Settle into
Shillong
The hill capital: pines, cafes and the plateau at 1,500m.
- Altitude
- About 1,500m
- From Guwahati
- About 100km
- Airport
- Umroi (limited) / GAU
- Signature
- Music, pines, cafes
Shillong sits on the Khasi plateau at about 1,500m and runs at its own pace: colonial-era pines, Ward’s Lake, the Police Bazar food circuit and a live-music culture that earns the city its rock reputation. Official itineraries pair it with Umiam Lake on the way in, the cathedral, the Ever Living Museum, Laitkor Peak and Lady Hydari Park.
Every Meghalaya trip runs through it: Sohra is under two hours, Nongriat’s trailhead under one.
Quick answers
Shillong at a glance
How many nights in Shillong?
Two covers the city comfortably; most travellers use it as the base for Sohra and Nongriat day-runs.
When to go
Plan around these months
Festivals
Time your trip
Nearby
Close enough to combine
Things to do
What you're here for
Ward’s Lake
The wooden bridge over the city’s ornamental lake.
Shillong Peak
The plateau lookout above the city.
Music circuit
Bars and venues with genuinely good live acts.
Facts checked against the official Meghalaya tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26