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A tall narrow waterfall plunging down a sheer cliff face beside green forest, with a faint rainbow at its base
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Photo: Jyotishkardey · CC BY-SA 4.0
2 nights · 3 daysFirst visitMulti-hubbalanced

Shillong and Cherrapunji in three days — the town, then the falls of the southern edge

A three-day Shillong and Cherrapunji plan: Ward's Lake, the cathedral and Shillong Peak, then Elephant, Wah Kaba, Nohkalikai, Seven Sisters and Kynrem falls.
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Three days in Meghalaya's best-known pair of places: Shillong, the hill capital, and Cherrapunji, on the southern edge of the plateau, about 86 minutes away by road on our routing. Day one is Shillong's lake, cathedral and peak; day two runs south past Elephant Falls and Wah Kaba to Nohkalikai Falls; day three is Mawmluh Cave, the Seven Sisters and Kynrem Falls. For the living root bridges, read our root bridges guide; for Mawlynnong and Dawki, the day trip article.

Photos: Jyotishkardey (CC BY-SA 4.0) · ANKAN (CC BY-SA 4.0) · MitaliBaruah (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

First-time visitors to Meghalaya who want the capital and the great falls of Cherrapunji in one short trip.

Day by day

Day 1

Shillong

3 stops · 23 min on the road

The town's lake and cathedral, and the view from the peak.

  1. 09:30
    Ward's Lake
    lake · 5 min from Shillong · about 1 h there
    The lake garden in the middle of Shillong, for a morning walk.
  2. ↓ 4 min by road · 2 km
    11:00
    Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong
    temple · 4 min from Shillong · about 30 min there
    The blue and white cathedral a few minutes from the lake.
  3. ↓ 19 min by road · 9 km
    14:30
    Shillong Peak
    viewpoint · 20 min from Shillong · about 45 min there
    The high point above the town, for the view over the Khasi Hills. We have no verified opening hours; ask in town before you go.
Day 2

Down to Cherrapunji

3 stops · 1 h 20 min on the road

Elephant Falls on the way out of Shillong, Wah Kaba on the road, and Nohkalikai in the afternoon.

  1. 09:00
    Elephant Falls
    waterfall · 15 min from Shillong · about 45 min there
    The falls just outside Shillong, the first stop on the road south.
  2. ↓ 1 h 2 min by road · 35 km
    11:30
    Wah Kaba Falls
    waterfall · 1 h 14 min from Shillong · 4 min walk from the road · about 45 min there
    A falls dropping down a steep rock face into a gorge, seen from the road to Cherrapunji. A local legend says two fairies live at the falls.
  3. ↓ 18 min by road · 8 km
    13:30
    Nohkalikai Falls
    waterfall · 1 h 32 min from Shillong · about 45 min there
    The great plunge of water off the plateau's edge near Cherrapunji, best after the rains.
Day 3

The cave and the falls

3 stops · 47 min on the road

Mawmluh Cave in the morning, then the Seven Sisters and Kynrem.

  1. 09:30
    Mawmluh Cave
    cave · 1 h 33 min from Shillong · about 1 h there
    The cave near Cherrapunji. Wear shoes that can get wet, and do not go in without a local guide or light.
  2. ↓ 12 min by road · 7 km
    11:30
    Nohsngithiang Falls
    waterfall · 1 h 35 min from Shillong · about 45 min there
    The Seven Sisters falls, a row of streams off the cliff, fullest in the monsoon.
  3. ↓ 35 min by road · 17 km
    13:30
    Kynrem Falls
    waterfall · about 45 min there
    A tall three-tiered falls, the last stop before the drive back.

Getting there

Fly into Shillong or Guwahati, or take the train to Guwahati and drive up. See how to reach Shillong and how to reach Cherrapunji.

Where to stay

One night in Shillong and two near Cherrapunji. We have no verified lodging or prices.

Know before you go

  • The falls are fullest in and after the monsoon; in winter some run thin, but the views are clearer.
  • Cherrapunji is one of the wettest places on earth; carry rain gear in any season.
  • Ask locally before going into Mawmluh Cave, and do not enter without a guide and a light.

Places on this route

Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong — the Art Deco cathedral
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong — the Art Deco cathedral
temple · 4 min from Shillong
Ward's Lake, Shillong — the horseshoe lake and garden in the town centre
Ward's Lake, Shillong — the horseshoe lake and garden in the town centre
lake · 5 min from Shillong
Elephant Falls, Shillong — the tiered waterfall in the ferns
Elephant Falls, Shillong — the tiered waterfall in the ferns
waterfall · 15 min from Shillong
Shillong Peak — the highest point in Meghalaya
Shillong Peak — the highest point in Meghalaya
viewpoint · 20 min from Shillong
Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunji — India's tallest plunge waterfall
Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunji — India's tallest plunge waterfall
waterfall · 1 h 32 min from Shillong
Nohsngithiang Falls, Cherrapunji — the Seven Sisters waterfall
Nohsngithiang Falls, Cherrapunji — the Seven Sisters waterfall
waterfall · 1 h 35 min from Shillong

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

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Other ways to do it

All Shillong itineraries →
Two days in Shillong — the town, the falls, the lake and the sacred grove
Two days in Shillong — the town, the falls, the lake and the sacred grove
1 night · 2 days · First visit · leisure
A two-day Shillong plan: Ward's Lake, the cathedral, a museum and Elephant Falls, then Shillong Peak, Umiam Lake and the Mawphlang sacred grove. Free to copy.
Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec
See the plan →
Two days at Cherrapunji — the big falls, Kynrem Falls and Mawmluh Cave
Two days at Cherrapunji — the big falls, Kynrem Falls and Mawmluh Cave
1 night · 2 days · Slow travel · Waterfalls
A two-day Cherrapunji plan: Nohkalikai and the Seven Sisters, then Mawmluh Cave and Kynrem Falls, with road times and what we cannot verify. Free to copy.
Best Jun–Oct
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Shillong →
Umiam Lake — the reservoir on the Guwahati road
Umiam Lake — the reservoir on the Guwahati road
lake · 8.7 km away
Mawphlang Sacred Grove — the Khasi forest kept for the forest spirit
Mawphlang Sacred Grove — the Khasi forest kept for the forest spirit
area · 13 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
A deep, steep-sided green valley filled with low grey cloud seen from the Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint near Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji
36 km away · 4 itineraries · 3 places
Wooden houses with red tin roofs on a green slope in Kohima Village, with the city and blue hills behind under white clouds
Kohima
223 km away · 3 itineraries · 3 places
Pastel-coloured buildings of Gangtok climbing a steep, forested hillside, seen from a viewpoint across the valley
Gangtok
379 km away · 5 itineraries · 11 places
The huge copper-coloured seated statue of Guru Padmasambhava on its painted base on Samdruptse hill under a grey sky
Namchi
392 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
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Questions people ask

How far is Cherrapunji from Shillong?

About 49 km and 86 minutes by road on our routing, south across the plateau to its edge above the plains of Bangladesh. The road passes Elephant Falls near Shillong and Wah Kaba Falls nearer Cherrapunji, which this plan visits on the way down on the second day.

Is three days enough for Shillong and Cherrapunji?

Yes, for the main sights: a day for Shillong's lake, cathedral and peak, and two at Cherrapunji for Nohkalikai, the Seven Sisters, Kynrem and Mawmluh Cave. Add a day for the walk to the living root bridges, and another for Mawlynnong and Dawki.

When is the best time for Cherrapunji's waterfalls?

In and just after the monsoon the falls are at their fullest, and Cherrapunji is among the wettest places on earth. October and November keep much of the water with clearer skies. In the dry winter some falls run thin, though the views over the plains are sharper.