Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls)
Sand-beach river island above one of India's tallest falls
Best time to visit Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls)
- Jan, peak season
- Feb, peak season
- Mar, shoulder season
- Apr, shoulder season
- May, off-season
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, best avoided
- Aug, best avoided
- Sep, shoulder season
- Oct, peak season
- Nov, peak season
- Dec, peak season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: October to February
- Shoulder: March to April and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: June to August
Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryOctoberNovemberDecember
Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls) season by season
Winter December to February Prime time
Dec-Feb is dry and blue: the Kynshi shrinks to green pools, the sand flats double in size and island camping is at its safest.
Summer March to May Shoulder
Mar-Apr stays warm and hazy but fine for the falls viewpoints; May's first storms make the river tracks greasy and slow.
Monsoon June to September Shoulder
Jun-Aug the Kynshi runs in spate: the beach disappears, crossings are dangerous and the track from Nongstoin slides; stay away.
Autumn October to November Prime time
Oct-Nov is the sweet spot: Langshiang still thunders at near-monsoon volume while the sand beach re-emerges for tents.
What Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls) is actually like
Khasi herders and rare Shillong campers; sleep in a simple Nongstoin lodge or camp on the island with a local guide
Getting to Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls)
Shillong to Nongstoin 92 km by shared sumo, then 16 km of rough track; hire wheels locally; no permits
Practical ways in: road
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 2 days
- Budget
- Shoestring
- How busy
- Quiet at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 1180 m
- State
- Meghalaya
- Coordinates
- 25.4452, 91.2287
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls)?
October to February is peak season in Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls). March to April and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Oct-Nov is the sweet spot: Langshiang still thunders at near-monsoon volume while the sand beach re-emerges for tents.
How many days do you need in Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls)?
2 days is the usual stay. Khasi herders and rare Shillong campers; sleep in a simple Nongstoin lodge or camp on the island with a local guide.
How do you get to Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls)?
Shillong to Nongstoin 92 km by shared sumo, then 16 km of rough track; hire wheels locally; no permits. Practical ways in: road.
Is Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls) expensive, and does it get crowded?
Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Mawphanlur
Meghalaya
Grassy knoll village of tiny lakes and kayaks at 1,850 m
40 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 1 h by road
-
Nongriat (Double-Decker Root Bridge)
Meghalaya
3,500 steps down to a living double-decker root bridge
70 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 1 h by road
-
Chandubi Lake
Assam
Earthquake-born forest lake in Rabha country near Guwahati
70 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 1 h by road
-
Mawphlang Sacred Forest
Meghalaya
Khasi sacred grove where you may not carry a single leaf out
80 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 2 h by road
-
Cherrapunji (Sohra)
Meghalaya
Wettest place on earth: waterfalls, canyons, caves
80 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 2 h by road
-
Siju (Dobakkol Caves)
Meghalaya
Limestone bat caves and a bird sanctuary on the Simsang river
80 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 2 h by road
-
Wahkhen (Mawryngkhang Bamboo Trail)
Meghalaya
Bamboo skywalk over the Wahrew gorge to the king of stones
80 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 2 h by road
-
Baghmara (Balpakram gateway)
Meghalaya
Someshwari river town under the Balpakram plateau
90 km from Nongkhnum Island (Langshiang Falls), roughly about 2 h by road
More places to visit in Meghalaya
- Baghmara (Balpakram gateway) Meghalaya
- Cherrapunji (Sohra) Meghalaya
- Dawki & Shnongpdeng Meghalaya
- Jowai (Nartiang & Krangsuri) Meghalaya
- Mawlynnong Meghalaya
- Mawphanlur Meghalaya
- Mawphlang Sacred Forest Meghalaya
- Nongriat (Double-Decker Root Bridge) Meghalaya
- Shillong Meghalaya
- Siju (Dobakkol Caves) Meghalaya
- Tura (Garo Hills) Meghalaya
- Wahkhen (Mawryngkhang Bamboo Trail) Meghalaya