Meghalaya
Abode of the clouds • waterfalls & root bridges
Meghalaya, the 'abode of the clouds', is the Northeast's most searched destination and the easiest first trip. Living root bridges grown over generations, the crystal Umngot river at Dawki, Asia's cleanest village and the wettest places on earth are all within a few hours of Shillong, the breezy hill capital the British called the Scotland of the East.
When to go
Top places in Meghalaya
Living root bridges, Nongriat
The famous double-decker root bridge, hand-grown by Khasi communities. A steep 3,000-step descent from Tyrna, best over two days with a homestay.
Dawki & the Umngot river
Glass-clear water where boats seem to float on air, on the Bangladesh border. Clearest in the dry months, roughly November to April.
Sohra (Cherrapunji)
Nohkalikai and Seven Sisters falls, Mawsmai cave, and among the highest rainfall on earth. Best in autumn and winter for clear views.
Mawlynnong
Billed as Asia's cleanest village, with a sky-walk viewpoint over the Bangladesh plains and a nearby single-decker root bridge.
Shillong
Ward's Lake, Police Bazar, Laitlum canyons and India's rock-music capital. The Cherry Blossom Festival lights it up each November.
Mawphlang sacred grove
An ancient forest protected by Khasi law where nothing may be removed, plus the start of the David Scott trail.
Getting there
By air. Most visitors fly to Guwahati and drive 3 hours up. Shillong's Umroi airport takes small aircraft from Kolkata and Delhi; a Guwahati–Shillong helicopter runs from about ₹2,200.
By rail. No railway into Meghalaya; Guwahati is the railhead.
By road. Four-lane NH-6 Guwahati–Shillong (about 3 hrs). Hire a Meghalaya-registered taxi for Sohra and Dawki. Self-drive rentals to tourists are not permitted.
Permits
No permit is needed to visit Meghalaya — just a valid ID (passport and visa for foreigners).
Open the permit checker →Eat & spend
Try: Jadoh (Khasi rice and pork), Dohneiiong (pork with black sesame), Tungrymbai (fermented soybean), Smoked pork with bamboo shoot.
Budget: Mid-range and homestay-friendly. Shillong hotels ₹2,000–6,000; Sohra and Dawki homestays ₹1,200–3,000. Since 2025 every stay registers guests, so carry ID.
Meghalaya at a glance
Reference figures. Population and literacy are from the 2011 Census, India's latest.
| Capital | Shillong | Statehood | 21 Jan 1972 |
| Area | 22,429 km² | Population | 29.7 lakh |
| Literacy | 74.4% | Districts | 12 |
| Languages | Khasi, Garo, Pnar; English official | ||
| Good to know | Matrilineal Khasi, Jaintia & Garo societies; wettest place on earth. | ||