Almost every Meghalaya trip begins in Assam, not Meghalaya. Understanding that one fact removes most of the confusion from planning.

By air

Fly to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati (GAU). It has direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. From the airport it is roughly 125 km and three to three and a half hours by road to Shillong, on a good four-lane highway for most of the way.

Shillong Airport at Umroi, 30 km from the city, has limited flights and frequent weather cancellations. We do not recommend building an itinerary around it unless the schedule happens to suit you perfectly.

A helicopter service runs between Guwahati and Shillong on some days — about 25 minutes, limited seats, weather-dependent. Fun if it works out, never something to rely on.

By train

The nearest railhead is Guwahati Railway Station (GHY), connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and most major cities. From there the road journey is the same as from the airport. Meghalaya itself has no passenger rail network.

By road

NH6 from Guwahati to Shillong is a genuinely scenic drive — you climb from the Brahmaputra plains into the Khasi Hills, with Umiam Lake appearing on the left about 20 km before Shillong. Shared taxis and buses run from Guwahati's Paltan Bazaar, but for a tour we always recommend a private cab: you stop where you want, and you are not waiting for a vehicle to fill up.

Distances from Shillong

  • Guwahati — 100 km, about 3 hours
  • Sohra (Cherrapunji) — 54 km, about 2 hours
  • Dawki — 82 km, about 3 hours
  • Mawlynnong — 78 km, about 2.5 hours
  • Jowai — 64 km, about 2 hours
  • Tura (Garo Hills) — 320 km, a full day

Do you need a permit?

No. Indian citizens do not need an Inner Line Permit for Meghalaya. Foreign nationals do not need a Protected Area Permit either, but must register at the Foreigners' Registration Office within 24 hours of arrival — hotels usually handle this. Carry a valid photo ID at all times; there are occasional checks on the Dawki road near the international border.

We include Guwahati pickup and drop in every package, so this is one thing you do not have to solve yourself.