A month-by-month guide to weather, waterfalls, festivals and crowds, plus the best months for each tourist place.
Meghalaya has two very different personalities: clear, cool and dry from October to April, and dramatically wet from June to September, when parts of it become some of the rainiest places on earth. The best time to visit Meghalaya depends on what you want from the trip.
The best time to visit Meghalaya is Oct – Apr, when skies are clear and sightseeing, trekking and Dawki boating are at their best. For waterfalls at full power, go in the monsoon, Jun – Sep, and accept rain and fog.
Planning for right now? October is rated Excellent — The sweet spot: full waterfalls, clear skies, green hills and comfortable weather.
Temperatures are typical daytime ranges for Shillong; Cherrapunji is slightly cooler and much wetter.
Clear skies and long views; Dawki water at its clearest; cold nights — pack warm layers.
Dry trails for the Nongriat trek; very clear water at Dawki and Shnongpdeng.
Comfortable days and fewer crowds; the first pre-monsoon showers arrive late in the month.
Hills turn green and orchids bloom; afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Waterfalls start filling up; fewer tourists; rain becomes frequent.
Waterfalls at full power; heavy rain and fog; possible landslide delays; Dawki boating often suspended.
Some of the heaviest rainfall on earth around Cherrapunji and Mawsynram; dramatic clouds, poor visibility.
Waterfalls peak; trails slippery and leeches active; keep buffer days.
Rain eases; hills at their greenest; falls still strong.
The sweet spot: full waterfalls, clear skies, green hills and comfortable weather.
Crisp, clear days; Dawki clearing up; festival season across the state.
Cold, clear and festive; Christmas in Shillong is a highlight.
| Place | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sohra — Cherrapunji | Jun – Mar | ||||||||||||
| Double Decker Living Root Bridge | Oct – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Dawki & Umngot River | Nov – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Shillong | Mar – May, Sep – Nov | ||||||||||||
| Nokhalikha Falls | Jun – Dec | ||||||||||||
| Mawlynnong Village | Oct – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Krang Suri Falls | Oct – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Laitlum Canyons | Oct – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Seven Sister Falls | Jun – Oct | ||||||||||||
| Umiam Lake | Oct – May | ||||||||||||
| Weisadong Falls | Oct – Mar | ||||||||||||
| Mawsmai Cave | Oct – May | ||||||||||||
| Kynrem Falls | Jun – Oct | ||||||||||||
| Mawphlang Sacred Forest | Oct – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Shnongpdeng | Nov – Mar | ||||||||||||
| Elephant Falls | Jun – Oct | ||||||||||||
| Nartiang Monoliths | Oct – Apr | ||||||||||||
| Markham Valley | Sep – Nov | ||||||||||||
| Mawsynram | Jun – Nov | ||||||||||||
| Mawkdok Dympep Valley | Sep – Mar |
Green = a good month to visit. The gold outline marks the current month.
The safe choice for most travellers. Skies are clear, the air is dry, and from the Cherrapunji plateau you can see all the way to the Bangladesh plains. The Umngot river at Dawki turns transparent — the only time the famous floating-boat photos are possible — and Krang Suri is at its bluest. Trails to the root bridges are at their safest. The trade-off: waterfalls thin out by January, and December–January nights in Shillong and Sohra drop to around 4–8°C.
Pre-monsoon showers start refilling the waterfalls, the hills green up and orchids flower, but the crowds have not arrived. Days are pleasant, afternoon storms are common but usually short, and Shad Suk Mynsiem, the Khasi spring dance festival, is held in April.
If you came for waterfalls, this is the time. Nokhalikha, Seven Sister and Kynrem are at full power, and cloud pours over the plateau edge. Be realistic about the trade-offs: visibility can vanish for days, Dawki boating is often suspended, trails are slippery, and landslides occasionally close roads. Build in spare days and treat any schedule as flexible.
Once you have dates, see our Meghalaya itineraries or travel packages.
Still unsure? Our Shillong team answers on WhatsApp, usually within minutes.
Ask a questionOctober and November are the best months for most travellers: the monsoon has ended, the hills are green, waterfalls still flow well and skies are clear.
Yes, with planning. Main roads stay open, but landslides can cause delays, treks become slippery and Dawki boating may stop. Keep buffer days and avoid trekking in heavy rain.
The Umngot river at Dawki is clearest from roughly November to April, when water levels are low. It turns muddy during the monsoon.
In December and January, Shillong typically ranges from about 4°C at night to 16–17°C in the day. Pack warm layers.
June to September for maximum flow; October and November for a good balance of flow and clear views.
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