Settle into
Things to do in Shillong
The hill capital: pines, cafes and the plateau at 1,500m.
The list
The short version: Meghalaya’s capital and everyone’s base: Ward’s Lake, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak and a live-music city.
01
Ward’s Lake
The wooden bridge over the city’s ornamental lake.
02
Shillong Peak
The plateau lookout above the city.
03
Music circuit
Bars and venues with genuinely good live acts.
Know before you go
- Altitude
- About 1,500m
- From Guwahati
- About 100km
- Airport
- Umroi (limited) / GAU
- Signature
- Music, pines, cafes
Every Meghalaya trip runs through it: Sohra is under two hours, Nongriat’s trailhead under one.
Best time: October to April; the cherry-blossom window is mid-November.
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.
Shillong month by month
Festivals tied to Shillong
Places to visit near Shillong
All of Shillong, 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
- Guwahati to Shillongroad
- Shillong to Sohraroad
- 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