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Settle into

Shillong

The hill capital: pines, cafes and the plateau at 1,500m.

Pine-and-hill town landscape, representative of Shillong
Shillong, Meghalaya
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.

Where to stay in Shillong →

Things to do in Shillong →

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.

Practicals

Permits & season

No entry permit for Indian nationals; foreign nationals register at checkposts.

October to May works; the monsoon is the point in Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, and the fiercest anywhere in India.

When to go

Plan around these months

OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchApril

Festivals

Time your trip

Shad Suk Mynsiem →Nongkrem Dance Festival →Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival →Autumn Festival →

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.

Journal

Read before you go

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Shillong Cherry Blossom: When, Where and How to See It

Shillong's cherry blossom peaks mid-November: where to see the pink lines, the festival weekend…

Explore Shillong

Facts checked against the official Meghalaya tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26

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