Day trips in Shillong
- 01
Cherrapunji (Sohra) Day Trip
A day trip to Sohra (Cherrapunji), one of the wettest places on Earth, to see Nohkalikai Falls, India's tallest plunge waterfall, and the limestone passages of Mawsmai Cave.
- Time needed
- Full day (6–8 hours including travel)
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to April, when skies are clearer; the monsoon (June–August) brings dramatic rainfall but heavy mist and rain can obscure views
- Tickets
- Both Nohkalikai Falls and Mawsmai Cave charge a small entry fee at their respective gates. No advance booking is needed; a car and driver, arranged from Shillong, is the practical way to cover both sites in a day.
- 02
Dawki Day Trip
A day trip to Dawki on the Indo-Bangladesh border, to boat on the Umngot River, whose water is so clear that boats appear to float in mid-air over the riverbed.
- Time needed
- Full day (7–9 hours including travel)
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- November to March, when the river runs clearest; the monsoon months often leave it murky with silt
- Tickets
- Boats are hired directly at the riverbank, typically by the boat rather than per person, seating around four people for roughly thirty to fifty minutes. Life jackets are mandatory and provided. No advance booking is usually needed outside peak holiday periods, but expect a queue on weekends in season.
- 03
Mawlynnong Day Trip
A day trip to Mawlynnong, celebrated as one of Asia's cleanest villages, with a short walk to the living root bridge at nearby Riwai village.
- Time needed
- Full day (7–9 hours including travel)
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to April for the clearest weather and driest paths; the village is pleasant year-round
- Tickets
- A small entry fee applies at Mawlynnong village and a separate small fee at the Riwai root bridge site. Given the distance, a car and driver from Shillong for the full day is the standard way to visit; some itineraries combine it with Dawki on the same or a following day.
- 04
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
A 29 sq km protected forest in Ri Bhoi district, west of the Shillong-Guwahati highway, known for birds, butterflies and a few elusive large mammals. It suits patient nature lovers, not safari-seekers.
- Time needed
- Full day from Shillong (1.5-2 hours each way by road)
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to April, in dry weather; early mornings for birds
- Tickets
- Entry fees and permit rules are not published online. The state tourism page says entry may need a permit or local guide help, so confirm with the forest department or the Meghalaya Tourism helpline before travelling. Do not expect a booked safari system.
Experiences in Shillong
- 05
David Scott Trail
A 16 km walk on a British-era mule track between Lad Mawphlang and Mawphlang, through grassland, pine and stream valleys, ending at the Mawphlang Sacred Grove.
- Time needed
- A long day, or 2 days with 1 night camping
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to April, when the trail is dry and cool
- Tickets
- Meghalaya Tourism lists no trek fee, but a ticket kiosk stands at the Mawphlang trailhead. A local guide is advised for navigation and language. Confirm current charges locally.
- 06
Laitlum Canyon Trek
A grassy ridge above deep gorges about 25 km from Shillong, with easy viewpoints on top and a long stone stairway of about 3,000 steps down to the valley village of Rasong.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours for the viewpoints; about 3 to 4 hours for the descent to Rasong and back
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- October to May; mornings can be foggy and afternoons often clearer
- Tickets
- No official trek fee is published. Local parking or entry charges may apply at the ridge. A local guide is recommended for the descent. Confirm current charges locally.
- 07
Mawphlang Sacred Grove
An old-growth forest protected for more than 800 years by Khasi belief that it is guarded by a local deity, where nothing, not even a fallen twig, may be removed.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Dry-season mornings, October to March, when forest paths are less slippery
- Tickets
- A local guide is effectively required, both for context and because the community that protects the grove expects visitors to be accompanied rather than wandering alone. Guides can usually be arranged at the entrance or through your driver in advance. A small entry or guide fee applies.
- 08
Mawryngkhang Bamboo Trek
A village-built trail of bamboo walkways and bridges from Wahkhen, about 42 to 48 km from Shillong, across gorges above the Wahrew river to the huge rock of U Mawryngkhang.
- Time needed
- About 3 to 5 hours, plus around 2 hours' drive each way from Shillong
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to April, after the bridges have been repaired from the monsoon; confirm before going
- Tickets
- The trail is managed by the Tourism Promoters Trekking Society, Wahkhen, which may charge a small fee and offers local guides. It is closed for repairs for some weeks or months after heavy rain. Confirm status and fees locally before driving out.
Landmarks in Shillong
- 09
Elephant Falls
A three-step waterfall on the edge of Shillong, originally named Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew by the Khasi and renamed by the British after a since-vanished elephant-shaped rock.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to March, when water flow is strong but paths are not slippery; early morning avoids the busiest tour groups
- Tickets
- A small entry fee applies at the gate. There is no advance booking; simply pay at the counter on arrival.
- 10
Shillong Peak
The highest point above Shillong, inside an Indian Air Force base, with panoramic views over the city and surrounding hills from a viewing platform.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes, plus the security check at the gate
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Clear mornings or late afternoons, when haze is lowest; avoid the peak of the monsoon when cloud cover often blocks the view entirely
- Tickets
- A modest entry fee applies, with a separate small charge for vehicles and for use of the telescope. Cameras and mobile phones are generally deposited at the checkpoint for security reasons since the site sits within an Air Force radar station; carry an original ID card. Confirm current rules and any closed days locally before you go, as access conditions can change.
- 11
Umiam Lake
Also called Barapani, a large reservoir on the edge of Shillong created in the early 1960s by damming the Umiam River for the Northeast's first hydroelectric project, now popular for boating.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours, longer with boating
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late morning to afternoon, and especially clear days between October and March
- Tickets
- Viewing the lake from the roadside viewpoint is free. Boating (rowboats, pedal boats, and faster options such as speedboats) is paid separately at the boathouse, usually by the ride or by time; rates vary by boat type.
Museums in Shillong
- 12
Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures
A seven-storey, hexagonal museum dedicated entirely to the indigenous cultures of Northeast India, with 21 thematic galleries and a rooftop skywalk over the city.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Weekday mornings, when galleries are quieter; the museum is closed on Sundays
- Tickets
- Ticketed, with separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors; check current fees and opening hours before visiting, as these have changed by season in the past. Closed on Sundays.
- 13
Wankhar Entomology Museum
A small, privately run museum at Riatsamthiah holding thousands of butterfly, moth and insect specimens gathered by one family since the 1930s, often called the Butterfly Museum.
- Time needed
- 20–40 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Weekday mornings; the museum keeps shorter hours on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays
- Tickets
- A small entry fee applies, with a higher rate for foreign visitors. Confirm current opening days and hours before travelling out, since they are shorter than a typical museum and vary between weekdays and Saturday.
Places of worship in Shillong
- 14
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
The Gothic-style seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong, rebuilt in 1936 after fire destroyed the original wooden church founded by German missionaries in 1913.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Weekday mornings or afternoons, outside Mass timings
- Tickets
- There is no entry fee; it is a working cathedral rather than a paid monument. Visit quietly and avoid photography during active services; dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, as a courtesy.
Gardens and parks in Shillong
- 15
Ward's Lake
A horseshoe-shaped artificial lake in the middle of Shillong, laid out by the British in 1894 with a botanical garden and a wooden bridge across the water.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning, before school and office crowds arrive; also pleasant in the late afternoon
- Tickets
- A small entry fee applies at the gate, with paddle boats charged separately by the half hour. Check the current fee board at the entrance; it changes from time to time.
