Step down through
Things to do in Elephant Falls
Shillong’s three-tiered classic.
The list
The short version: Three stacked falls on the edge of town, reached by steps along the rock face.
01
The stair descent
Each tier closer and louder than the last.
Know before you go
- Tiers
- Three
- From Shillong
- About 12km
Elephant Falls is Shillong’s easy classic: three tiers stacked down a fern-lined rock face, with steps and walkways between them, named by the British for an elephant-shaped rock that an earthquake later took away.
Best time: October to April.
Practicals
Permits & season for Meghalaya
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.
Elephant Falls month by month
Places to visit near Elephant Falls
All of Elephant Falls, none of the guesswork
Fixed departures you can join solo, or a private plan around your dates. Prices on the page, real people on WhatsApp.
Keep planning
- Meghalaya travel guide
- Flying into Umroi Airport, Shillong: flights, cabs and onward connections
- Meghalaya permits: the complete guide
- How Many Days for Meghalaya? 3, 4, 5 and 6 Day Plansfrom the journal
- Is Meghalaya Safe for Tourists? Honest Answer + What to Watcfrom the journal
- Meghalaya from Bangalore: Flightsfrom the journal