While discussing the places to visit in Meghalaya, Shillong is always at the top of the list of travelers.

Rightly named ‘Scotland of the east’, Shillong is a hidden gem on the tourism map of India.

It is located in the North East part of India which is also known as the ‘Seven Sisters States’.

The word Meghalaya literally means ‘Abode of the Clouds’ and is rightly so.

Shillong is famous for astonishing changes in weather in a day. If you want to experience all three seasons in a span of 24 hours and would like to drown yourself in the clouds and mist, Shillong is the place.

According to me, Shillong has the best weather and the most amazing landscapes, making it among the most visited places in the North East of India.

The city of Shillong is modern in its outlook and the locals are friendly.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN SHILLONG

Want to know about the best places to visit in Shillong, then check out these Tourist attractions in Shillong.

Elephant Falls

Shillong sightseeing includes breathtaking scenery, lush green hills, and beautiful waterfalls.

Elephant falls is also known as Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew in the local Khasi language. It is located at a distance of 12 km from Shillong’s central market in the Upper Shillong area.

It is said that Britishers had spotted this fall near a huge rock that resembled an Elephant which inspired the name Elephant Falls, Shillong. However, the elephant rock is not seen anymore as it got destroyed in 1897 due to an earthquake.

Elephant Falls in Shillong is a set of three falls. The first and the second are at a short height however the third one is the tallest of all. There is a flight of steps towards the approach of all three falls.

The view is beautiful as all the falls are covered with lush greenery. The more you go down the flight of steps, the more scenic it becomes.

This fall is three-tiered making it one of its kind in the country and categorizing it to be one of the most visited places in Shillong and the best tourist attractions in Shillong.

Elephant Falls is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day for tourists with an entry fee of INR 20/- and an extra Rupees 20 for carrying a camera.

Love waterfalls? These waterfalls in India are worth a visit: Shivanasamudra waterfalls, Karnataka, Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh.

Shillong Peak

Located at a height of 1962 meters above sea level, Shillong Peak is the highest point in Shillong and one of the best places to visit in Shillong by tourists.

It gives a bird’s eye view of the city showcasing its magnificence and establishing it as not only big but modern too. 

To have a closer and better look at the city, a telescope has been kept at Shillong Peak which gives a comprehensive look at the city from this height.

A shop here provides local, traditional dresses for both males and females. Tourists can dress up and get a feel of the local Khasi population and click photographs to cherish the memories of their trip.

Shillong peak reminds me of the Sunset points in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Shillong Peak is open from 9 am to 3:30 pm every day except on Wednesdays.

Air Force Museum

Air Force Museum gives detailed information about our flying warriors as well as deep insight into their history.

The museum displays photographs of the Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars as well as the uniforms worn by officers and airmen along with the models of aircraft and missiles. One feels super proud of our Armed Forces and feels obliged for all that they do to protect our country.

The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm for visitors.

Ward’s Lake

One of the best tourist attractions in Shillong, Ward’s Lake or Nan Pollock or Pollock’s Lake is located in the center of the city.

It was built in the pre-independence era and is known for its beautiful flower beds, cobble-stone footpaths, and fountains.

The lake has a botanical garden surrounding it with various varieties of Orchids. The lake is marked by a wooden bridge where tourists stand for a few relaxing moments with friends and family and feed the fish in the lake too.

Ward’s Lake also houses a cafeteria for refreshments. It is a very calm and serene place in the middle of the hustle and bustle of city life.

Ward’s Lake is open on all days except Tuesdays from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm on weekdays and 8:30 am to 7:00 pm on weekends during summer and 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in winters.

Lady Hydari Park

Managed by Forest Authorities of Meghalaya, this place is named after the then First Lady of Assam Lady Hydari (Wife of the Governor of Assam, when the two states were combined as a bigger state). Lady Hydari Park, therefore, was built in her memory.

It is a small park that houses a mini zoo with a Deer Park and showcases the best of the rose beds in the state and carpet grass too.

It is one of the best Shillong visiting places as it offers beautiful scenes and a relaxed ambiance for an amazing trip.

Except for Mondays, it is open every day from 8 am in the morning to 5 pm in the evening.

Don Bosco Museum

Amongst the things to do in Shillong, one cannot miss out on Don Bosco Museum.

It’s an ode to the culture of North East of India. It is a great effort to establish, endorse and emphatically celebrate the indigenous cultures of the Seven Sisters.

Don Bosco showcases the indigenous cultures of Meghalaya and the surrounding states. It has various galleries which showcase the Land and People, Agricultural, Fishing, Potteries, Musical Instruments, Ornamentation, Handicrafts, and Photographs which gives a complete picture of the cultures of the North East.

The galleries are aided with multimedia presentations on people, history, and lifestyles of the North East of India.

The Skywalk on the top adds beauty to the place aesthetically giving a breathtaking view of the city of Shillong making it one of the best places to visit in Shillong.

One can have ‘Coffee with Clouds’ at a small cafeteria that offers coffee and snacks. Don Bosco Museum is closed on Sundays and open all other days from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

Butterfly Park

Wankhar Entomology Museum or locally well known as the Butterfly Museum is a private museum owned by the well-known Wankhar family of Shillong.

It was founded by Mr. Siddharth Kumar Sarkar in the 1930s. It has a collection of around 1600 species of moths and butterflies which are bred, raised, and conserved here, maintaining the ecological balance of the surrounding area.

They also initiate programs for the commercial cultivation of Butterflies taking the necessary care. It is colorful and beautiful making it attractive for all age groups and hence it is among the favorite tourist attractions in Shillong.

Butterfly Park is closed on Sunday and opens every day from Monday to Saturday at 10 am and closed by 4:30 pm every day except Saturday, which closes by 1 pm.

Police Bazar

Police Bazar is the heartbeat of Shillong.

It is the main market of the city where life thrives and one of the most prominent landmarks of the city of Shillong.

The Centre Point building is the pivot from where the by-lanes of the Bazar emerge in all directions where one can find restaurants, cafes, and street food joints all in one place.

Apart from this, there are many shops selling other household items and apparel.

It is advisable to go to Police Bazar on foot or in a cab as finding a place to park for the vehicle may be difficult. One should buy things like Bamboo items and western wear winter clothing like caps, jackets, and boots.

If you are fond of non-vegetarian food then fried fish, fried silkworms and local delicacies made from pork are a few of the famous items one can eat here which are favorites among tourists and locals. Police Bazar is the axis of activity in Shillong which makes it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shillong.

The Cathedral of Mary’s Help of Christians

Built earlier in 1913 by Germans, this Cathedral was reconstructed in 1936 after the first one was destroyed due to fire.

It is a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to mother Mary located in the heart of Shillong City. It is one of the oldest churches in Shillong and invites people of all cultures and creeds.

The architecture is based on the Gothic style with very high arched and stained-glass windows making this Cathedral one of the most beautiful buildings in Shillong and among the unmissable places to visit in Shillong.

It is open every day from 7 am to 6:30 pm.

Laitlum Canyon

Shillong is famous for its lush green mountains with picturesque views. Laitlum canyon adds to this feature of Shillong.

The name means ‘end of the world’ or ‘end of the hills’. It is located around 21 km south of the city of Shillong and offers the most photography-worthy views of the state of Meghalaya.

If adventure, trekking, or photography thrills you or you are just a nature lover and admirer, Laitlum offers the best for everyone.

For a clearer view, one should visit during afternoon hours as during morning hours the place is foggy and misty.

Laitlum is open every day from early morning 5 am to 5:30 pm in the evening.

PLACES TO VISIT AROUND SHILLONG

Dawki

Located at a distance of around 95 km from Shillong, Dawki is a border town in the state of Meghalaya.

As one approaches Dawki, one can observe the lush green hills, deep ravines, and beautiful Umngot river, the cleanest river in Asia, which makes the place look more beautiful.

When the water in the Umngot river is still, it appears to be transparent and clean, however during monsoon months because of the constant addition of water to the river bed, it may appear muddy.

The suspension bridge on the river gives an amazing view of the place which connects the Jaintia and Khasi Hills. Beyond Dawki is the Bangladesh Border which is marked by Friendship Gate or Maitri Dwar, built-in 2018 as a sign of friendship between the two countries.

An annual boat race is held here in the month of March/ April and one can plan a visit at that time.

Mawlynnong Village

Asia’s Cleanest Village and Meghalaya’s pride, Mawlynnong is located close to Cherrapunji.

Home to the tribal community in the state of Meghalaya, this village has proved that one can adopt modernism and still keep their culture alive.

Khasi Monoliths

Located around Cherrapunji, this place houses the construction of the ancient times which serves as a tribute and remembrance of the fallen members of the Khasi tribe. Their ashes have been laid in the cenotaphs here.

Cherrapunji

North East India is untouched and virgin land is not touched much by modernization.

It houses some of the most beautiful landscapes in India, one of them being Cherrapunji.

It has always been famous as the wettest place on earth however this title has been grabbed by a location near Cherrapunji named as Mawsynram.

Cherrapunji is beautified by waterfalls like Seven Sister Falls and Nohkalikai Waterfalls which is the third-highest waterfall in India.

The Double decker living root bridge in Cherrapunji, sits in the lap of dense forest and witnesses rainfall almost throughout the year. The scenes here are breathtaking and seen once in a lifetime. Eco Park here helps to see the beauty of the hills here offering some amazing views of the hills.

Mawsmai Caves

If geology and earth wonders amuse you, then this is a must-see place for you. This limestone cave is a natural wonder. I visited a similar one in Halong Bay.

While getting inside the cave, one can see the constant dripping of water from the roof of the cave and the innumerable forms of stalactites and stalagmites.

Umiam Lake or Bara Pani

Home to water sports and other adventure activities, Umiam Lake is colloquially known as Bara Pani and is located 15 km North of Shillong. It is a manmade lake (reservoir) and it offers Swimming, Kayaking, Water cycling, scooting, and Boating in the lake. These adventure and water sports activities are very famous among tourists making it among the best-visited places in Shillong.

SHILLONG FAMOUS FOOD

Tungrymbai

If you see locals on the streets of Shillong lined up for food, it has to be Tungrymbai. It is a local curry-like preparation of fried pork with fermented soybean, seasoned with ginger garlic, and salt. Locals eat it with either rice or roti. It helps them to keep warm in the cold weather. This dish can be eaten in the by-lanes of Police Bazar.

Jadoh

It is a spicy pulao kind of dish mainly prepared with Rice and Pork. There can be variations of Chicken and Fish too. It is available as street food as well however the locals make it as a part of celebratory meals during parties and get-togethers as well. Many restaurants and cafes serve this dish in the areas of Police Bazar and near Don Bosco Museum.

Dohneiiong

Shillong is famous for Pork dishes and Dohneiiong is no different. It is a Pork dish, the taste of which resembles food from Chinese cuisine as it mainly uses Chinese sauces and black sesame seeds for its preparation. If accompanied by rice, it forms a complete meal.

Pineapples

Meghalaya is one of the major pineapple producer states in India, Pineapples here are found in abundance. They are amazingly delicious, sweet, and juicy and can be found with the street vendors which sell them cleaned and in a fruit salad, cut way sprinkled with masala. Any local market would cater to these tasty pineapple treats which makes it a must-have food during the Shillong trip.

Betel Leaf

Betel Leaf has a foody significance across India. It’s a must-have mukhwas (after-meal delicacy) which aids in good digestion of food.  Shillong is famous for its Betel Leaf which every local is proud of. One can see vendors selling these leaves in any local market across the city. The flavors of the Betel Leaf of Meghalaya will linger in your mouth even after you have gone back to your city. It is definitely a must-try food item in Shillong.

Apart from these local food items, Shillong also boasts of items like Momos, Jalebi, Chowmein, and Smoked Meats (Pork, Chicken & Fish) as their own because of their liking by the local population here.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SHILLONG

Shillong has awesome weather all year through. A light sweatshirt in summer during the early morning and late evenings is advisable. Also, the winters are chilly however as it doesn’t snow in Shillong, and hence the temperature ranges the tolerable limits. There is no prescribed best time to visit Shillong. One can travel as per one’s preference of weather as summers are pleasant. Monsoons are extremely rainy and winters are chilly.

WHERE TO STAY IN SHILLONG

Shillong has no dearth of accommodation options. Resorts, cozy cottages, luxurious hotels, and hotels there are many options. Some of them are:

Hotels: The Loft Executive Inn, Windermere Inn

Homestays: Pine Hill Homestay, Casa Encanto Homestay

Resorts: Woodstock Farm House

HOW TO REACH SHILLONG

By Air

Shillong does not have an airport within its city limits. The nearest one is at Umroi which is around 25 km from Shillong. Being a small airport, it has limited options however Gopinath Bordoloi Airport of Guwahati is bigger and commercial carriers of all the major service liners have their flights coming over to Guwahati. One can take a taxi/ cab from Guwahati airport to Shillong.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Shillong is Guwahati. Guwahati Railway Station is well connected with all major cities across India through a large web of the Indian Railway Network. From there one can avail of taxis/cabs to Shillong.

By Road

Shillong is well connected to Guwahati by National Highway 40. One can avail of an option of going by either of the State Buses of Assam or Meghalaya as also a taxi or a cab.

FAQS FOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN SHILLONG

What is the old name of Shillong?

Yeddo. Shillong was formerly known as Yeddo or Lewduh, city, and was always the capital of Meghalaya state.

What is special about Shillong?

Shillong is the gateway to Meghalaya which is popular as a town with the highest rainfall, Asia’s cleanest village, root bridges, countless waterfalls, and beautiful landscapes. Shillong is also fast emerging as an education hub in North-east India.

SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN SHILLONG

• Respect the natural attractions around Shillong.
• Do not enter places that are closed off, there’s a reason why they are closed.
• Do not use single-use or disposable plastic. Dispose of biscuit wrappers, wafer packets, and juice boxes in designated bins. Do not litter the highways, places of tourist interest, or riverbanks.
• Respect nature during adventure activities and do not harm it in any form.
• Do not pluck flowers/fruits without permission. Be a responsible and respectful tourist.
• Eat and enjoy local food.

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Meghalaya, the abode of clouds is one of the most beautiful destinations in India. With nature all around, there are many tourist places to visit in Meghalaya. Check them out!

Meghalaya is a paradise brimming with picturesque landscapes where nature comes alive, undulating hills inviting you to drown you in their mist, clouds telling you a story of their own, the happily chirping birds swaying to the pleasant wind all telling you a common story of land unexplored, making you fall in love with Nature. Here is the list of beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya.

PLACES TO VISIT IN MEGHALAYA

While there is a long list of tourist places in Meghalaya, the following are the must-visit while on the first trip to the state.

Umiam Lake

Umiam lake is one of the first tourist places in Meghalaya, one will visit.

Also known as Barapani (big water – thanks to its huge size), Umiam Lake is a man-made lake on the Guwahati-Shillong highway.

The highway has a Umiam Lake viewpoint, with railings, and is about 400 meters in length. This is where you get the top view of the lake. You can see mountains all around, which makes the first ‘abode of clouds’ phrase come true. Popular among the locals as well as tourists for boat rides, it offers a good view from the highway, provided the sky is clear.

Umiam lake was formed as a catchment area during the building of a dam. The water from 3 rivers Umkhrah, Umshyrpi, and Umiam rivers made this lake which is spread over 220 square km.

The dam is the first Hydel power project in the Northeast region of India. The lake is important among the locals as it is a source of irrigation, and fisheries and provides potable to neighboring villages.

Umiam Lake reminds me of Naini Lake in Nainital. Read about it here: Places to visit in Nainital.

Activities around Umiam lake:

Umiam Garden: The Lum Nehru park provides fantastic first-hand views of the lake. One can walk along the cobblestoned pathways or in the garden while enjoying a snack.

Sports complex: Tourists can enjoy kayaking, water scooter, boating, etc in the Umiam lake water.

For its sheer beauty, it is featured on my list of places to visit in Meghalaya.

Elephant Falls

These falls are the hot favorite tourist site in Shillong and hence feature on my list of places to visit in Meghalaya. These are 3 tire waterfalls at a walking distance of a few meters from each other and thankfully quite clean.

In the local Khasi language, the name of the waterfall is Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohshiew which translates to ‘three-step waterfall’. True to its name, the waterfall is divided into three steps literally.

The first step of the waterfall is wide and is lost amongst the dense forests all around, the second step is more concentrated while the third one comprises a sheer vertical drop and a cascading flow of water which makes the falls one of the most beautiful ones. You can also check out the many gorgeous waterfalls of Meghalaya.

However, Elephant Falls got its name in the British colonial era. One of the rocks near the waterfalls resembled an elephant and hence it was named that. The rock was however destroyed in an earthquake in the late 1800s and the residual rock has been disintegrated since then. But the name remained.

Shillong peak

Shillong peak is one of the must-visit tourist places in Shillong.

Located at a distance of approximately 10 km from Shillong city, the Peak is the highest point of Shillong and offers panoramic views of the city, as well as the lush green mountains. The peak has an impressive height of 1962 meters, above the mean sea level.

The Shillong peak is often surrounded due to its high altitude but luckily when I visited, it was pretty much clear. One can easily reach the peak in a car as it has good roads.

The top of the peak also has a sacred site that is dedicated to the U Shulong. In every spring season, a ritual is also organized here in the honor of U Shulong.

Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India at a height of 1,115 feet and has to be on the list of places to visit in Meghalaya. Nohkalikai waterfalls is a gem situated in the lap of mountains, the stunning beauty of the waterfalls is beautifully complemented by the mist, clouds, forests, and verdant valleys all around. The story of the fall having its name is sad but it paints a beautiful landscape.

The name of the falls has a heartbreaking story behind it. Legend has it that once there lived a woman by the name of Ka Likai, who was married to a porter and had a little baby daughter. The happy family was abruptly disrupted when her husband died in an accident while carrying heavy iron on his head. Ka Likai was forced to remarry because of the social stigma of the time and the fact that her daughter needed a father. She also got a job as a porter to earn her own bread. But the trouble began when the new husband became jealous of Ka Likai’s love for her daughter and felt threatened. So one day when Ka Likai was at work, he killed the daughter and prepared a meal out of her flesh.

After coming home from work Ka Likai was naturally hungry and seeing the meal prepared by her husband she ate it without a second thought. It was when she went to have her usual betel leaves afterward that she realized her mistake. She found the fingers of her daughter in the betel leaf case. When the realization dawned on her she went mad and started running till she jumped over the edge of the cliff into the plunge waterfalls and ended her life. The word ‘noh’ in the local language means ‘jump’. So the meaning of the name of the falls is the place from where Ka Likai jumped.

Try climbing down a bit to have a clearer look at the emerald-coloured pool formed at the bottom and envy the small kids swimming there. Talking about beautiful waterfalls, do read about Kuang si waterfalls in Laos.

Tip: Shop for Indian spices like pepper and bay leaves sold here by locals. They are super cheap and of good quality.

Wah kba falls

Located in the Sohra area of the Khasi Hills, this waterfall makes beautiful rainbows when illuminated by the sunlight while falling from a great height. It was never on the plan to visit but I stumbled upon a small sign which said Wah Kba falls. After 15 minutes of trek through thick vegetation and small waterfalls, I reached here. Believe me when I say there was not a single person here and it was one of the most beautiful sights in the entire trip. It got creepy at a point and so I hurried back up.

Caving in Meghalaya: Cherrapunji – Mawsmai caves

Situated around 6 km from Cherrapunji, the Mawsmai Caves are naturally formed limestone caves. The stalactites and stalagmites caves have innumerable forms, shapes, and sizes giving you a beautiful experience of climbing, walking through ice-cold water, and over the bridge – all inside a cave!

Though there are many caves in the area, Mawsmai is a crowd-puller due to its size and the number of people it can accommodate at the same time. Though Mawsmai caves are long, only 150 meters stretch is open for tourists. Mawsmai caves have innumerable forms, shapes, and sizes making visitors photograph everywhere and look at it in awe and wonder. This magnificent natural wonder is created over the years due to natural abrasion and underground water carving various shapes through the rocks of the caves.

There are lights installed inside the cave, especially around some special places/corners. These lights help visitors navigate through the cave as well as look around & enjoying some of the beautiful patterns of stones. There are many narrow areas and areas filled with water, where visitors need to bend and squeeze themselves out. There are places where there constant dripping of water from the roof of the cave so it is ideal to keep your bags outside.

Living Root Bridges

Yup, living roots of trees made into bridges. Living root bridges in Meghalaya are probably the finest creations by humans in collaboration with nature. The local people i.e. the Khasi tribes and Jaintia tribes are to be given credit for creating something so stunning. The bridges were made in yesteryears so that people could cross river streams. Without the availability of urban infrastructures, they needed materials that could withhold the weight of people and not rot in the wettest place in the world.

The living root bridges were made up of tangled thick roots that provide formidability to the structure of the bridge and make it good enough to hold a few people. Some of the living root bridges are over a hundred feet long and often take over ten to fifteen years to become fully functional. But once functional they work remarkably with no maintenance. For the same reason, the Living Root Bridges was announced as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Of all the Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya, the double-decker root bridge in Cherrapunji and the single-decker root bridge in Shillong are the unique bridges in the world and make for prime attractions in the Northeast.

I happened to visit the double-decker root bridge (Umshiang root bridge) in Sohra-Cherrapunji. It is a 30 meters long bridge that stands 2400 feet in height and is the longest known Living Root Bridge and is 180 years old. Reaching the bridge is quite an arduous task and one has to trek for about 3 hours to reach here. But it is worth it.

Umgnot River – Dawki

Located in the Jaintia Hills, Dawki is a border town between India and Bangladesh. There is something really pristine about border towns, like once  I visited Nakhon Phanom, a border between Thailand and Laos.

Dawki is a popular and quaint town with overwhelming greenery, crystal clear water of the Umgnot river, and serenity all around. The water of the Umgnot river is so clear that one can the river bed right away. Dawki has climbed the charts of popularity for trekking, boating, and camping near the riverbed. A boat ride over the river will approximately cost INR 500 and can accommodate up to 3 people.

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