The five places we would choose if you had only three or four days — with everything you need to plan them.
Short on time? These are the top 5 tourist places in Meghalaya — the five we would choose if a friend had only three or four days. Together they cover what makes the state unique: towering waterfalls, living root bridges, crystal-clear rivers and the hill-station charm of Shillong.
Each place below gets the full picture: highlights, how to get there, the best time to go and a tip from our local team.
| # | Place | From Shillong | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sohra — Cherrapunji | 54 km · 2 h | Jun – Mar |
| 2 | Double Decker Living Root Bridge | 70 km · 2 h 30 min | Oct – Apr |
| 3 | Dawki & Umngot River | 82 km · 3 h | Nov – Apr |
| 4 | Shillong | In Shillong | Mar – May, Sep – Nov |
| 5 | Nokhalikha Falls | 58 km · 2 h | Jun – Dec |
1
The town on the edge of the plateau — waterfalls, caves, canyons and the clouds that made it famous as the wettest place on earth.
Why visit: Nokhalikha, Seven Sister and Kynrem falls, two walkable caves and the Nongriat trek all sit within a short drive, so one base covers more than any other town in the state.
How to reach: A scenic two-hour drive south from Shillong on a good highway, stopping at Mawkdok Dympep valley. Most of our packages include two nights in Sohra.
2
A two-tier bridge grown from living fig roots over the Umshiang river, reached by a 3,500-step rainforest descent.
Why visit: Nothing else in Meghalaya matches it: architecture that is alive, still growing stronger each year, maintained by the village that planted it.
How to reach: Drive from Shillong to Sohra (Cherrapunji), then to Tyrna village where the steps begin. The road is motorable right up to the trailhead. We arrange the cab, a local guide and, if you want, the Nongriat homestay.
3
The river so clear that boats seem to float on air — Meghalaya's most photographed sight, on the India–Bangladesh border.
Why visit: For the surreal floating-boat view, the single image most people associate with Meghalaya.
How to reach: Drive from Shillong via Pynursla. The road is scenic but winding, so allow three hours each way. Most visitors combine Dawki with Mawlynnong in one day.
4
Meghalaya's hill-station capital — cafés, cathedrals, lakes and live music, and the base for almost every trip in the state.
Why visit: It is the gateway to the whole state and a destination in its own right: cool weather, colonial-era architecture, good food and the liveliest music scene in the North East.
How to reach: Fly or take a train to Guwahati, then drive 100 km (about 3 hours) on NH6. Shillong also has a small airport at Umroi, 30 km from the city, with limited flights.
5
India's tallest plunge waterfall — a single 340-metre drop into a blue-green pool at the base of the Cherrapunji gorge.
Why visit: India's tallest plunge waterfall, dropping around 340 metres in a single fall into a jade-green pool.
How to reach: Take the Shillong–Sohra highway via Mawkdok Dympep valley. The falls are signposted about 5 km past Sohra market with a large parking area. Any of our Cherrapunji day packages include it.
We run this as a ready-made trip — see our Meghalaya travel packages or ask us to customise it.
Still unsure? Our Shillong team answers on WhatsApp, usually within minutes.
Ask a questionOur top picks are 1. Sohra — Cherrapunji, 2. Double Decker Living Root Bridge, 3. Dawki & Umngot River, 4. Shillong, 5. Nokhalikha Falls. Each is covered in detail on this page with its distance from Shillong, best months and entry fee.
It is possible but rushed. Three days covers Shillong, Cherrapunji and Nokhalikha comfortably; adding the root bridge trek and Dawki needs a fourth day.
October to April is best overall — clear skies, safer trekking and clear water at Dawki. Waterfalls are at their most powerful from June to September.
It involves about 3,500 steps down and back up, taking most people four to six hours in total. It needs reasonable fitness but no technical skill. The Riwai root bridge near Mawlynnong is an easy alternative.
Send us your dates and we will build the itinerary — free, with honest line-by-line pricing.
