A beautiful city encircled by pine trees, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It derives its name from Lei Shyllong, an idol worshipped at the Shillong Peak. Standing as tall as 1496 meters, Shillong provides relief from the heat across the country. This hill station is known for its picturesque sights and traditions. The soothing climate makes Shillong suitable to visit in all seasons. The drizzles and the cooling gentle wind adds to the joy of visiting this hill station. This place is also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is the home to numerous waterfalls.

SHILLONG ATTRACTIONS:

1. Umiam Lake
2. Elephant Falls
3. Police BazarEast
4. Laitlum Canyons
5. Shillong Peak
6. Ward’s Lake
7. Don Bosco Museum
8. Lady Hydari Park
9. Sweet Falls
10. Spread Eagle Falls
11. Diengiei Peak
12. Sohpetbneng
13. Meghalaya State Museum
14. All Saints Church
15. Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians Shillong
16. Air Force Museum
17. Butterfly Museum
18. Eve Living Museum
19. Rhino Heritage Museum
20. Presbyterian Church
21. Shillong Golf Course
22. Wankhar Entomology Museum

Earlier the wettest place on the Earth, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, also known as Sohra, is known for its double-decker living root bridge. Located around 50 km from Shillong, this sub-divisional town is famous for its rich flora and natural attractions. Although Mawsynram is now the wettest place on earth, Cherrapunji still holds the record for the highest recorded rainfall in a calendar year. Apart from the famous living root bridge, other natural attractions include cave formations such as the Mawsmai Caves and Krem Phyllut. Asia’s cleanest village, Mawylyngnong is another famous tourist spot here, where visitors can live and experience the food and culture of the village.

CHERRAPUNJI ATTRACTIONS:

1. Nohkalikai Waterfalls
2. Mawsmai Cave
3. Krem Phyllut
4. The Eco Park
5. Nongsawlia
6. Mawsmai Falls
7. Dainthlen Waterfalls
8. The Mawkdok Dympep Valley View
9. Wakaba Falls
10. Mawlyngbna
11. Nongriat Root Bridge
12. Nohsngithiang Falls

1. Acknowledged as the wettest place in the world, the mesmerizing village of Mawsynram, located 61 km south of Shillong is a nature lover’s delight and the perfect destination for a weekend trip. Mawsynram trounces Cherrapunjee by a slight margin in being the wettest place in India.

   The ‘Maw’ in Mawsynram is a Khasi word meaning ‘stone’. It symbolizes the unique megaliths unearthed in the Khasi Hill area.

Located in the western part of Meghalaya, as the administrative headquarters of the West Garo Hills district, Tura is an eco-tourist hub of the state. It is located 311 km from Shillong and 219 Kms from Guwahati in Assam. As opposed to Shillong, which is growing highly multi-cultural, Tura is relatively deeply rooted in its native Garo roots. Tura and the other regions of the district boast of rich undisturbed biodiversity and natural attractions such as waterfalls, caves, and rivulets. The primary languages spoken are Garo and English.

TURA ATTRACTIONS:

1. Tura Peak
2. Siju Caves
3. Balpakram National Park
4. Nokrek National Park
5. Pelga Falls
6. Rongbang Dar Waterfalls
7. Siju Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Siju Bird Sanctuary
9. Naphak Lake
10. Nartiang Monoliths
11. Rongbang Dar Waterfalls

1. Located in the Jaintia Hills district, Jowai located at a distance of 66 km from Shillong, is famous for its bucolic setting and breathtaking views with the perfect mix of heritage and culture. Jowai, much like Cherrapunji, prides itself on being a destination much loved for a scenic drive and boasting of lakes, vast open valleys, and waterfalls. The Thadlaskein Lake and Lalong Park are famous tourist hot spots while Syntu Ksiar is also a popular destination on the shores of river Myntdu. Festivals such as Behdeinkhlam, Chad Sukra, and Laho Dance attract many tourists from across India each year.

   JOWAI ATTRACTIONS:

   1. Tryshi Falls
   2. Nartiang Monoliths
   3. Krang Suri Falls
   4. Umlawan Cave
   5. Jarain Pitcher Plant Lake
   6. Syntu Ksair
   7. Stone Bridge
   8. Thadlaskein Lake
   9. Lalong Park
   10. Tarin Fish Farm
   11. Bamboo Grove
   12. Tipi Orchid Research Center

NONGPOH: Nongpoh, located 60 km from Guwahati in Assam and 51 Kms from Shillong is a petite town to be found to the North of the East Khasi Hills. Situated very close to the gorgeous Brahmaputra plains, this location is quite a favorite as a stopover before reaching Shillong from Guwahati.

Beautiful rivers, encircling plush green trees, serene climatic conditions are enough to make your trip a comfortable and enjoyable one.

NONGPOH ATTRACTIONS:

1. Thrills Fun Park
2. Lum Nehru Park
3. Lum Sohpetbneng
4. The Road Side Market
5. Church of Christ

1. Williamnagar, located 244 km from Shillong, was formed around the former town of Simsanggre, which is based on the large plains of the Simsang River. A very remote area is usually known for its abundance of natural beauty i.e. being flanked by the mountains and has a rich composition of both water and vegetation.

   WILLIAMNAGAR ATTRACTIONS:

   1. Simsang River
   2. Naka Chikong
   3. Domre Falls
   4. Mrik Wari
   5. Simsang Festival
   6. Simsang

Situated 287 km south of Shillong at the Indo-Bangladesh Border, Baghmara is not only rich in flora and fauna but also boasts many small lakes, rivers, and rolling hills. Flanked by the South Garo hills and fed by the Simsang river, this minute town is host to hordes of tourists every year. The Balphakram National Park is the most famous attraction, which lies around 66 km away from the town. Being a major trade hub with Bangladesh, Baghmara is known for its fish delicacies.

BAGHMAR ATTRACTIONS:

1. Baghmara Reserve Forest
2. Baghmara Tyisam Festival

Mawlynnong is a small village situated around 90 km from Shillong in the East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, and is also known as God’s own Garden. It was declared as the cleanest village in Asia in 2003 by Discovery India which certainly makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Indian state. Mawlynnong village is a community-based eco-tourism initiative where the entire community made collective efforts in making and maintaining the cleanliness of the village.

Mawlynnong offers some of the most picturesque natural beauty with lush green valleys, crystal clear water in the river, an abundance of flowering orchids hanging from the trees, and extremely clean roads that make this small village a worth visiting destination for tourists visiting Meghalaya.

A small border town in the Jaintia Hills, Dawki, and its famed river Umngot or the Dawki River is a must-visit in Meghalaya. Sandwiched between India and Bangladesh, Dawki is a major center of trade between India and Bangladesh. The small city, besides being a trade hub, is also famous for its tourism scene, with many people flocking to the town to experience a boat ride in its famed Umngot River and enjoy the nearby sights and sounds.

The city becomes a hotbed of tourist activities especially during the spring months as it hosts the boat riding competition on the Umngot River. The surrounding greenery, the cold water of the river, and the beautiful suspension bridge on the River Umngot make Dawki a place worth a visit.

Hidden deep in the lush, green forests of the wettest place in India: Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya; one can find the magnificent Jingkieng Nongriat Double Decker Living Root Bridge; more commonly known as the Umshiang Double Decker Living Root Bridge or simply just the Double Decker Root Bridge.  This area is famous for root bridges made of Indian Rubber Tree, but the Double Decker Bridge is the most famous of all due to its large size. It is 3 kilometers long and placed at a height of 2400 feet! A unique attraction and quite an innovative mix of nature and engineering. The Umshiang River flows beneath the bridge.

Around 45 kms from Shillong, the Mawphlang Sacred Groves is situated in the East Khasi Hills. Once you reach the place, you can see rolling green plains, dense forests amidst the backdrop of blue sky. A sacred grove is a small forest area considered sacred by the Khasi tribe. The sacred grove usually has many medicinal plants and herbs and exotic plant species.

MAWPHLANG ATTRACTIONS:

1. Khasi Heritage Village
2. David Scott Trail

Mawlyngot is a beautiful village amidst the green and a serene atmosphere. Tea gardens, Tea factories are a place of interest here.

At about 45 kms from Shillong; it leys the somnolent village in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. The locals believed that the people from the Indo-Bangladesh border had migrated down the River Umsong and settle down here. The early villagers cultivated corn, millet, potato, chili, and banana in low yields. 

Kongthong is a very interesting place in Meghalaya. Situated between two famous ridges, getting to Kongthong by trekking there from either the Pynursla or the Sohra ridge is an adventure. The unique culture of Kongthong’s inhabitants is they do not call out each other using their names, they instead sing out names that are given to every individual of the village in childhood.

Umden is situated in the Ri-Bhoi district and is known for its Eri silk production. Here you can witness all the steps in sericulture starting from the rearing of silkworms to spinning and reeling of silk to yarn production and dyeing and finally to weaving. The village itself is really beautiful nestled in a serene valley.

The road to Nongkhnum Island is long, but the view that you get here compensates all your trouble. It is the largest river island in Meghalaya and is situated near Nongstoin. The island with the clear water of the river is a serene place with hardly any soul. The road to Nongkhnum Island is really bad.

Situated close to the Indo-Bangladesh Border, the Garo hills are part of the Patkai hill range, which extends across the Indo-Myanmar border. The hills get their name from the Garo tribe who inhabit the area. The Garo Hills, spanning 8000 sq meters of area, offer magnificent viewpoints, densely populated with subtropical forests and rare endemic species of animals and birds. For ease of administration, the area has been divided into five districts: the East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, and the South West Garo Hills. The Nokrek peak is the highest peak of this hill range, but the Arabella hills and the Tura peak also offer some breathtaking scenery. The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important national parks with international importance, is located in this nature-rich area. The hills are also decked with splendid waterfalls, enriching the ecological coherence of the place.

Part of the former Jaintia Kingdom, the Jaintia Hills is a land of majestic hills filled with rich natural vegetation and mineral deposits. It is situated in Meghalaya and is part of the Patkai hill range that extends across the Indo-Myanmar borders. A relatively smaller hill district as compared to the Khasi and Garo Hills, the Jaintia Hills still amazes travelers with its pristine lakes and lush greenery. Jowai, the administrative headquarters, is the most developed town in this region and is the only place connected to other towns outside the hills. The Jaintia hills comprise two districts: the East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills.

Some 78 km away from Shillong, a unique giant rock made out of red granite, Kyllang Rock is a giant dome placed in the West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. The Rock which is 5400 ft above sea level and has a width of around 1000 ft is a mammoth block of granite that is part of the Khasi folklore and seems beautiful in its shape. A hike to the top of Kyllang Rock allows you to treasure the marvelous landscape of the surrounding area.

Surrounded by age-old Red Rhododendrons, Kyllang Rock is said to have a special magnetic field that makes sure that people don’t fall off it. The mammoth dome is inaccessible from its southern side whereas the northern side is full of rhododendrons and bushes.