One day at Cherrapunji — Nohkalikai Falls and the Seven Sisters
A short day with two waterfalls and plenty of room for weather. Nohkalikai Falls comes first, in the morning, and the Nohsngithiang Falls, the Seven Sisters, follow to the south. For the living root bridges nearby, read the guide; for Shillong and its lakes, the one-day plan from the capital.
Photos: Jyotishkardey (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Rohan Mahanta (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vikramjit Kakati (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Visitors who come up from Shillong for the day; the monsoon months fill the falls, and the cloud often hides them.
Day by day
Day 1The tallest plunge waterfall and the seven-segmented one
2 stops · 21 min on the road
The tallest plunge waterfall and the seven-segmented one
Two viewpoints close to the town, in the morning light, with time in hand for cloud.
- 09:00Nohkalikai FallsThe 340 m plunge waterfall, India's tallest; go early, before the cloud closes the gorge.
- ↓ 21 min by road · 10 km11:30Nohsngithiang FallsThe Seven Sisters, a waterfall in seven segments south of the town, which runs only in the rains.
Getting there
Cherrapunji is about 88 minutes from Shillong by road; see how to reach Cherrapunji.
Where to stay
Stay in Cherrapunji or in Shillong. We have no verified lodging or prices.
Know before you go
- Wikipedia says the Seven Sisters run only in the rainy season and Nohkalikai weakens from December to February; plan the month with that in mind.
- Carry a rain jacket in any month, and be ready to wait for the cloud to lift.
- We have no verified viewpoint fees, rules or opening hours; ask locally.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Cherrapunji itineraries →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How long do the Cherrapunji waterfalls take?
About a morning each, plus time for cloud. Nohkalikai is about 11 minutes and the Seven Sisters about 13 minutes by road from the town on our routing, so the driving is short. The day is relaxed, and the viewpoints depend on the weather, so keep a margin and start early.
Is Nohkalikai always flowing?
No. Wikipedia says the plateau that feeds it is small, so the falls lose power in the dry season, from December to February. The Seven Sisters, also by Wikipedia's account, plunge over the cliffs only in the rainy season. The monsoon months give the fullest falls, but cloud often hides the gorge.
When is the best time for this plan?
June to October for full falls, accepting cloud, or October and November for a compromise of clearer sky and still-flowing water. The IMD normals give 2,608.1 mm of rain in June and 461.4 mm in October. Check the sky the evening before and ask locally about the road.