Mawlynnong and Dawki from Shillong — a long day to the border hills
Mawlynnong, a Khasi village known for cleanliness, and Dawki, the border town on the clear Umngot River: road times from Shillong and what we cannot verify.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-14
How to reach Shillong — the Guwahati road, Umroi airport and the rail gap
How to reach Shillong, Meghalaya: the road from Guwahati past Umiam Lake, the small Umroi airport, why there is no railway, and distances from Delhi.
Shillong is reached by road, usually from Guwahati. The measured road times below are our own routing; rain and traffic add more.
From Guwahati
Wikipedia says the town is just 100 km from Guwahati on NH 40, about two and a half hours through hills with Umiam Lake on the way. On our routing it is about 97 km and 146 minutes from the airport side of the city to the town centre, and Guwahati airport is about 117 km and 161 minutes away. Wikipedia says private and state buses from other states run daily, with taxis to Guwahati and other north-eastern cities.
By air
Shillong Airport at Umroi is about 26 km and 50 minutes from the town on our routing, by Wikipedia's 30 km. It is a small airport, with flights to Kolkata and some north-eastern cities by Wikipedia's account. Check the schedule before you plan around it.
By train
There is none. A 22 km railway from Tetelia, on Guwahati's edge, up to Byrnihat was planned for completion by 2026, with an extension to Shillong expected to start the same year.
From Cherrapunji and Delhi
Cherrapunji is about 86 minutes from Shillong on our routing. From Delhi it is about 1,869 km by road, with 22.5 hours of free-flow driving, so most people fly.
Next reads
Read things to do in Shillong and when to visit Shillong, and copy the one-day plan.
Places around Shillong
The Shillong guide →
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong — the Art Deco cathedral
Ward's Lake, Shillong — the horseshoe lake and garden in the town centre
Elephant Falls, Shillong — the tiered waterfall in the ferns
Shillong Peak — the highest point in Meghalaya
Mawphlang Sacred Grove — the Khasi forest kept for the forest spirit
Umiam Lake — the reservoir on the Guwahati road
Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunji — India's tallest plunge waterfall
Nohsngithiang Falls, Cherrapunji — the Seven Sisters waterfall
More stories to read
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Things to do in Shillong — lakes, falls, the cathedral and a sacred forest
Things to do in Shillong: Ward's Lake, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, the Art Deco cathedral, Umiam Lake, the Mawphlang sacred grove and the museums.
Best time to visit Shillong — month by month, from the rain figures
The best time to visit Shillong, month by month from the IMD normals: a cool dry winter, a rainy spring and monsoon, and when the falls and views are best.
Best time to visit Bir — the flying season and the rest
When to visit Bir: paragliding flies in September and October, with some flying in November. What to do in the other months, and why no weather table is given.
What a Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj trip costs
Typical prices for a McLeod Ganj trip: guesthouse rooms, budget stays in Dharamkot, taxis to Naddi and Kangra Fort, a Triund porter, and buses.
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Nearby destinations
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Questions people ask
How do you reach Shillong from Guwahati?
By road. Wikipedia says Shillong is just 100 km from Guwahati on NH 40, a journey of about two and a half hours through green hills with Umiam Lake on the way; our routing gives about 97 km and 146 minutes from the town centre. Buses, shared taxis and private taxis run along it.
Is there an airport in Shillong?
A small one at Umroi, about 26 km and 50 minutes from the town on our routing; Wikipedia says 30 km and gives flights to Kolkata and several north-eastern cities. Guwahati airport, about 117 km and 161 minutes away, is the larger alternative. Check the current schedule, because small-airport flights change.
Is there a railway to Shillong?
No. Wikipedia says Shillong has no railway; a 22 km railway running from Tetelia, on Guwahati's edge, up to Byrnihat was planned for completion by 2026, with an extension to Shillong expected to start in 2026. Until then the nearest big railhead is Guwahati, so most visitors take the road from there.