Meghalaya in five days — Shillong, the sacred grove and the falls of Cherrapunji
Checked on
In short: Five days from Guwahati across the Khasi Hills: Shillong and the sacred forest at Mawphlang, then three days at Cherrapunji for Nohkalikai, the Seven Sisters and the quieter falls beyond them. October and November give the best mix of water and clear air.
The plan leaves out the two things that need their own day. For those, read the living root bridges guide and the Mawlynnong and Dawki day trip. Add a day for either one. Road times are measured on OpenStreetMap, and hill roads usually take longer.
Photos: Jyotishkardey (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Daniel Romanson (CC0) · MitaliBaruah (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
First-time visitors to Meghalaya who want the capital, the Khasi forest and the great falls at an easy pace.
Day by day
Day 1Up from Guwahati to Shillong
3 stops · 48 min on the road
Up from Guwahati to Shillong
The lake on the way up, then the town's garden and cathedral.
- 12:00Umiam LakeThe big reservoir on the road up from Guwahati, a good first stop for lunch and the view.
- ↓ 44 min by road · 24 km15:00Ward's LakeThe lake garden in the middle of Shillong, for a slow walk.
- ↓ 4 min by road · 2 km16:30Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, ShillongThe blue and white cathedral a few minutes from the lake.
Day 2The museum and the sacred forest
2 stops · 42 min on the road
The museum and the sacred forest
The Don Bosco Museum in the morning, and the old forest at Mawphlang after it.
- 09:30Don Bosco MuseumThe large museum of the cultures of the Northeast. Check the closing day before you go.
- ↓ 42 min by road · 26 km13:00Mawphlang Sacred GroveThe Khasi sacred forest. Take a local guide, follow the rules, and carry nothing away, not even a leaf.
Day 3South to the edge of the plateau
3 stops · 1 h 20 min on the road
South to the edge of the plateau
Elephant Falls on the way out, Wah Kaba on the road, Nohkalikai in the afternoon.
- 09:00Elephant FallsThe falls just outside Shillong, the first stop on the road south.
- ↓ 1 h 2 min by road · 35 km11:30Wah Kaba FallsA falls dropping down a steep rock face into a gorge, seen from the road.
- ↓ 18 min by road · 8 km13:30Nohkalikai FallsThe great plunge of water off the plateau's edge, best after the rains.
Day 4The cave and the Seven Sisters
3 stops · 47 min on the road
The cave and the Seven Sisters
Mawmluh Cave in the morning, then the Seven Sisters and Kynrem.
- 09:30Mawmluh CaveWear shoes that can get wet, and do not go in without a local guide and a light.
- ↓ 12 min by road · 7 km12:00Nohsngithiang FallsThe Seven Sisters, a row of streams off the cliff. They run in full only with the monsoon, and mist can close the view.
- ↓ 35 min by road · 17 km14:00Kynrem FallsA tall three-tiered falls near the end of the plateau.
Day 5Two quieter falls, and the road out
2 stops · 4 min on the road
Two quieter falls, and the road out
Dainthlen and Wei Sawdong in the morning, then the long road back towards Guwahati.
- 09:00Dainthlen FallsA broad falls over flat rock, with a Khasi legend behind its name.
- ↓ 4 min by road · 2 km11:00Wei Sawdong FallsA falls in three steps above a deep pool. The way down is steep and rough, so ask locally about its state.
Getting there
Come through Guwahati, by air or train, and take the road up to Shillong. See how to reach Meghalaya and Nagaland and how to reach Cherrapunji.
Where to stay
Two nights in Shillong and two near Cherrapunji. We have no verified lodging or prices, so compare on the day.
Know before you go
- Cherrapunji is one of the wettest places on earth, so carry rain gear in any season.
- In the dry winter many falls run thin, though the air is clearer.
- Take a local guide at Mawphlang and at Mawmluh Cave.
- Leave early on the last day; the road back to Guwahati is long.
If plans change
Shorter: Shillong and Cherrapunji in three days.
Add a day: the root bridges, or Mawlynnong and Dawki.
Going to Shillong?
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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 Shillong itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Shillong →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Is five days enough for Meghalaya?
It is enough for Shillong and Cherrapunji at an easy pace, with the sacred forest at Mawphlang and the main falls. It does not include the living root bridges or Mawlynnong and Dawki, because each of those needs a day of its own. Add one or two days if you want them.
What is the best month for this Meghalaya plan?
October and November suit it best, with water still in the falls and clearer views. March to May are dry and pleasant. In the monsoon the falls are at their fullest, but cloud and rain can hide them. In deep winter many falls run thin, though the air is clear.
Where should I stay in Meghalaya for five days?
Spend two nights in Shillong and two near Cherrapunji, so that you are not driving back and forth across the plateau. The two are close enough for a day trip, but the falls near Cherrapunji are best early, before the mist comes up. We have no verified lodging or prices.