One day in Shillong — the peak, Elephant Falls, Ward's Lake and the cathedral
A day with the upland road first and the town after. It starts at Shillong Peak, drops to Elephant Falls, and ends in town at Ward's Lake and the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians. For the lake and the sacred forest, see the Umiam and Mawphlang day, and for two days, the longer plan.
Photos: ANKAN (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Prasanta Kr Dutta (CC BY-SA 4.0) · ANKAN (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
First-time visitors with a day in Shillong; the dry months from October to March give the clearest views.
Day by day
Day 1The high view, the falls, the lake and the cathedral
4 stops · 36 min on the road
The high view, the falls, the lake and the cathedral
The two stops on the upland road in the morning, the town's own sights in the afternoon.
- 09:00Shillong PeakThe highest point in Meghalaya, 1,966 m, with the view over the town; go early, before the haze.
- ↓ 13 min by road · 8 km10:30Elephant FallsThe tiered waterfall below the peak road, down steep steps.
- ↓ 19 min by road · 11 km13:00Ward's LakeThe horseshoe lake of 1894 in the middle of the town, with its garden and bridge.
- ↓ 4 min by road · 2 km15:00Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, ShillongThe Art Deco cathedral of the 1930s on its sand foundation.
Getting there
Shillong has no railway; Guwahati is about 97 km by road. See how to reach Shillong.
Where to stay
Stay in Shillong. We have no verified lodging or prices.
Know before you go
- Wikipedia says the monsoon arrives in June and the rain lasts almost to the end of October; the falls are fullest then, but the view from the peak is poorest.
- The steps at Elephant Falls are steep and slippery; wear shoes with grip.
- We have no verified opening hours or entry fees for any stop; 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 Shillong itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Shillong →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
What can you see in Shillong in one day?
Shillong Peak and Elephant Falls on the upland road, then Ward's Lake and the Art Deco cathedral in the town. The stops lie 5 to 20 minutes from the centre on our routing, so the day is easy with a car. Umiam Lake and the Mawphlang sacred grove need their own day.
Why start with the peak?
Because the view is best early, before the haze builds, and Wikipedia says the peak is the highest point in the state, 1,966 m. Elephant Falls is reached by a small road near the peak, so the two fit together. The lake and cathedral in town can wait for the afternoon, when the weather matters less.
When is the best time for this plan?
From October to March, cool and dry: the IMD normals give 24.7 mm of rain in November and 7.2 mm in December. Wikipedia says the monsoon arrives in June and rain continues almost to the end of October, so the falls are fullest then but the views are poorer. Check the sky the night before.