Meghalaya

🌄 Meghalaya Travel Blog – An 8-Day Journey into The Abode of Clouds

Trip Duration: 8 Days

Transport Mode: Bus & Scooty

Best For: Nature lovers, solo travellers, peace seekers

Ideal Season: All year round (except peak monsoon for better visibility)

Want an overall map of the whole trip?

🛬 Day 1: Arrival in Guwahati – Transfer to Shillong

My journey to Meghalaya began from Guwahati. I landed at the Assam airport early in the morning. After arrival, I took a city bus to Paltan Bazar. It will take 1 hour to reach Paltan Bazar from the airport by bus. The city buses are running continuously from the airport. After reaching Paltan Bazar, I had breakfast in a nearby local shop. Believe me, they provide you with the best authentic Assamese breakfast. I had previously booked a bus to Shillong, but you can also get shared travellers, which run every 30 minutes. Also, Assam railway station is just beside Paltan Bazar, so if you are coming by train from any part of the country, you can easily get a bus/traveller to Shillong. Since I had some spare time before my bus started, I explored the nearby market area, and it is a huge marketplace; you can also do some shopping if you want. While roaming, I came across a small, beautiful Krishna mandir in the middle of Paltan Bazar. The mandir was crafted in Japanese style architecture. I sat there for some time, the panitji there offered us fruits(prasad), and even though I wanted to sit there for some more time but I had to leave to catch my bus to Shillong. The ride was smooth, and I took a short nap during the 3-hour journey. I reached Shillong in the afternoon.

After I checked into the hotel, I ordered food on Swiggy(best part is, Swiggy and Zomato are available here), had lunch, and crashed on the bed.

Late in the evening, I went to the police bazar and I picked up a rented Activa scooty for ₹3k (6 days). As I drove along the streets of Meghalaya, I was falling in love with every corner of it. The streets were decorated with colourful flowers, and it was twinkling just like stars in the midst of mountains. I ate some momos, did some shopping, and headed back to my room, as I had to sleep early and prepare for the next day's adventure. It's going to be a long week after all!

Stay: Aesthetics the homestay booked(1150/-)

Scooty rent: 500/- per day

🌄 Day 2: Shillong to Cherapunji (50km-2hr) - Pung lyer fall - Mawsmai cave

After having a heavy breakfast, I left for Cherrapunji. The road is good overall, with some rough patches in between. After reaching Cherrapunji, I checked into my homestay that I had previously booked. Then I went to Pung Lyer Falls. It's a hidden waterfall inside the deep, lush forest of Meghalaya. To reach that place, you need to take a local guide with you, as the trail is not marked and you can easily get lost in the jungle without the guide. It's a 1-hour trek. After spending some good 2-3 hours and clicking some amazing pics, I headed back, and by the time the weather had also changed drastically. I was actually in one of the wettest places on Earth, so what else to expect? As I returned, it started raining and the path became slippery, but I trekked back safely somehow.

The next place on the list was the magnificent Mawsmai cave with a length of 150 metres. Thrill seekers will absolutely love this cave for its meandering paths and surprising bends. Meanwhile, wildlife lovers can explore the myriad flora and fauna of this place.

The more lively the surroundings outside the cave, the more silent it was once you went inside the cave. There are some places inside the cave where you will need to squeeze around and crawl, and after adding to the experience of cave exploration, I headed back to my homestay and crashed on the bed.

Tips

1. The entry fee is Rs. 15 per person.

2. The cave can be accessed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. The cave may get suffocating when it's too crowded.

Stay: Goshen homestay booked (3000/-;2nights)

Restaurant (veg): Orange Roots

Note: If I advise you on one thing that I've learnt from my experience is to always ask the locals for the location of the places you're planning to go. Trust me, Google Maps doesn't work in Meghalaya. If you trust Google Maps there then you'll never end up at the incorrect location.

⛰️ Day 3: Cherapunji – Nokhilakhai fall - Weisawdong waterfall - Prut waterfall

Early in the morning, I went to catch the sunrise from the tallest plunge waterfall in India, Nokhilakhai Falls. Set amid rainforests, it's an ideal spot for birdwatching, photography, and nature treks. Had breakfast at a nearby restaurant just beside the viewpoint. After having breakfast, I went to witness the Spectacular 3-tiered emerald waterfall, Weisawdong waterfall. It's a 30-minute hike with a Moderate to steep descent on bamboo ladders. The view was spectacular and worth the trek.

( Tip: Wear trekking shoes; the trail is slippery during monsoon )

On the way to Prut waterfall, I came across a small waterfall. I decided to halt there for a moment as I was tired of riding the scooty. When I went down to track the waterfall, it was so beautiful that I ended up spending 3-4 hours enjoying swimming safely with a life jacket.

Then, I went to the final destination for the day, Prut waterfall. It is a small, less popular, but breathtaking natural wonder nestled amidst lush greenery and picturesque landscapes. Surrounded by dense forests and towering cliffs, the falls cascade down in multiple tiers, creating a mesmerizing sight and a soothing symphony of water reflecting the orange light of the setting sun. The tranquil ambiance and the untouched beauty of Prut Falls make it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

As I was returning to my homestay, the sky was changing colours from orange to pink, and the whole sky was looking like a page from a fairy tale book.

After witnessing the most beautiful sunset of my life, I headed back to my stay, had dinner, and called it a day.

🌿 Day 4: Cherrapunji - Double-decker bridge - Mawrykhang

Today, I started my day early as I had to do the Living Root Bridge trek in Nongriat. As an adventure seeker, trekking to the Double Decker Root Bridge is an unforgettable experience. The journey involves around 3,500 steps downhill. Once you reach the bottom, the reward is worth it. The iconic living root bridge is a stunning sight,

and there’s a natural pond nearby where you can sit, relax, and enjoy a free fish spa—yes, the pond is full of tiny fishes that gently nibble at your feet. It’s nature’s way of pampering you after the trek. You can also go further to Rainbow Falls/Blue Lagoon, which is another 1-hour hike from the double-decker. As I had to leave for another adventurous trek the next day, I had to skip those.

As I was climbing the steps, while returning from the double-decker, I spotted another natural swimming pool formed from the Crystal clear water flowing from the tiny waterfall. I decided to relax there for some time. Though the water was chilled but it was tempting enough for me to jump into it.

I drove to Wankhen village and stayed there, waiting for the next day's adventure!

🏞️ Day 5: Mawryngkhang Trek/Bamboo trek

I started the day with a heavy breakfast as it was again going to be a long day. Mawryngkhang Trek is one of the toughest and scariest treks of Meghalaya. The whole trek is full of bamboo bridges, which are mostly tied using cane ropes and nails in some places. It takes 2-3 hrs to complete the trek one way. The ultimate destination is a steep climb up a bamboo ladder that takes you to the peak. If you are physically fit and not afraid of height, this is a unique experience not to be missed in Meghalaya.

After feeding my soul with enough adrenaline rush, I headed out towards Dawki.

I opted to stay in Shnongpdeng instead of Dawki to avoid the rush, and when I reached Shnongpdeng, I was mesmerized by the calmness that it offered and was pretty impressed with my decision. I rested for the day and was excited for the next day's adventure.

Stay: Stayed in camp - contact no (+91-88370 58317)

🕳️ Day 6: Shnongpdeng - Jowai

I started the day enjoying a beautiful sunrise just outside my camp. I took a stroll to the hanging bridge, breathed the fresh air, and clicked some photos. The Umngot River is incredibly transparent—boats appear to float in mid‑air, and you can clearly see the riverbed stones and fish.

After admiring the unwavering beauty of the river, I decided to explore another offbeat gem- Umkoi. To reach the place, first I need to take a boat to the beautiful cascades of falls. The boat ride is approximately 25-35 minutes. Once I reach the falls, I have to take the uphill jungle trail. The path was not easy, but once I reached there, I was completely awestruck by its untouched beauty. The place was not at all crowded, unlike Dawki, and I enjoyed every bit of the time I stayed there. I did activities like cliff jumping, swimming, and then soaked myself under the sun for a while.

Then I returned, got freshened up, and left for Jowai.

On my way to Jowai, I also covered Phe Phe Waterfall and Krangsuri Waterfall.

After reaching Jowai, I checked into the hotel and ended my day.

🚌 Day 7: Return to Guwahati

After having breakfast, I left for Shillong early in the morning. On my way to Shillong, I also went to Nartiang Mata

temple, which is one of the 51 Shakti peeths. After reaching Shillong, I returned my scooty, caught a shared traveller, and headed back to Guwahati. For this day, I had planned to stay near the Kamakhya temple. From the Guwahati bus stand, I took a bus to the base of the hill and then a shared taxi to reach the temple at the top.

Drive back to Guwahati (approx. 6–7 hours)

Stay: Hemalata Heritage Home

✈️ Day 8: Guwahati

Today I woke up around 3:30 am and got ready for the divine darshan of Maa Kamakhya Devi. I would suggest you follow the early timing to avoid long queues.

The girbhgraha darshan needs a coupon, and there are two options available.

1. General queue

2. Special Queue

Both of these are available offline right from 5 AM in the temple itself. I had booked the stay just 400meters away from the mandir, so I got in the queue by 4 am. I went on the general queue as I went early, and no special queue was needed. Maa Kamakhya Devalaya is considered the most sacred and oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas on earth. After doing the darshan, I went to multiple other temples dedicated to the 10 Mahavidya Devis. After completing darshan, I again followed the same way I had reached the temple (shared taxi+bus).

Since I had my flight in the evening, I decided to take the Brahmaputra river cruise and go to the Umanand temple. I took the government-regulated boats, which also had provisions to keep luggage at the port. I did the darshan and came back on the same boat.

🛫 Fly out of Guwahati Airport

🧳 Packing Tips:

Rain gear (umbrella, raincoat – it's Meghalaya!)

Trekking shoes for Nongriat

Light woolens – evenings can be cool

Power bank, flashlight, and motion sickness tablets for hilly roads

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After experiencing Meghalaya’s clouds and waterfalls, you might also love Coorg’s lush greenery and misty hills.