Meghalaya

Introduction 

Planning a group trip to the green, wet, lush and beautiful state of Meghalaya from Delhi is a dream of every nature lover. With cascading waterfalls and living root bridges, hill towns and waterfalls as beautiful as the boastful books of adventure stories, Meghalaya is a refreshing escape from the urban chaos of Delhi. Travelling together with a group is not only enjoyable but also cost-effective and convenient. This blog covers the detailed information you need to chart the right course towards organising an excellent Meghalaya trip from Delhi, including how to get there, top places to visit, the best time to go and much more. 

Meghalaya Trip from Delhi: Route and Travel Options

A Meghalaya group tour package from Delhi begins with reaching Guwahati, Assam- the nearest major city with an airport as well as a railway station. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is about 100 km from Guwahati and is very well-connected by road, as well.

Travel Options:

• By Air: Direct flights from Delhi to Guwahati take about 2.5 hours. From Guwahati, hire a private cab or shared taxi to Shillong (3-4 hours)
• By Train: Delhi to Guwahati by train takes ~27–30 hours. From there, you can reach Meghalaya by road
• By Road (Not recommended): A long journey covering 1900+ km; typically avoided for group trips

Pro Tip: Opting for a tour package from Delhi usually includes flights, local transport, stays and guided sightseeing and this overall simplifies planning as well as logistics.

Best Time to Plan a Meghalaya Group Trip

The ideal time for a Meghalaya trip depends on the kind of experience your group is after.

• October to April: Pleasant weather, clear skies – best for sightseeing and treks
• May to September: Peak monsoon season – waterfalls are at their most powerful, and the landscapes turn lush and vibrant.

Top Experiences Not to Miss on a Meghalaya Group Trip

Even though Meghalaya is packed with locations that can be used as postcards, there are some things you need to really experience when visiting the place with a Meghalaya group tour package. These are the times that make a journey into a common experience that is pleasurable to re-live.

• Boating in Dawki: Dawki is a river whose clear waters appear like glass under which you are floating through an experience that takes the best group photo shot.
• Nongriat: A moderately intense hike which takes you to the famous two-storied root bridge. The trek through the forest and the cascades is literally an experience.
• Journey into Mawsmai Caves: It is one of the small amounts of limestone caves in Meghalaya available to the visitor, which is highly recommended to visitors who like adventure and geology.
• Sunset at Laitlum Canyon: A serene cliff view, which is ideal to cap the day off with the team in the background of fluffy clouds and the winds of the valley.
• Shopping and Food at Police Bazaar: Just the thing to buy local souvenirs and eat together on the street as well, momos, jadoh with pork (rice and pork) and bamboo shoot pickle.

Travel Tips for a Smooth Meghalaya Trip

• Pack smartly with light layers, rain gear, trekking shoes and power banks are a must
• Stay Connected. Network coverage is quite patchy in rural areas so make sure you carry local SIMs or inform your group in advance
• Assign a group leader or trip captain for easier decision-making and coordination.
• Carry adequate cash, especially in Dawki, Mawlynnong and remote villages.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Planning a Delhi to Meghalaya Trip

Planning a trip to Meghalaya on your own can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few things to keep in mind while planning your Meghalaya trip from Delhi. 

Step 1: Plan to Book Early Flights

The shortest way is a flight from Delhi to Guwahati Airport (Assam), which is the major access point to Meghalaya. Shillong is approximately a 100 km (3- 4 hours) drive on the road from Guwahati. Choose flights in the early mornings so as to provide your group with a full day of travel time.

Step 2: Organise Group Transfers 

Pre-booking a tempo traveller or minivan from Guwahati to Meghalaya is cost-effective and helps the group to remain together. Select a good operator who is familiar with hilly roads.

Step 3: Seal of a Good Itinerary

In the case of groups, there is a need to achieve a balance between exploration and downtime. Ideally, itinerary of 6-7 days works the best:

• Day 1: Arrival & transfer to Shillong
• Day 2- 3: Explore Shillong & Cherrapunji
• Day 4- 5: Visit Dawki, Mawlynnong
• Day 6: Return to Guwahati

Step 4: Keep permits and ID ready

Although Meghalaya does not enforce ILPs (Inner Line Permits), one must have a valid photo ID of all the members of the group, most particularly at police checkposts or hotel check-ins.

Conclusion

A Meghalaya group trip from Delhi is a rewarding escape into the untouched charm of nature, which should be enjoyed with travel companions who are adventure seekers and people who love off-the-beaten-track experiences. Having done thorough planning on the route to take, the season to go at, and with an organised Meghalaya group tour package, you get the new experience of discovering unspoiled rivers, misty hills and cultural jewels, without necessarily having to plan out each and every detail yourself. Now, get together your group and choose your dates and then leave the rest to the charm of Meghalaya.

 

One of the most beautiful and breath taking places to visit in India is Meghalaya. It is similar to entering a whole new world. Meghalaya stands for “Abode of Clouds”, and the place indeed does justice to its name. If you are one amongst those who are attracted towards nature, like to go through new experiences, are amazed by skies full of stars and spectacular waterfalls then Meghalaya is indeed a place to visit. This article will give you an idea to plan a Meghalaya Itinerary for a minimum of 7 days.

Itinerary Snapshot

Day 1: Arrival at Guwahati Airport and travel to Shillong

Day 2: Shillong- Cherrapunji

Day 3: Visit Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Day 4: Trekking the Living Root Bridges

Day 5: Cherrapunji – Mawlynnong

Day 6: Mawlynnong – Dawki – Shillong

Day 7: Shillong – Guwahati – Departure

Following are few tips that you can go through to plan your Meghalaya trip in a much better way:

How to reach Meghalaya?

You can consider Guwahati as the starting point of your Meghalaya tour. It is also one of the most important attractions of North-East India and is located at a mere distance of 159 kms from Meghalaya. The Railway station at Guwahati is also the nearest one to Meghalaya. Meghalaya is also well connected with other important cities through well –established roadways. The journey will be smooth with decent amount of traffic.

What are the most popular tourist destinations in Meghalaya?

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Meghalaya is home to a number of beautiful waterfalls, caves, scenic mountains with breath-taking view. Following are some of the most popular destinations in Meghalaya:

• Shillong: It is filled with beautiful hills, lakes, water falls coupled with great local food and rock music.
• Cherrapunjee: It is the land of the caves, and is famous for the living root bridges.
• Mawlynnong. It is the cleanest village of Asia.
• Dawki:  It is on the Bangladesh border and the lake Umngot flows here.
• Mawphlang: This place is famous for the ritual of nature worship in the forest, which is also a local tradition.
• Mawsynram: The place with the heaviest rainfall and deepest caves.
• Laitlum: The place is known for canyons running deep into the valley.
• Nartiang: The capital of the Jaintia Kings during the summer season and is also a place filled with monoliths as well as ancient temples

Also Read: 9-Day Gujarat Itinerary

Is Meghalaya safe for solo travelling?

Meghalaya is one of the safest places in which you can plan a solo trip. You can complete your travel itinerary of seven days while travelling solo in Meghalaya.

Best season to visit Meghalaya

If you are looking forward to exploring the most beautiful places of Meghalaya, then it is recommended to plan trip in the summer season. A summer trip to Meghalaya will help you’re from the scorching summer heat. The temperature in majority of this state never crosses 28°C in the summer season. The evenings are just as pleasant as the mornings. Several regional festivals are held in summer from the month of April till June. Hence, summer is an ideal season to plan a trip to Meghalaya.

Where to stay in Meghalaya and the type of hotels available there?

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Shillong has plenty of stay options which come at various prices.  The central place of Shillong is the Police bazar. You can look across for hotels across this area. If you are looking avoid the crowd then you can prefer to spend your time in home stays in Sohra as well as Mawlynnong. Sohra has little well known resort such as Polo Orchid resort, Coniferous Hotel, and so on.

What type of food options is available in Meghalaya for vegetarians?

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Just like any other city in India, Meghalaya has a plethora of options for vegetarians. In shilling you can experience the Indian and Chinese cuisines in the local Restaurants. You will also like the desserts served in cafes in Shillong. You can also choose to explore the street food where you will come across tasty jalebis, Delhi chaats, and samosas and so on.

Can you commute locally in Meghalaya if you are not hiring a vehicle for the entire trip?

In Shillong you will not face any commutation problems local cabs run across different points of the city on a sharing basis. The minimum fare charged can be anywhere between 10 to 30 rupees depending upon the distance covered. Several cabs are also available all across Shillong’s major sightseeing spots from the Police bazar which is the central place of Shillong. The tourism office of Meghalaya in the Police bazar also organizes trips the most popular destinations. The charges applicable on a person basis is also quite affordable for Solo travellers.

Is the trip to Meghalaya affordable for Budget Travellers as well as Backpackers?

The answer is indeed a yes. You can opt for shared accommodation facilities to travel across Meghalaya. If you’re trying to keep your budget on a lower side then it is a wise choice accommodation the central Shillong area. In Sohra, you can choose to stay at “By the way”. It is a popular station for backpackers as the majority of the homestays here are quite expensive. It is also preferable to camp in Dawki instead of Mawlynnong as the latter is very expensive.

Is Meghalaya a suitable choice for Young Travellers and Senior Citizens?

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Meghalaya is quite suitable for travellers across all age groups. However, the older people may not be able to experience the cave exploration if they come across any mobility as well as breathing issues. Alternately, they can choose to explore the Living Root Bridge located in Mawlynnong as it has much better accessibility.  Children can enjoy the sights just like adults provided they are above 8 years of age. Children will love to breathe in the fresh air, climb machans and run around parks in Sohra.

7-Day Meghalaya Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Guwahati Airport and travel to Shillong

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Once you reach the Guwahati airport, Shillong must be the immediate place to visit. The distance between Guwahati and Shillong is just approximately 100 kms. The soothing climate along with breath taking landscapes makes Shillong the ideal destination to visit after arriving at the Guwahati Airport.

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You can reach Shillong by hiring a cab. In addition, cabs are easily available at the airports. To make your journey hassle-free, you can also pre-book a cab. While in Shillong, you can visit the Ward’s Lake. Few of the other places worth visiting in Shillong are the Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake, and the Shillong Peak and so on. The beauty of Shillong leaves everyone at loss of words to describe its beauty and is rightly been given the title of ‘Scotland of the East’. In the evening, you can explore the local cafes as well as pubs in Shillong. Your trip to Meghalaya has just begun with one of the most beautiful place for any tourist.

Day 2

Shillong- Cherrapunji

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Today, you get to visit the wettest places in the world that is Mawsynram as well as Cherrapunji. The route to Cherrapunji from Shillong is extremely beautiful with amazing Mountain View. While travelling, you can also give a try to zip lining. This will surely give you an adrenaline rush as you slide down from one mountain to another on a rope. Zip lining is a must try in Meghalaya and is also undoubtedly the best one in our country, considering its placement over gorgeous mountains.

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Cherrapunjee experiences the heaviest rainfall when compared with any other place on this planet. When you visit Cherrapunji, you get the chance to see the abundant greenery of the place. Your first sightseeing place must be the limestone caves. You can explore these caves which served as homes to ancient human beings. It will be a unique experience as you crouch, walk and slither your way through these caves. Krem Liat Prah, in Meghalaya is one of the longest known caves and is approximately 31 kms in length. Following the exploration of the cave, you can visit the famous waterfalls of Cherrapunjee the next day.

Day 3

Visit Nohkalikai Waterfalls

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The Nohkailikai Falls, Dainthlen Falls and the Nohsngithiang Falls are the major attractions of the place due to their scenic beauty. The Nohkailikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall of India and is also the most photogenic one. It falls evenly from the cliffs top over the rocks without any break. When you look beyond the waterfall you can catch a view of the wild mountains and jungles. This view in itself makes the trip quite exciting. The water from the falls form a small blue pool and it is quite comforting to dip your legs on warm sunny days. You can also choose to swim in such shallow areas.

Also Read: Goa Itinerary

Day 4

Trekking the Living Root Bridges

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The Living Root Bridges are the most fascinating as well as extraordinary sights of Meghalaya. The Living Root bridges are formed by a set of bridges which in turn is formed out of barks as well as trunks of the trees located on either side of the stream. The total time taken for a round trip across the Living Root bridges is around 5 hours.

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The trek to the Living Root bridges is extremely beautiful. While trekking, you will go through small local villages, narrow streams and jungle. You will even have to cross a rope bridge, beneath which is located one of the bluest natural water pool. The Jingmahan Living Root Bridge has been given the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site as this bridge is formed by the sheer strength of nature.

Day 5

Cherrapunji – Mawlynnong

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Mawlynnong is the cleanest village of Asia. It is located at distance of 90 kms from Shillong. The village takes extreme pride in in keeping its surroundings clean. Collective effort from each and every villager is responsible for keeping the village clean. The places so clean that you wouldn’t even come across a leaf on the road. Well going through this village you can experience the local life the interacting with the villagers, having lunch with them climbing up a tree house and watching the breath-taking views of the landscape. From the tree house can even catch a glimpse of Bangladesh and if you are lucky, you can even spot some shooting stars.

Day 6

Mawlynnong – Dawki – Shillong

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Dawki is a small town located in the Jaintia Hills. Dawki as well as the river Umngot is one of the must visit places in the beautiful Meghalaya. The town is situated between India and Bangladesh and is a hub for trade between the countries. The town is also known for its tourism as the tourists explore the local town while enjoying the boat ride on the popular Umngot River.

Day 7

Shillong – Guwahati – Departure

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Post breakfast you can leave the hotel and drive back to Guwahati. On the way back, do visit the Umiam lake. The place is Surrounded by the Majestic Khasi Hills. The lake is actually a man-made reservoir. The sunrise at the Umaim Lake is a treat to watch.  Once you arrive in Guwahati, you can try to visit the Kamakhya Temple, following which you can visit Kalakshetra. The Kamakhya Temple is an extremely important place as per Hindu mythology. It is the most important shrine Goddess Shakti.

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Kalakshetra is nothing but a cultural institution bit with an objective to protect the cultural ethnicity as well as the Heritage of Assam. The place is a must visit if you are looking to explode the cultural diversity of North East India. You are free in the afternoon; you can also choose to go on a cruise on the Brahmaputra river. You can also visit the ISCKON Temple, Guwahati War Memorial and the Guwahati Planetarium. You can even explore the local market and buy some cute souvenirs for your relatives and friends. Few of the famous markets from which you can purchase silk products, footwear, handicrafts as well as crockery are Maligaon Market, Fancy Bazaar as well as NEDFi Haat.

Important Places to Visit in Meghalaya

Meghalaya, known as the “abode of clouds,” is a captivating state nestled in the northeastern region of India. Popular for its green landscapes, flowing waterfalls, and exclusive living root bridges, the state offers a plethora of attractions for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. When visiting Meghalaya, you should not miss out on some important places to visit in Meghalaya.

Cherrapunjee

We have already covered Cherrapunjee in our 7-day itinerary in Meghalaya above. One of the must-visit destinations in Meghalaya is Cherrapunjee. The official name of this place is Sohra. It is one of the important places to see in Meghalaya India. It is famous for being one of the wettest places on Earth. The mesmerizing Nohkalikai Falls, plunging from a breathtaking height, and the living root bridges of Nongriat village are awe-inspiring sights that showcase the region’s natural splendour.

For those seeking adventure, the Mawsmai Cave near Cherrapunjee is an exhilarating exploration. The cave system offers a thrilling journey through narrow passages and chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, providing a unique underground experience. When visiting Meghalaya, make sure to visit this place in Cherrapunjee.

Mawlynnong

We have covered this place in the 7-day Meghalaya itinerary above. Another gem in Meghalaya is Mawlynnong, recognized as the cleanest village in Asia. The picturesque village is adorned with flower-laden pathways and bamboo dustbins, providing a unique and refreshing experience for visitors. The Living Root Bridge of Mawlynnong is a remarkable example of indigenous engineering, constructed by intertwining the aerial roots of rubber trees. It is one of the best places to see in Meghalaya India.

Shillong

Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, is a charming hill station with a blend of British colonial architecture and Khasi heritage. During your Meghalaya visit, do not forget to visit Shillong. It is already part of our 7-day Shillong itinerary. The Ward’s Lake, Don Bosco Museum, and Shillong Peak are prominent attractions offering panoramic views of the surrounding hills.

Other Important Places During Your Visit to Meghalaya

• Meghalaya is also home to the Umiam Lake, a vast reservoir surrounded by hills and lush greenery. Boating and water sports enthusiasts can indulge in various activities while enjoying the serene ambience.
• The Dawki River, located close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, is popular for its pristine waters.
• The Umngot River, a tributary of Dawki, is renowned for its transparent riverbed, allowing visibility of the riverbed rocks and aquatic life.

During your visit to Meghalaya, do not forget to include the places to visit in Meghalaya discussed above.

Meghalaya’s diverse attractions, ranging from waterfalls and living root bridges to pristine lakes and caves, make it a captivating destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. The state’s unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness ensures a memorable experience for every traveller.