Duration – 4 days
Meghalaya, also known as Cloud Home, is divided into seven major districts – East Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi, South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, and the West Khasi Hills. If you are planning to visit Meghalaya, then you should know that this is a peaceful state and is not commercialized. Why?
Well, because for the most part of history it has remained cut off from India due to ethnic problems. But what entices travellers to come and see here is the mass of green found everywhere where you set your eyes. It is known to be the world’s wettest region and is also the home to the famous Living Root Bridges. This travel guide will help you plan your trip to Meghalaya in the most accommodating way.
I travelled solo here and if you are fretting over how safe the place is, rest assured, there is nothing to worry about. This state will make you feel at home and you would wish that only if you could stay here forever.
Disclaimer: This article may contain links to our affiliate partners such as Amazon, Booking.com, etc. If you find our website useful, please consider booking through our links. When you do we earn a small percentage at no extra cost to you.
How to Reach
Now you can take a direct flight to Shillong (the capital of Meghalaya). But the flights are way expensive if compared to the Guwahati ones. To cut cost I would suggest you reach Guwahati first and then drive to Shillong. More on it below.
Reach Guwahati first
Flights
Shillong has a small airport at Umroi but there are few direct flights to Shillong. You will also notice that the flights are quite costly due to the low-frequency. So, instead of checking for Shillong flights, you should check for the Guwahati flights as it will be more economical for you.
Trains
The nearest railways station to Meghalaya is Guwahati Railway Station. You can check the train timings and cost for trains on www.irctc.co.in with respect to the state you are coming from.
Reach Shillong
It takes about 2-3 hours to reach Shillong from Guwahati Aiport. Below, I will talk about both public services and scooty options for your trip.
Scooty
The distance between Guwahati and Shillong is about 100 KMs so you can easily rent a bike (which I did) and drive to Shillong. The highway is breathtakingly gorgeous so trust me, you won’t regret it. You can rent bikes from Guwahati as well as from Shillong at an economical price. There are many websites and stores that cater in this business.
Bus
Below, I am giving information on both the routes to Shillong’s main bazar – police bazaar, from Shillong airport and Guwahati airport.
From Guwahati Airport
Shared cabs are available right outside the airport connecting to Shillong. It costs about INR 300 per passenger from Guwahati Airport to Shillong’s Police Bazaar from where you can get a ride to almost any part of Shillong.
Airport transfer services cost about INR 250/- and leave the airport at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Tickets are available at Tourist Information Center, Police Bazaar and Meghalaya Tourism Information Center, Guwahati Airport.
Note: From Shillong to Guwahati airport the bus leaves at 6.30 AM and the other one at 9.00 AM
From Guwahati Railway Station
If you are travelling by train, you can get a taxi from Kamakhya Railway Station itself or go to Paltan Bazaar instead. The cost from Paltan Bazaar is INR 170. Taxis run frequently from here and you can book a seat for yourself right there.
From Umroi or Shillong Airport
Umroi airport is 35 kms from Shillong. There are regular services of buses and shared cabs from Umroi airport. You can also find MTC bus service that is a 28-seater bus which costs about INR 100/- and runs on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. You do not have to worry about the timings of these buses. They depart from Umroi after every arrival of the flight from Kolkata.
Note: From Shillong, the bus leaves at 11 AM for Umroi airport.
Nervous about travelling solo? Here are a few tips that will help you – Nine Solo Travel Tips to Adopt in India
Things to See and Itinerary
Day 1 – Explore Shillong
After reaching Shillong, best would be to find a hotel in the Police Bazar. There are many options to stay here, plus it is the main market of this hill station. You will be able to find all the amenities here and if in case you would like to buy something, you will easily get it. Although, the place is a little crowded though. You can also find street food to eat and roti with vegetables just for INR 20/-. (YES!)
Accommodation
If you are travelling on a budget then you can stay at the Isabella Travellers Hostel in Shillong. This place costs around 360 INR per night for a bed and offers free WiFi facility as well.
Places to See in Shillong
After placing your bags and taking rest, head out and explore the places below which are in Shillong and can be covered in a day –
Umiam Lake
This lake comes on the way from Guwahati to Shillong and looks immensely gorgeous during the sunset. If you wish then before going entering Shillong, you can stop here and sit beside the lake. But if your backpack is heavy, then the lake is not that far. You can easily return back from the Police Bazar.
This lake was originally constructed as a part of Hydel Power project, it has now become a tourist destination. You can witness a gorgeous reflection of the sky and take amazing pictures of both sunset and sunrise. It is a very picturesque place.
Shillong View Point
After Umiam lake, you can move to this place which lies 10 KMs from Shillong and is also the highest point in Meghalaya. You can see the panoramic view of the city, from up here along with the cascades of waterfalls; completely gorgeous and breathtaking!
Elephant Waterfalls
This gorgeous waterfall is located 12 KMs from Shillong and is shaped in the form of steps. It is said that this name was given by a British officer. While visiting this place he saw a rock here that resembled like an Elephant. Hence the name, ‘Elephant Waterfalls’, but sadly, this rock got destroyed in an earthquake. Due to this the structure of the Elephant is not visible anymore.
After this return back to the hotel and relax as you have to leave early in the morning the next day. It is best to have dinner by 8 PM since post 9 PM everything starts to get shut down.
Day 2 – Shillong to Cheerapunji
Leave early in the morning the next day and head out to Cheerapunji. Last stop is the Double Nongriat Village. The drive is really serene and full of green and I am sure you will stop a lot on the way itself to soak in the beauty. During my time, it started to rain, but luckily I had a raincoat to cover myself up and my Backpack was waterproof, hence I still drove in the rain. Best feeling ever!
How to Reach Cheerapunji from Shillong
There are shared taxis that run from Bada Bazaar of Shillong. Although if you have rented out a scooty then this won’t be a hustle for you.
Accommodation
‘By The Way’ hotel which is the cheapest and is quite close to the Seven Sister waterfalls. If you wish to check out other stays here, go to this link – here
Places to See in Cheerapunji
Mawkdok Valley
Mawkdok Valley left me speechless with its beauty! This valley is charming and the serenity surrounding this place will completely blow your mind. The valley is extremely green with the dense plantation that stretches across the entire highway. When I reached here, the entire valley was covered with clouds, making it heavenly to look at. Also, you can also engage in zip lining over here.
This place comes right on the way and is right beside the main highway that leads to Cheerapunji. In fact, you can also do zip lining here.
Insider: If you will move a little ahead, you will also find several tea stops. Over here, the number of tourists are less as comapred to the main point of Mawkdok Valley. But do not worry, the view is absolutely gorgeous from here as well and more peaceful.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXRn7xmFe0O/?taken-by=unravelling_travelling
Nohkalikai Waterfalls
From Mawkdok Valley move witness these gorgeous waterfalls! It will be almost an hour ride from the Valley. Once you reach, you will be asked to pay minimal entry charges to see the waterfalls. These falls have an interesting story behind its name.
The story goes something like this –
There was a young woman named Ka Likai who had a daughter from her earlier marriage and had married for a second time to a new guy. Her second husband loathed his step-daughter. So, one day when Likai returned home after work from the fields, she was surprised to see her husband had prepared the evening meal and even served it to her. Likai ate the meal without any suspicion until she discovered her daughter’s finger in the betel nut basket. Distraught with grief and remorse, she rushed to the nearby cliffs and threw herself from the end of the precipice adjoining the waterfalls. The falls has ever since been known as Nohkalikai which means the “Leap of Likai“.
Seven Sister Waterfalls
Take a U-Turn and go to see the Seven Sister Waterfalls. Here, you can first find a place to keep your backpack (Details below) and can head out towards the falls. These falls can be seen from the roadside parking area itself. You can eat Maggie and have a hot cup of ‘Chai’ here and can peacefully enjoy the serene view from the road.
Garden of Caves (Laitmawsiang)
If you want to explore a remote place in Meghalaya and have a little time in hand then this is the exact place you should go. It is in a silent village, Sohra and the entry charge for this place is just for INR 20, with an additional INR 20 for the cameras. It is the least explored places with lesser tourists here. To reach here, one has to take a detour from the main highway and enter a remote village to explore this place.
Want to explore a few more remote places? Read this article – 5 offbeat places in Meghalaya
Day 3 – Double Decker Living Root Bridges
If there are any marvellous wonders around the world, then Nongriat Village is surely one of them. The village is a man-made wonder where the Ariel roots of Banyan tree are spiralled and twisted together to form a sturdy yet completely beautiful bridge.
Located in Meghalaya, it has around 3,000 steps one way. Towards the end of the bridge, your legs will start shaking because it is not easy to climb up or down from it.
Below, you will find all the details of how to reach this place, where to stay and a secluded waterfall named Rainbow waterfalls.
How to Reach
Shillong – Cheerapunji – Tyrna Village – Trek to Nongriat – Double Decker Living Root Bridges – Rainbow Waterfalls
Reach Tyrna Village First
By Scooty/Bike: I rented an Activa from Awe Rides that charged me INR 650 per day. There are parking facilities available in Tyrna Village so you can easily get your own vehicle to reach here
By Bus+Private Cab: You can also take a government bus to Cherrapunji which starts from Police bazaar in Shillong. This will cost you around INR 350 or you can also take a shared taxi from Anjali Cinema Taxi Stand till Tyrna Village. Well, if you are opting for a shared cab till here directly from Shillong, then you would miss out on the places that are mentioned above. Renting a scooty is actually a win-win situation, but if you do not know how to ride a scooty, buses are your best friend
Reach Nongriat Village
From Tyrna Village, the trek starts till Nongriat Village where you have to climb down around 3,000 steps. There will be pit stops on the way from where you will be able to buy food items and water bottles. You will also come across two suspension bridges made of iron rods on the way.
Insider: Once you will reach here, locals will start pitching their guide skills to you. There is no need to take a guide for this place as the pathway is very simple and straightforward. In the Tyrna parking area, many people will force you to take a guide. Do NOT get convinced.
Accommodation
I stayed in the Serene Homestay which is run by Byron and his family and would suggest that you stay with them too. Trust me, you will just love their hospitality and the environment. For just INR 300, they provide you with hot water, food and a comfortable bed every night. You can contact Byron at – +91 9615252655 and book the stay for your visit too. Although most of the times his number is not reachable as Nongriat village’s connectivity is very poor.
Connectivity
In Cheerapunji connectivity is really good. It is good in entire Meghalaya, to be honest except for Nongriat Village. Expect a loss in the network once you reach this village.
Places to See
Double Decker Living Root Bridges
Once you enter the Nongriat Village, the double-decker living root bridges is just 50 steps walk from the Nongriat village which is built by the Khasi tribe. You can take a dive in the river and swim, which will instantly make you feel like you are home again.
Rainbow Waterfalls
If you want to explore the village further then you can trek for another hour. On a bright sunny day, you will be able to see a rainbow formation on the clear blue water from this place. From Nongriat Village, I took a guide to this place who charged me INR 300.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfqWgAjFnJH/?taken-by=unravelling_travelling
Day 4 – Nongriat Village to Dawki
Today, leave early from the Nongriat Village and start hiking. The drive from Tyrna Village to Dawki is for three hours. This is in the Jaintia Hills district and has a famous river Umngot, that lies between the India and Bangladesh border. The water is so clean that you can see the rocks inside the river and you can take a boat ride here to enjoy the clear river water. You can also see Bangladeshis standing across the border.
How to Reach Dawki
Finding a shared taxis from Cheerapunji to Dawki is impossible. You would have to take a private taxi that would cost about INR 3,000. Ideal if you are travelling in a group but not when you are solo! Hence renting out scooty is the best option.
However, if you have extra time in hand you can head back to Shillong, explore Shillong for a day and take a shared taxi from Anjali Cinema Taxi Stand.
Accommodation
You can contact a homestay in Shnongpdeng – 9615762788, which is the best option for budget-friendly travellers
Connectivity
Vodafone and Airtel work poorly here as well. It is best to have Jio.
Have extra time in hand and what to explore more places in Meghalaya? Check the 10 Offbeat Places in Meghalaya that I explored
The Route I Followed – Map
Below, I am providing the route map that I followed in the four days of my trip. You will see that to go to Dawki from Ceehrapunji, I have to again cross Mawkdok. There is no other way to go to Dawki that this one. Hope it helps! 🙂
The Travel Company I Recommend
If you are worried about travelling solo and want a relaxed and worry free travel, there is a company operating in Meghalaya that can sort your travel plans and can also arrange everything – Our Guest.
They also specialise in offbeat travels and I have personally travelled with them and highly recommend their tours. You can check out their tours here – Our Guest Meghalaya Tours.
Typical Costs
Travelling in Meghalaya
I rented an Activa for 5 days which cost me around INR 650 per day. However, if you do not want to rent a bike then you can take a government bus that runs from the Police bazaar in Shillong till Cherrapunji for INR 350 only. This bus will cover Mawkdok Valley Viewpoint, Eco Park, Nohkalikai Falls and the Seven Sister falls so you don’t have to worry about missing anything.
To reach the Double Decker Living Root Bridges (Nongriat Village), which lies 13 KMs away from Cherrapunji, you will need to take a cab as local transport is not available for this place.
Hotel Prices
- Shillong: If you are travelling solo or looking for a budget-friendly accommodation then you can stay at the Isabella Travellers Hostel in Shillong. This place costs around 360 INR per night for a bed and offers free WiFi facility as well. Plus, they also help you plan your trip and arrange for your transportation if needed. You can book your stay by going to this link – here.
- Cherrapunji: You can stay in ‘By The Way’ hotel which is the cheapest and is quite close to the Seven Sister waterfalls. If you wish to check out other stays here, go to this link – here
- Nongriat Village: A homestay will cost you INR 300, which will also include dinner and breakfast. You can contact Byron at – +91 9615252655 and book the stay for your visit too.
- Dawki: You can contact a homestay in Shnongpdeng – 9615762788, which is the best option for budget-friendly travellers
If you are looking for more options on accommodations, maybe in a homestay or a hotel you can check the website below. The best thing about this website is that you do not have to pay any amount in advance. just reserve the room through them 🙂
Things to Carry in Meghalaya
Now, packing can get a little difficult if you are not aware of the weather. I would first ask you to check the weather, how rainy it is and also how low the temperature could go and keep the things accordingly. I am writing some essentials below that you should definitely not miss out on –
Poncho
Meghalaya is the place where heavy rainfall is a daily occurrence. Having a poncho is a must! Poncho is a better alternative to your umbrellas as it gives you the freedom to walk without holding a covering like an umbrella –
Raincover
For your backpacks make sure you have a rain cover. If you have gadgets and electronic things and your backpack is not waterproof it can damage all your necessities –
Hiking Shoes
Hiking shoes are a must if you are going to Nongriat village. My personal favourite is from Quechua that I wear all the time.
Slippers
Do not forget to pack good slippers. In rain, while walking you cannot roam in your shoes for the fear of getting wet.
Jacket
Do not forget to pack a good jacket with you as in Meghalaya temperature falls quite low.
Meghalaya is a gorgeous place and I am sure you would fall in love with it as I did. It is a place close to my heart where I can happily stay forever. Hope you get to say the same too!
Very well written Radhika. Could you please let me know what is the right season to see this beautiful place.
Thank you Shakti 🙂
Well, you could visit in any season, but I specifically went during the rainy season. Even though it is Cheerapunji and the amount and volume of rainfalls increase tremendously, but the weather was really beautiful and the landscapes were lush green 🙂
Hi Radhika am planning to visit Meghalaya next month s t ryt time?
I would suggest you to visit it in September 🙂
Wonderful!
Thank you Smriti 🙂
Hello madam! thank you for this post.It really helps alot!My question is What to do of the scooty or bike that I want to hire?My mother has vomiting problem,so She won’t be able to make it by car.I have to hire a bike to ride with her.But how will I dispose of the bike after reaching shilong?Please help me out!
Hey Debdip!
Glad you liked the article 🙂
From where are you traveling to Meghalaya? I took a flight till Guwahati, Assam, because it is the most economical.
From Guwahati, I rented an activa/bike from Awe Rides. You can return it back to them once you reach Guwahati, so plan accordingly. Hope this helped.
Enjoy your travel with your mom 🙂
oh! ok.I have understood now.Did you drive up to places like Shillong view point,Umiam lake ,Cherrapunji by your bike?If so ,then it was wonderful! Thanks. 🙂
Yes, all the way to Cheerapunji and Dawki 🙂
You are welcome!!
How to go dawki??
I wish to ask whether it was safe to carry the scooty all around without having any fear of any damage or stealing of the same, because at times you have to cover those 3000 steps down and up journey, covering large time…….
Hi Vivek,
It is completely safe you don’t have to worry about it at all 🙂
There are many cars/bikes being parked in that area and the people who take the parking fees take care of the vehicles.
Hi Radhika,
Your post is really great and helpful. I with one other friend is planning to visit north east during Christmas this year for 10 days. Is December a good time to visit these places? If yes, what other places you suggest could be covered in 6 more days along with the itinerary you posted?
Hi Naquib 🙂 Glad that you found the article helpful. December would be a great time, although it will be really cold so pack accordingly. Since you have extra time in hand, why don’t you go to Dzukou Valley in Nagaland? I had plans to go there as well along with Meghalaya but sadly I did not have 10 days in hand. You can also go to Sikkim, which will take you almost a day to reach from Meghalaya. 5 days would be a good enough time to explore that place. Here is a guide that we wrote on Sikkim… Read more »
Radhika – Amazing write up and wonderful depict of the places 🙂
So the itenary you mentioned is this perfectly doable in 4 days or should I put a buffer ??Also I have a day more (planning 5 days) #any other place I can include apart from above itenary??
I see you did a solo travel,just a check of this circuit is safe to do solo or any other pointers I should keep in mind.
TIA For all the info and help
Hi Jagan, Thank you so much and glad you liked the article 🙂 Well, yes all this can be covered in four days, however, you will be needing a fifth day to go all the way back to Guwahati to return your scooter. But if you an extra day in hand try visiting the living root bridges as well. There is double-decker living root bridges which I covered in the article, however, there is another one called living root bridge which is a little far away as well. And yes, it is completely safe as a solo traveller. Of curse… Read more »
Hi radhika,
A honest Confession…seeing all ur amazing posts pictures and blogs I’ve become ur fan by now😊. You’ve inspired me quite a lit to travel and explore.
On that note…Im planning to do a meghalaya 5 day trip in Jan 3 rd or 4 th week. Any idea about the best time to visit? I will probably follow the same itinerary as you have posted.
Also if you could suggest places to stay over that would be awesome.
Cheers!
Hi Mandar,
This is so sweet of you! Thank you so much for all the love 🙂
According to me, Meghalaya is good all round the season. I went in the worst of the times – monsoons and still enjoyed thoroughly 🙂
So yes, January would be perfect.
Also, in the guide there is a section called “Hotel Prices”, you can check for the stays and recommendations over there 🙂
Fantabulous.. Thanks a lot! Will do the hampi tour then meghalaya…any specific inputs to follow for hampi?
Check this out – http://www.nomllers.com/things-todo-hampi/
Yup just got that… Thanks a ton again..cheers!😊
I love to read your itenary because of that flowchart you always put in. I started following your journey over insta and blog also vlog since last month( a little late may be) but I’d say I love your writings and insta posts.
so thank you for giving the chance to travel with you via your insta and blog.
Hi Prakhar 🙂
I am so happy that you acknowledged the flow chart, it took a lot of effort!
Thank you for all the love! 🙂
Hi Radhika!
I am planning to visit in December and your wonderful post has surely made me frantic.
How are the roads in Meghalaya?
Is it advisable to book the hotels and car beforehand or will it be fine do it on the spot?
Hi Radhika
I am planning to visit in December and your wonderful article has surely made me frantic.
How are the roads in Meghalaya?
Is it advisable to book the hotels/homestays beforehand or will it be fine do it on the spot (cost and availability-wise)?
Hi Raghav, thank you for appreciating the article 🙂 Roads in Meghalaya are perfect and very very smooth. Maybe in a few places you will find some hiccups, but nothing major. You can book the rooms on the spot. Just for Nongriat village (if you are planning to go), try to book the place a day or two earlier. Although I did book the room on the spot in Nongriat as well, however, since the rooms and beds are limited in number and many tourists trek to that place it is better to book a little in advance. Enjoy your… Read more »
Hi Radhika, i am planning a trip to meghalaya this month end..was planning to stay shillong the whole time and commute from there and back to all places ..what do you suggest as still confused.
For eg. Shillong to dwaki and back.shillong to double deckerbridge and back.
Please suggest
Hi San, you can do that from Dawki because there is not much to see this side, however, if you want to go to double-decker there are many places to see which you might miss. For example – seven sister waterfalls, double-decker (rainbow waterfalls a little ahead), the garden of caves and nohkalikai falls. I am assuming you are asking this because you won’t be riding a scooty? Maybe what you can do is, return from Dawki to Shillong. The next day pick your bags and stay in Cherrapunji from where you can take a bus easily and visit these… Read more »
Thank you so much!!
PS: Loving your Instagram!
Shella, one of the prettiest spot of all the offbeat places in #Meghalaya, India. Enjoy the spell-binding beauty of the east khasi hills, thick forest trails, surreal landscapes, sound of gushing river and warm people.
Hi Radhika! This is a great write-up! Thank you for all the details. I am planning to visit the place in the last week of December (probably after 25th) , I am just skeptical whether I would be able to find accommodation at the places you mentioned. Also, two wheeler ride seems to be the best way to enjoy the scenic beauty, however, I am not sure how much feasible it would be during winters. Let’s say that one can manage to reach the places by public transport/share cabs , what are the ways to then visit around the place… Read more »
Hi Abhinav, Winters in Meghalaya are often sustainable, however, I understand, riding in winters can get very chilly! I will mention the buses’ point here as well which I have also mentioned in the article already – “You can also take a government bus to Cherrapunji which starts from Police bazaar in Shillong. This will cost you around INR 350 or you can also take a shared taxi from Anjali Cinema Taxi Stand till Tyrna Village. Well, if you are opting for a shared cab till here directly from Shillong, then you would miss out on the places that are… Read more »
Great. Thank yo so much for all the details ! 🙂
Nice blog , really Meghalaya is a beautiful place . Cherrapunji is a heaven on hearth .
Thank you 🙂
hi madam,
I want to go on a solo travel from bangalore. Is it safe for female travellers to go there. My concern is how safe it is riding bikes in unknown valleys. Can u guide me on this.
Hello Chaitra, I was travelling solo in Meghalaya on my bike and yes it is safe 🙂
Of course, you need to be careful like in any other state and for that, I would suggest you read this – http://www.nomllers.com/solo-travel-tips-india-sikkim/
It is all about how confident you are and you will be fine 🙂
Let me know when you visit that place and how your experience was like.
Hi thanks thanks thanks a lot for this beautiful writeup….this is my first time to do a solo trip… This article gave me lot of courage. Just my questions are Is it safe to drive scooty on highway from guwahati to shillong? Can I take a scooty in shillong ? So that I hire scooty in shillong and give it back in shillong only … After covering all the South places…. As per your map it seems you have to cross shillong while returning to guwahati Please correct me if I am wrong… Then i would like to take bus… Read more »
Hi Pritam, so glad that it has helped you 🙂
Have a fun time on your solo trip. To answer your questions –
Yes it is safe, the roads are really nice just do not speed
I am not sure if you can hire a scooty in Shillong. I had to return to Guwahati as the flights till Guwahati were cheaper as compared to that in Shillong. From where are you flying? I would suggest you fly till Guwahati as the cost difference is substantial
Hi Radhika,
Your post is very helpful to me for planning my Meghalaya trip. I was planning to go during Jan end. I tried contacting Serene homestay and the contact you gave in Dawki, but I was not able to connect to them.Also, I couldn’t track phone number of By the way hostel, Cherapunjee. Is it advisable to book a room on arrival during this period? or look for alternate options at Shillong?
Regards,
Siddarth
Hi Siddarth,
Contacting Serene homestay gets difficult as they are mostly in out of network area. For By the Way homestay try contacting this number – 09856630274.
I booked the rooms right then and there. Shillong has a lot of options so you will be able to find a hotel easily 🙂
Hello Mam,
Your blog and pictures are really great, I am planning for a 6 day trip, can you suggest me some more places for 2 extra days as I am more into hiking andwould like to do some caving as well.
That is so awesome! 🙂
I am not sure about caving in Meghalaya but some of the famous hiking spots over here are – Mawryngkang and Nokrek National Park. Try going here. Although in Nongriat you will be hiking to reach this village 🙂
This blog is Amazing and all the pictures on your Instagram account as well ,We are going to visit Meghalaya in the month of March ( 1st to 12th) flying from Pune to Guwahati ofcourse after reading your blog i am not gona miss the Bike ride in Meghalaya.
It is very helpful blog for meghalaya trips
Hi Radhika! In love with your post.I am planning to travel solo.So just want some info.How much it would cost for 3N/4D stay and also I am looking for cheapest accomodation at Shillong from where connectivity to travel other place will be near.In which area stay should be taken ?
Hi Shaily, thank you for the appreciation 🙂
In Shillong, try staying in Police Bazar. There are many hotels there which are cheap as well. Rest of the accommodations I have mentioned are the cheapest 🙂
So probably for 3 nights, the maximum it will cost you is INR 3,000. But again you can easily manage it in the lowest possible price as well! Hope that answers 🙂
Hello Radhika,
Can you tell me what it will cost me total as I know driving (scooty) specially for a solo trip.
Hi Archana,
I think you should be able to manage it in INR 7,000.
If I do a cost break up scooty would cost about 800*4 = 3,200
Food: 600*4= 1,200
Hotels: 500*4=2,000
Hi Radhika, Awesome blog..
Just wanted to know is July August a good time for trip to Meghalaya as I also love driving my way through new places
I would say no as during those months the monsoon is at its peak, however, I went there in July only, haha! And rode a scooty despite the rain. So it is up to you how comfortable you want your travel to be 🙂
Garden of cave is much impressive
Beautiful pictures! I would never imagine having this kind of experience in India. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thank you Priya for appreciating 🙂
How much the total costing for the Meghalaya Trip.
I think you should be able to manage it in INR 7,000.
If I do a cost break up scooty would cost about 800*4 = 3,200
Food: 600*4 = 1,200
Hotels: 500*4 = 2,000
It’s a very helpful blog about Meghalaya budget trip. Meghalaya solo traveling is not easy travel but I am reading your blog and I have started feeling like this is easy travel. Thanks for posting something worth reading. Great work.
Hi Radhika, Thank you for the wonderful post! I’ve been trying to get a partner to join me for a trip since 2 years but unfortunately none could accompany. So I decided it’s high time that I’ve to muster some courage and do one on my own. My dream had always been to explore North Eastern states and your post came as a relief at the right time! Thank you for that! Quick question. I’m planning my trip very much in monsoon 3rd week of July (or) 2nd week of August. I want to take a bike too (don’t want… Read more »
Hi Vidhyagayathri, So glad you took the step and are going solo. This is exactly how I started to travel solo as well 🙂 I did not have a license as well back then but I took my learner’s license. Without which I could not have rented a bike from the company. What you can do is, check online for the companies renting out scooty and ask them if having a learner’s license be okay. Roads are really nice towards Meghalaya so you do not have to worry about it. This not so trained person (me) managed pretty well as… Read more »
Kya Aug Or Sep Me Meghalay Trip Kar Sakte hai?
Bilkul ja sakte hain 🙂
September zyada acha rehega
Hey Radhika! it was an amazing piece of informative writing and glad that you’ve achieved so. I’m planning a solo trip to Meghalaya and hope to do so by the end of this month. I just need a little bit of help with few infos if you would be generous enough. Firstly, I don’t know how to ride a bike. So, after roaming Shillong, If I start for Cherrapunji by bus, will I miss astonishing places like ‘Garden of caves’ and ‘Mawkdok Valley’. Is there any way other than scooty/bike on your own to visit this places? like shared bike… Read more »
Thank you Atul 🙂 There are several cabs and shared taxis that go towards the Sohra side, but it is always difficult to find one as frequency is bad! What I suggest you is to contact https://www.ourguest.in/ as they are quite prominent here to provide experiential travelling and help backpackers 2. Stay in Nongriat for the night as the trek is really exhausting, especially if you are planning to cover Rainbow falls as well. The itinerary looks perfect to me! Laitlum is a place where I have hardly seen shared taxis coming in. You would have to take a private… Read more »
Hey Radhika
Huge fan of yours specially your adman series
Iam also planning to visit meghalaya. And I wanna ask you that is 10000/ per person is enough for 5 days if we rent one scooty and stay at hostels as you suggested. Can you give a raw figure about the total cost. Eagerly waiting for your answer.
Hi Anuja,
Thank you so much 🙂 I think 10,000 is a good amount and is easily doable. Of course it excluded the traveling cost though 🙂
Hi Radhika. Thanks for the amazing post.
Me and my friend planning a 6 days trip covering shillong , cherrapunjee and dawki. I I wanted to know can we cover cover all these place using bike/scooty.
If yes, what would be the approximate cost including fuel.
If no, i guess shared taxi is our best option, right??.
Any additional suggestions and ideas if u can give us, i would be so thankful.
Thanks again for the post. really loved it!
Regards,
Prakash Raj
Heyy!
This is one hell of an informative posts.
I just wanted to know what are the options for returning from Dawki to Guwahati?
Hi Radhika, thanks for this well written blog with the perfect itinerary. I am just blindly following ur itinerary and planning my trip on november month. Thanks once again for the details.
Glad Prasanth 🙂
Hope you have a great time 🙂
Hi, Radhika.
I’m glad you visited Meghalaya and provided a detailed post about your entire preparation and the trip.
I’m running a tour planning agency in Shillong. We do itineraries, accommodations, bike rentals, taxies, tour guides, advices & 24×7 support during any trips.
Please do visit shillong again & be in touch.
Best wishes & regards.
Thanks Benny for the invitation 🙂
For sure would let you know 🙂
Hi Radhika,
Thanks for this amazing blog:) I’m planning on doing a solo trip this November. Firstly I would like to understand if it is the right time to go and secondly, I tried searching for Isabella hostel and could not make a booking through any of the sites. Can you provide me with the contact details of the person as all places which the site throw up seem a bit expensive.
Thanks
Prashanth
Hi Radhika,
Wow ! An amazing blog this is. I am following an itinerary almost similar to you, just have one question. Is there some public transport / shared taxi available from Dawki to Guwahati, if I leave early morning between 7 am to 9 am. My flight is at 7:30 pm from Guwahati.
Your response will help me decide if I have to hire a cab/bike right at the beginning of the journey.
Regards, Swanand
Hi radhika,
How was the nongriat trek experience ? Because 3000 steps on a bamboo trail with slippery conditions sounds scary. Also how tiring was the hike back up ?
Hey Shruthika, it is not that scary. Have seen ladies completing it in a saree. While hiking back up it does get tiring but easily doable.
Hey Radhika,
I found your blog and Youtube channel last week, when I was looking for travel blogs for Meghalaya. Content is top notch! We ( group of 3 guys ) are planning a visit to Meghalaya during the last week of November. Is it a good time to travel there?
Hey Krishna 🙂
Thank you so so much! Yes it is, you would love it. Have fun and safe travels.
Hey radhika, such wonderful description. Loved it. Planning to visit Meghalaya solo in mid December. Will that be a good time.
Hi Shuchismita, thank you 🙂
Yes it will be! Less rains will make the travels comfortable 🙂
Dear Radhika, Thank you for such a detailed post. The photos and videos are super! I am visiting Meghalaya solo during Dec-end for 5 days and I plan to cover it on rented bike post reading this blog 🙂 I have a few queries: 1. I am confident for Guwahati to Shillong commute. However, could you tell me about the roads within Shillong? Are they in good condition? 2. Is there any risk in riding bike due to over speeding cars or sharp turns? 3. Would I be able to park the bike on all the spots – root bridge,… Read more »
Glad Rinkesh! Thank you for your kind words 🙂
Here are the answers –
1. Yes, roads are really good. There might be a few rugged patches but still manageable
2. Few of the major places are connected with highways, but roads are really broad. But of course, drive safely as you will find people driving rashly at a few places
3. Yes, parking you will find everywhere
Thank you for reply. It helps keep the nerves calm despite excitement 🙂
Dear Radhika, Thank you for the blog. It’s very well composed with beautiful pictures. It has inspired me to plan my solo trip (first ever in NE region). I am planning this trip in the last week of December and looking forward to spend my New Year’s eve by myself at a peaceful place. I will be traveling from Delhi to Guwahati to Shillong. Based on your experiences, I think visiting Cherrapunji and Dawki followed by a night in Shillong will be feasible during a 4-night trip, that I intent to do. What do you think? And I plan to… Read more »
Thank you Abhijit. So happy to know that 🙂
Below are your answers –
1. Well, I think the whole of Meghalaya is peaceful. But if you want less number of people then stay in Nongriat Village. The most peaceful place of all
2. There are many other places that you can visit actually. Most of them are offbeat. You can find the list here – https://www.nomllers.com/unexplored-places-in-meghalaya/
3. I am a vegetarian, so won’t be of any help here :/
Have a fun time and a peaceful new year 🙂
Hey Radhika, the blog is written soo beautifully😃 and you have also provided such a detailed information. I am also planning to visit Meghalaya on a solo trip. 1)I am planning to visit in mid of march. Is it the right time for that? cause I fear that waterfalls will have very less water😬. 2) Do you have an idea that I can get a bike( and it’s cost?) as I never rode a scooty. 3) just for confirmation on the 2nd day u stayed in “by the way hotel” in Cheerapunji…right? and on the 3rd day u stayed in… Read more »
Hey Raj!
In March yes, the waterfalls shall be very dry! Best time is September.
Bike yes you can, just need a drivind license
Yes, correct 🙂 For stay options etc. you can also contact Our Guest, they are based out from that area
Hey Mam,
Thank you for this amazing travel plan. It would help to make travel plan easy.
I want to ask is end of January is suitable to travel there. And also can you suggest other place in north east to visit. I am planning to travel for the 7 days, and after reading this blog my 4 days are fix as I will definitively follow the above plan, for another 3 days any idea?
Thanking you
Mam what is the overall cost ?
Thanks Radhika for your detailed explanation on meghalaya trip. Your blog inspired me to plan for solo trip to meghalaya. Presently i am in meghalaya and enjoying my solo bike ride to larger extent.
Wonderful pictures!! Thanks for sharing this interesting blog. Your post is amazing and informative.
Hey Radhika ,
It’s good to find your blog it really helped me a lot for plan
And how much budget can I expect for The from from Guwahati to Dawki which includes all expenses ( Food , Scooty rent,accomdation,and for other activities)
Hey Radhika loved your article. The pictures are amazing! I wish I had the heart for traveling solo like you. Hope someday I surely will. And I also liked how you have added some tips and things to carry while traveling to Meghalaya.