Meghalaya Tourism – An Ultimate Travel Guide
Meghalaya, famously termed as ‘abode of clouds’ is one of the most beautiful places in North East India.Meghalaya Tourism has been boosted due to the lush greenery all around, the sylvan hills, the beautiful mountains and spectacular waterfalls. The foggy hills, clean lakes, rivers and all the amazing things of nature in Meghalaya will definitely leave its visitors with an unforgettable experience.
Meghalaya shares its boundary with Assam and also with Bangladesh.The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong, which is also famous for being termed as the ‘Scotland of the East’. Meghalaya Tourism has become popular among tourists when it comes to travelling in India.
The state is home to two wettest places on earth, Cherrapunji and Mawsynram. The reason for Meghalaya housing the wettest places is due to its geographical location. The clouds floating from the Indian Ocean has no barrier and easily passes through Bangladesh planes and hits directly the mountains of Meghalaya causing much rain.
The regular rains in Cherrapunji creates fogs in the mountains and the greenery making the place mesmerizing. Meghalaya is home to the most unique and beautiful waterfalls in the region. Some of major tourism destination that have boosted Meghalaya Tourism are the beautiful waterfalls like Krang Suri Falls, Nohkalikai Falls, Seven sister Falls and the Wei Sawdong Falls. Apart from the waterfalls it houses most amazing and wonderful caves like the Arwah and the Mawsmai Caves.
Different tribes live in Meghalaya and they have their own unique cultures. It will be a great opportunity for people visiting Meghalaya to witness these tribal cultures. A Meghalaya Tour Guide can also be available on request who will guide you to explore different places of Meghalaya. Clean lakes and rivers ads beauty to this state. Travellers are amazed when they visit Meghalaya and witness these natural beauty of Meghalaya.
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Best Selling Meghalaya Tourism Packages
What Makes Meghalaya So Famous?
Meghalaya is blessed with a large number of picturesque beauty, dense forests that remain green throughout the year and pleasant weather conditions that are suitable for visiting it at any season and any time. It serves a great number of stunning waterfalls in its lap. During the monsoon these waterfalls show their real beauty when they fall from a great height . Meghalaya also serves some of the tallest waterfalls of the world in its lap. Witnessing these waterfalls from a distance seems like nature is pouring milk from its top to beneath. Meghalaya is also home to many rare species like elephants, golden cats, Binturongs, slow loris, monkeys and birds like hornbills. Apart from all these one can see a large number of migrated birds in Meghalaya. Meghalaya supplies a lush green environment for its visitors throughout the year which is almost impossible to find in any other state of India. Meghalaya is also famous because of its enormous orchids (a plant with complex flowers) and varieties of fruits, spices and vegetables. Some of the mysterious caves and glassy river water makes Meghalaya a must visit place. The beauty of high green elevations of Meghalaya will give you a sense of wonder. The term Meghalaya means abode of clouds and it derives its name from sanskrit. It is one of the most beautiful states from the group of seven sister states.
Honeymoon Packages for Meghalaya
When to Visit Meghalaya for Tourism
Meghalaya can be visited all-round the year but during the monsoons the weather is pleasant and the waterfalls, parks and greenery of the mountains have their best views.
However, if you are looking for some adventure activities and boating in the clean Dawki River you can visit Meghalaya during winter.
During the winters, river water is clean and most of the adventure activities are done during that time.
Different things can be done at different times of the year which makes Meghalaya an ideal tourism destination.
Meghalaya Tourism One Day Tour
Things to do in Meghalaya
- Trek to astounding Living Root Bridges:Go for a trekking in the puzzling trek of Double Decker Root Bridge which is positioned in the dense forests of Meghalaya. This required bridge is termed as a nature icon as it is made of 2 tree roots. Indeed it is an extremely awe-inspiring idea to trek in its region. As you reach beneath after trekking you can find a natural swimming pool in which you can relax your tired body.
- Explore caves:Explore one of the longest caves of India called Mawsmai cave. This required cave is considered as a rough limestone cave with a faint light on its entrance. It also has low overhangs and often a stony secure grip with feets.
- Walking along the David Scott trail:One of the oldest trails of Meghalaya. It is also considered as the oldest trail of Meghalaya and even David Scott trek is an adventure-filled ride through the study of past events.
- Trip to Mawphanlur village:A village with only five to six families inhabited. It is considered as a small hamlet of Meghalaya which shocks its visitors because of its picturesque beauty. In Mawphanlur village region you can see gorgeous valleys, magnificent forests and smooth hills as far as your eyes could see.
- Dawki:Visit Dawki, one of the magnificent places of Meghalaya with lots of sightseeing sites and adventure activities. The water which flows through this river is extremely clean and provides a scenic view as it passes through the lush green peaks.
- Visit Cherrapunji and Mawsynram:Places that receive the title of wettest places on earth. These scenic places are 54 and 60 km away from the capital city of Meghalaya. Visiting these sites will allow you to witness some of the best views of your life.
- Shopping:Do shopping in Police Bazar, one of the regular gatherings of people for the purchasing and selling of provisions of Meghalaya. Police Bazar is considered as the main market of Shillong, Meghalaya as here you can find all types of shops for shopping, restaurants to sit and eat, cinema halls etc.
- Mawlynnong village:Explore one of the cleanest villages of Asia.Mawlynnong is a village in the East Khasi Hills district of the Meghalaya state in North East India. This village falls under Pynursla community development and the best of this village is the moment you enter this extraordinary place you can witness someone or the other one is busy in cleaning/brooming/shaping bushes.
- Mountain biking:Do a mountain biking activity at Sohliya Village in itsLocated approximately 35 km from Shillong. Within the village of Sohilya in the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya there is an astonishing location where mountain biking activity is available.
- Boat ride:You can go boating in the glassy river of India. Many People from different-different parts of the world fly to Shillong city to enjoy this boat ride in the Umngot river. During the spring season the river water of this Umngot river reveals its beauty at its utmost level and hence this is the peak time to visit this gorgeous site.
- Kayaking:Boost your adrenaline with an adventurous activity like kayaking at shnongpdeng. Kayaking through the crystal clear river water is really outstanding as it provides a feeling of riding a kayak on the lower layer of atmosphere. Kayaking at Shnongpdeng River will be an adventurous experience.
- Snorkelling and swimming:You can do snorkelling and swimming activities under the guidance of experts inside the chilly and crystal clear river. Dawki, which supplies glassy water for its visitors, makes it a perfect site for freshwater Snorkelling and swimming for beginners and professionals.
Meghalaya Tourism Adventure Activities
Itineraries for Meghalaya Tour
You can choose your ideal Meghalaya Tour plan from our list of Meghalaya Tour Packages.
How do we reach Meghalaya
You can reach Meghalaya by road, railway, or flight.If you want to reach Meghalaya by road you have to drive through the national highway and first reach Guwahati. From Guwahati, you can drive to Meghalaya.
For reaching Shillong which is the capital of Meghalaya it takes around two and a half hours from Guwahati through road. You can book a private taxi or a shared taxi to reach Shillong.
Since Meghalaya does not have proper railway connectivity, you can take a train up to Guwahati Railway Station from where cabs are available to reach Meghalaya. It is around 2 & ½ hours of journey from Guwahati Railway Station to Shillong.
You can take a flight to Shillong Airport, which is also known as Umroi Airport, if you want to reach Meghalaya by flight.
Travellers also prefer to take a flight up to the Guwahati Airport, also known as Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, from where they hire cabs to reach Meghalaya.
Both options are available and are preferred by tourists visiting Meghalaya.
The major local languages of Meghalaya are Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo. Local people can communicate in English well. Apart from these major local languages, there are tribes who have their own languages.
In Meghalaya people also speak Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, and other languages of India. Tourists do not have any difficulty in communicating with the local people of Meghalaya.
In the capital city of Shillong you can find people from different places of India who speak their own languages.
Meghalaya was carved out from Assam and it became a state officially on 21st January 1972. Earlier it was a part of Assam with its capital at Shillong. After Meghalaya achieved its full statehood, Shillong was made the capital of Meghalaya.
The state has different districts like the East Khasi Hills District, Jaintia Hills District, and Garo Hills District which are named after different tribes of Meghalaya. In the past Meghalaya has given birth to heroes and legends. U Tirot Singh and U Kiang Nangbah are the leaders who fought with the British for independence.
There are different tribes who live in Meghalaya. The major tribes of Meghalaya are the Khasis and the Garos. Tribal people of Khasi Hills speak the Khasi language and the people in Gari Hills speak Garo language. Jaintia, Garo, Khasi and English are the official languages of Meghalaya.
Other people in the state speak Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, Assamese and Boro. Majority of the people in Meghalaya profess Christianity followed by Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism etc.
The basic occupation of the people in Meghalaya is agriculture. They harvest rice, potato, sweet potato, ginger etc. People in Meghalaya love to eat betel nut and the most famous among the betel nut is called ‘Kwai skup’ which people are fond of eating.
Oranges, Ginger, Turmeric, Broom and Limestone of Meghalaya are highly demanded products and are transported outside the state as well as exported to other countries.
Local people celebrate different tribal festivals like the Behdienkhalm, Seng Kut Snem and the Wangala Festival. Tourism in Meghalaya is thriving because of its natural beauty, different cultures and warm and welcoming people.
Top Tourist Attractions in Meghalaya
Shillong is a small and beautiful hill station and is the capital of Meghalaya. Because of its beauty and cleanliness, it is also known as the Scotland of the East. The city is surrounded by hilly mountains and huge pine trees. There are many beautiful places in and around Shillong which you can visit during your Meghalaya Tour.
You can visit the following places in Shillong:
Shillong Golf Course
Ward’s Lake
Elephant Falls
Shillong Peak
Cherrapunji can be termed as a pearl for Meghalaya Tourism. It is one of the wettest places on earth and one of the most travelled destination for people visiting Meghalaya. Cherrapunji has beautiful mountains and lush greenery. The clouds floating over the mountains gives an amazing look. During the monsoons it houses different beautiful waterfalls which includes Nohkalikai Waterfalls and Seven Sister Waterfalls. The real beauty of the waterfalls can be admired during the monsoons. Apart from waterfalls you can visit Caves and Parks.
You can visit the following places while you are in Cherrapunji:
Nohkalikai Falls
Wei Sawdong Falls
Seven Sister Falls
Mawsmai Cave
Mawsynram is one of the reasons for the boost of Meghalaya Tourism. This place is globally famous for being one of the wettest places on earth. During the monsoons, the clouds floating over the mountains and the wettest landscapes creates a wonderful environment in the region and give a breathtaking view. There are different places to visit in Mawsynram like the famous Jakrem Hot Spring, where naturally the water is warmer. You can also visit the Mawjymbuin Cave in Mawsynram.
You can visit the following places in Mawsynram:
Mawjymbuin Cave
Jakrem Hot Water Spring
Mawlynnong is a beautiful village located near Dawki. It is famous for being the cleanest village in Asia and has been awarded so in the recent past. The villages has become a tourist place rather than a village. You can visit this place to admire the cleanliness of the village. While at Mawlynnong, you can visit Living Root Bridge at Riwai. You can also visit Balancing Rock, a small rock balancing a giant rock. If you want to experience rural life then you can book a homestay for a night at Mawlynnong Village.
Following places can be visited during your tour to Mawlynnong Village:
Living Root Bridge
Balancing Rock
Dawki is a small town located in the West Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. it is famous for it crystal clear river known as Umngot River. The river is so clean that while boating you can literally see the river bed from the surface. In winter season the water is much cleaner as there is no rainfall. Adventure activities like Kayaking, Snorkeling can be done here alongside riverside camping in Shnongpdeng Village, around 7km from Dawki Town. If you are nature and adventure lover, Dawki is a must visit destination for you.
You can visit the following places in Dawki:
Dawki River
Indo-Bangladesh Border
More Places in Meghalaya
Weather in Meghalaya
Meghalaya has one of the most pleasant weather in the Northeast India. Since Meghalaya is a hilly region and receives good amount of rainfall, it has comfortable weather even in summer with an average of 24°C.
During the monsoons there is enough rainfall which makes the waterfalls, lakes, rivers and the greenery look beautiful. Due to the pleasant weather of Meghalaya during the monsoon, the fogs over the mountains makes the entire place mesmerizing.
Winter season is dry in Meghalaya and has a pleasant weather in day time which is about 12-15°C but falls below 10°C after evening. but an amazing thing about winters of Meghalaya is that there is no fog and from early sunrise you can enjoy the warmth of the sun. Local people enjoy sitting outside early morning becasue of the clear weather with enough sunlight.
| Season | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Summer(April-June) | 15.9°C-30°C |
| Monsoon(July-September) | 17.9°C-24.3°C |
| Winter(October-March) | 3°C-15°C |
Travel Advice on Meghalaya Tourism
Meghalaya is a hilly region, so during your tour you may have to trek a little trekking, so wear good quality shoes. Also carry important things like first aid, charger and warm clothes.
If you are visiting Meghalaya during the monsoon season or any other season other than winter, carry an umbrella or a raincoat so that you can comfortably enjoy visiting different places in Meghalaya.
Since Meghalaya Tourism is growing day by day, it has seen high footfall of tourists. It is advisable to book your hotels early as good hotels are mostly booked in advance.
You can even book your transportation in advance as the rates may increase as your travel dates come near.
If you are coming with toddlers or small kids, you should avoid long trekking like the trek of the Meghalaya Double Decker Living Root bridge as it involves around 5 hours of trekking time.
For shopping you can visit Police Bazar, which is the famous market in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Meghalaya Tourism Travel Guides
Best Places to stay in Meghalaya
| Name | Price (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Tripura Castle | Starts from Rs.6000/- per night. |
| Hotel Centre Point | Starts from Rs.5000/- per night. |
| Hotel Holiday Hills | Starts from Rs.2500/- per night. |
| Hotel Sapphire | Starts from Rs.3000/-per night. |
| Hotel Monsoon | Starts from Rs.3548/- per night. |
| Name | Price (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Polo Orchid Resort | Starts from INR 7499/- night |
| Smoky Falls Mae Fi Resort | Starts from INR 2500/- per night |
| Abode of Clouds Resort | Starts from Rs.2500/- per night |
| Jiva Resort | Starts from Rs.7000/- per night |
Meghalaya Tourism Reviews
Shekhar Sharma
Professional service since the beginning. Right from building the itinerary to executing the same, along with altering as per the situation to make the trip better and more memorable. Our driver Sandeep was ever smiling and
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Karandeep Singh
I traveled two days with Irshad from Travenjo Tours. They are professional, trustworthy, and friendly people. I just booked on phone, and Irshad was standing right on time outside my hotel. The travel was very smooth,
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Bijan Pradhan
Extremely easy to pre-book online. Very low advance booking amount. Superb connectivity thorugh whatsapp and e-mail in case of any issues. We made a great friend in Raj bhai our driver for the trip. He was our driver
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Manu R
Iam very happy with the overall experience with Travenjo Tours! Mr. Tarique Anwar, owner of Travenjo was very helpful in suggesting best itinerary for our Meghalaya trip for 8 days, he made sure we were comfortable
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Shreya Patawari
We had a good and smooth experience with Travenjo. Our Driver Rahul was polite and made every possible effort to make us view/explore sites in Shillong. I highly recommend both Travenjo and the driver.
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Navjot Maini
It’s was awesome experience… I booked cab from 1st December to 6th December 2019…Without any hassle my trip went smooth, Pick up from Guwahati Airport to Meghalaya and back to Airport… There was no hassle, Our Driver
View ReviewFrequently Asked Questions about Meghalaya Tourism
Yes, Meghalaya is now open for tourists after the pandemic. However you need to generate an e-invite from the Meghalaya Tourism App. Incase you are not fully vaccinated you may be required to produce a negative RT PCR report.
Yes, Meghalaya is one of the safest places for tourists in India. Women are empowered in Meghalaya, both culturally and economically. Solo female travelers also visit Meghalaya. . Police force and people of Meghalaya in general is helpful towards the tourists. However you should always take general precaution and keep your valuable belongings with you where ever you visit.
Meghalaya has many famous and unique places. Some of them are the wonderous Double Decker Living Root Bridge, giant and spectacular Krang Suri Falls, Nongkhnum River Island and Kongthong Village.
Meghalaya has a pleasant weather all round the year except few days in winters which are dry but still the weather is pleasant during the daytime. For nature lovers the best time to visit Meghalaya will be monsoons when the views of the waterfalls, lakes and greeneries are at its best. During winters you can visit Meghalaya if you are into adventure. Adventure sports are mostly done during winters.
You can buy the unique local handicrafts and bamboo products from Meghalaya. You can also buy local honey and turmeric which are of good quality in Meghalaya. There are souvenir shops in police bazar. You can buy one for yourself as a memory of Meghalaya Tour.
Fruits like Oranges and Pineapple of Meghalaya are famous and are of good quality.
The climate of Meghalaya is generally moderate and pleasant. In summer it ranges from 15°C to 30°C, whereas in monsoon it is generally about 17°C to 25°C. In winter the temperature of Meghalaya is colder and it ranges from 3°C to 15°C.
You can plan a trip for Meghalaya for atleast five days. Here is an ideal plan for your Meghalaya trip:
Day-1: Reach Shillong and take a tour of Shillong City and outskirts.
Day-2: Visit Cherrapunji’s waterfalls, park and caves.
Day-3: Explore Mawlynnong Village and Dawki.
Day-4: Visit Krang Suri Falls and Laitlum Canyons.
Day-5: Shillong to Guwahati.
An ideal trip to Meghalaya will be for atleast 5 days which may cost around 15,000/- per person. It will include transportation, accommodation and sightseeing. You can book our Best of Meghalaya Tour which is of 5 days and covers the major tourist attractions of Meghalaya.
If you have budget constraints and also less time, you can book a trip of Meghalaya for 3 Days and 2 Nights which cost around 8,500/- per person. Our Hidden Meghalaya Trip is ideal for budget travellers.
Meghalaya is one of the most visited tourist destination in the Northeast because of its natural beauty and its warm and humble people. There are lush green and beautiful mountains all around. During monsoons the clouds float over the mountains creating a spectacular view. Cherrapunji is also most visited destination in Meghalaya and is famous for being a wettest place. It has beautiful waterfalls and caves. Apart from it there are many other places which gives tourists a reason to visit Meghalaya.
Yes, an e-invite is required for Meghalaya Tourism. Government of Meghalaya has opened the tourist places. As a traveller visiting Meghalaya you need to obtain an e-invite to enter Meghalaya. This e-invite can be obtained from Meghalaya Tourism App. The app can be downloaded from Play Store.
You can reach Meghalaya by by flight, train, bus and car as well. Meghalaya is well connected with major cities of India.
You can opt for the following options to reach Meghalaya:
By Flight: You can take a flight from your city to Shillong Airport.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Guwahati Railway Station from where you can hire a cab for Meghalaya.
By Bus: Meghalaya has regular bus services. You can catch a bus for Meghalaya from Guwahati and other major palces of Northeast and also West Bengal.
By Car: Cab services are easily available from railway station and airport for Meghalaya. You can also book your cab for Meghalaya online.
Explore the beauty of Meghalaya by booking 4 Nights 5 Days Trip To Meghalaya.
Meghalaya is blessed with numerous beautiful places. These are the following places to visit in Meghalaya:
Shillong
Cherrapunji
Mawsynram
Nongpoh
Umiam
Dawki
Mawlynnong
Nongkhnum River Island
Kongthong Village
Umden Village
Tura
Yes, you can do the following adventure activities in Meghalaya:
Scuba Diving
Cliff Jumping
Kayaking
Snorkeling
Zip Lining
Camping
Adventure activities are mostly performed in Shnongpdeng and Dawki
Resorts in Meghalaya are in the most ideal locations and offer a good view of the surrounding mountains and greenery.
Some of the best resorts in Meghalaya are:
Ri Kynjai – Umiam Lake
Smoky Resort – Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji Holiday Resort
Jeeva Resort, Cherrapunji
Polo Orchid, Cherrapunji
Betelnut Resort, Shnongpdeng, Dawki
In the markets of Meghalaya you can find different fashionable clothes, handicrafts, artifacts, and many other interesting items. You can do shopping in Police Bazar, Iewduh (Barabazar), Laitumkhrah, Tura, Jowai Bazar, Sohra Bazar etc.