Meghalaya, “the abode of clouds,” is a highland state in Northeast India where ancient Khasi culture meets emerald valleys and thunderous waterfalls. Shillong—once a British-era hill station—still hums with live music and café culture, while Cherrapunji (Sohra) holds the world’s most inventive bioengineering: living root bridges woven from Ficus elastica.

Famed for heavy rainfall and rolling green plateaus, Meghalaya also surprises with clear blue pools and caves of limestone and fossil traces. Dawki’s Umngot River looks like floating on air; Mawlynnong is celebrated as Asia’s cleanest village. The terrain invites soft adventure: canyon viewpoints, easy waterfall walks, and one bucket-list trek to the Double Decker Root Bridge.

Practical notes: the best weather is October–April; June–September brings dramatic monsoons that can close trails. Foreign travelers register at their hotels; Indians don’t need permits. Many businesses close on Sundays. Carry cash for villages, pack a rain layer year-round, and savor Khasi dishes like jadoh (rice with pork) and smoked meats.

Shillong

Shillong, the “Scotland of the East,” spreads over piney hills at 1,500+ meters, with colonial churches, a breezy golf course, and friendly markets around Police Bazaar and Laitumkhrah. It’s India’s unofficial rock capital: expect guitars, open mics, and cafés that double as music venues.

Top sights include Ward’s Lake, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Don Bosco Museum (for Northeast ethnography), and the dramatic Laitlum Canyon. Come for soft, apricot sunsets and stay for smoky pork and bamboo-shoot curries.

• Where to stay: Browse stays via VRBO (Shillong) or compare hotels on Hotels.com (Shillong). Local favorites often mentioned by travelers include Ri Kynjai (Umiam Lake retreat), Hotel Polo Towers (central), and Tripura Castle (heritage vibe).
• How to get here: Fly to Guwahati (GAU), then drive 3–4 hours to Shillong. Check flights on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Trains run to Guwahati; browse Trip.com (trains). Private taxi GAU–Shillong is ~INR 2,800–4,000, shared cabs ~INR 450–600.

Day 1: Arrival in Shillong, Lakeside Loop, and Khasi Flavors

Morning: Fly into Guwahati and transfer to Shillong (3–4 hours). Pause at Umiam Lake (Barapani) for sweeping water-and-pine views; grab coffee at ML 05 Café (biker-friendly pit stop) en route.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs around Ward’s Lake—borrow a paddle boat if time allows. Drop by the State Museum or Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians for a quiet architectural interlude.

Evening: Dinner in Police Bazaar: try Trattoria (beloved for Khasi pork, tungrymbai, and jadoh platters), or City Hut Family Dhaba for hearty North Indian fare. Nightcap at Cloud 9 (Hotel Centre Point rooftop lounge) for Shillong-at-night views.

Day 2: Shillong Highlights + Evening Food Crawl

Morning: Breakfast at Dylan’s Café (Bob Dylan-themed; excellent pancakes and locally roasted coffee) or Café Shillong (waffles, momos, and blues on the speakers). Visit Elephant Falls and Shillong Peak for bird’s-eye panoramas.

Afternoon: Join this 4-hour guided city overview to string together the classics and hidden stops:

Best of Shillong (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car)

This curated circuit typically covers Ward's Lake gardens, the Heritage Museum, viewpoints, and markets with context on Khasi traditions. Expect hotel pickup, an air-conditioned ride, and time-efficient routing.

Evening: Eat like a local on a guided tasting walk across stalls and hole-in-the-wall kitchens:

Shillong Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour)

Taste jadoh, putharo (rice pancakes), dohneiiong (black sesame pork), and delicate tungrymbai condiments while you learn how Khasi kitchens balance smoke, spice, and foraged greens.

Day 3: Day Trip to Mawlynnong—Asia’s Cleanest Village

Spend a full day south of Shillong exploring immaculate lanes, bamboo dustbins, and eco-minded community rules in Mawlynnong; cross the stream to Riwai’s famed single-decker living root bridge. Climb the bamboo Sky View tower for Bangladesh-border vistas, and peek at the “balancing rock,” a geological curiosity woven into village folklore.

Day Trip to Mawlynnong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Shillong)

Lunch in a family-run kitchen: try bamboo-steamed sticky rice, smoked pork, or vegetarian thalis. Note the community’s zero-litter policy—carry a reusable bottle and tote for snacks.

Cherrapunji (Sohra)

Cherrapunji is one of the wettest places on Earth, a plateau where rain-carved cliffs release silver threads into jungled gorges. Here, the Khasi practice living architecture—training rubber fig roots over decades to become footbridges that flex with storms.

Expect marquee sights: Nohkalikai Falls (a near-vertical drop in a turquoise plunge pool), Mawsmai and Arwah caves, the tiered Wei Sawdong Falls, and the Double Decker Root Bridge near Nongriat. In winter the skies clear; in monsoon the landscape roars.

• Where to stay: Explore options via VRBO (Cherrapunji) or Hotels.com (Cherrapunji). Travelers often look at Polo Orchid Resort (cliff views), Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort (trek-friendly base in Laitkynsew), or Sa-i-Mika Park (open grounds and rustic cottages).
• Getting there from Shillong: Private cab 1.5–2 hours (60 km) via Mawkdok bridge; expect INR 1,800–2,800 one-way. Shared cabs run less frequently; self-drive is scenic but winding.

Day 4: Shillong to Sohra, Caves, and Sunset Waterfalls

Morning: Coffee at Smoky Falls Tribe Coffee (Laitumkhrah; pour-overs from Meghalaya-grown beans), then depart for Sohra. Stop at Mawkdok Dympep Valley Viewpoint and the hanging bridge for wide-angle photos.

Afternoon: Explore Mawsmai Cave (short, illuminated limestone corridors) and Arwah Cave (fossil walls and echoing chambers)—carry a small torch and grippy shoes. Break for lunch at Café Cherrapunjee Heritage on the Shillong–Sohra road or at Orange Roots (popular vegetarian Indian plates).

Evening: Catch golden hour at Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters) Falls viewpoint when the cliffs glow. Dinner at Sohra House (Polo Orchid; regional grills) or homestyle fare at Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort—ask for pork with bamboo shoot and wild greens.

Day 5: The Double Decker Living Root Bridge (Nongriat Trek)

Start at Tyrna village by 7:00 a.m. and descend ~3,500 steps to Nongriat. Cross single-root bridges and steel spans hung above jade streams before reaching the iconic Double Decker Living Root Bridge. Fit trekkers can continue 1.5–2 hours to Rainbow Falls, where sunlight turns spray into prisms.

Hire a local guide (INR 800–1,500), carry 2–3 liters of water, and wear sturdy shoes; the ascent is a workout. Simple lunches (rice, eggs, noodles) and tea are available in village homestays; swim only where locals advise. After the climb back, transfer 2 hours to Shillong for the night so you’re well-positioned for tomorrow’s day trip.

Dinner in Shillong: Go Pan-Asian at Dejavu (Thai, Chinese, dim sum) or unwind at Café Shillong Heritage (Tripura Castle; grills and live music on select nights).

Day 6: Day Trip to Dawki and the Crystal-Clear Umngot

Head to the India–Bangladesh borderlands for one of Northeast India’s most photogenic rivers. Glide over glassy waters at Shnongpdeng in a wooden boat, watch anglers cast into the green-blue Umngot, and dip your toes at pebble beaches. Many travelers add a short border-view stop in Dawki town and suspension bridge photos.

Day Trip to Dwaki (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Shillong)

Bring sunscreen, a change of clothes, and cash for boat rentals or kayak add-ons. Lunch at riverside dhabas: fresh fish fry, veg curries, and rotis. Return to Shillong by evening for coffee and cake at Bread Café or late plates at Café Shillong.

Day 7: Slow Morning in Shillong and Departure

Morning: Souvenir shopping in Police Bazaar (pick up bamboo handicrafts, organic spices, and locally roasted coffee). Brunch at Dylan’s Café (eggs benedict, mezze plates) or Jadoh in Laitumkhrah (a no-frills local favorite for Khasi breakfast bowls).

Afternoon: Transfer to Guwahati for your flight. For tickets and timings, compare on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. If you’re rail-bound, browse Trip.com (trains) to Guwahati, then continue by road.

Practical Eating & Coffee Shortlist

• Shillong (Coffee/Breakfast): Dylan’s Café; Smoky Falls Tribe Coffee; Café Shillong.
• Shillong (Lunch/Dinner): Trattoria (Khasi), City Hut Family Dhaba (North Indian), Dejavu (Pan-Asian), Café Shillong Heritage (grills, music), Cloud 9 (cocktails, views).
• Cherrapunji (Coffee/Lunch): Café Cherrapunjee Heritage; Orange Roots (veg thalis), resort restaurants at Polo Orchid and Sa-i-Mika.
• En route/Villages: Nongriat homestays for simple hot lunches; Shnongpdeng riverside dhabas for fresh fish fry.

Getting Around & Ballpark Costs

• Private cabs (most flexible): Shillong local day hire INR 2,000–3,500; Shillong–Sohra one-way INR 1,800–2,800; Shillong–Dawki day trip INR 4,500–6,500 depending on vehicle.
• Entry fees (approx.): Elephant Falls INR 100; Don Bosco Museum INR 150; Mawsmai/Arwah caves INR 20–50; Laitlum parking INR 20–50; Nongriat village/bridge fees INR 20–50 per point; guides INR 800–1,500.
• Best season: Oct–Apr for clear hikes; monsoon (Jun–Sep) is spectacular but wet—expect slippery steps, fog, and occasional closures.

Optional Add-Ons (If You Have Extra Time)

• Krang Suri Falls (Jaintia Hills): A turquoise pool beneath a curtain of water; plan a full-day loop from Shillong.
• Laitlum Canyon sunrise: Go at first light for ridge-top clouds and ravine views; pair with a breakfast stop in Laitumkhrah.

Bookable Multi-Day Alternative

If you’d rather have logistics handled, consider:

Exotic Meghalaya

This option bundles transport and day-to-day planning so you can focus on the views and village experiences.

Summary: In one week, this Meghalaya itinerary blends Shillong’s music-and-café scene with Sohra’s caves and root-bridge adventures, plus guided day trips to Mawlynnong and Dawki. You’ll taste Khasi flavors, cross living architecture, and boat over glass-clear rivers—memories as vivid as the state’s endless shades of green.