnong
Hire a car and driver from Shillong, or take a shared taxi to Pynursla and arrange onward transport. In the village you walk; Riwai and the Balancing Rock are a short drive or walk away, and Dawki is about 15 km by road.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Mawlynnong
- Plan the visit around the long drive. Shillong to Mawlynnong takes about three hours each way, so break the journey or stay a night.
- Carry cash from Shillong or Dawki, since the village has no ATM, and bring your own water and snacks.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.