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Meghalaya

Shillong

Northeast's hill capital: cafes, lakes, live music

CityCultureBackpacker

Best time to visit Shillong

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to February
  • Shoulder: March to May, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryOctoberNovemberDecember

Shillong season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season: crisp clear days, misty mornings, easy walks around Ward's Lake without rain gear.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Warm and pleasant before the rains hit, greener hills, noticeably fewer tourists than winter.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

City itself copes fine, but day trips to Cherrapunji get washed out and landslides can shut roads.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Best window: monsoon just ended, waterfalls still full, skies clearing fast, comfortable temps.

What Shillong is actually like

Cafe crowd and shared taxis. Easy to link up with travellers heading onward.

Things to do in Shillong

The local places worth your time in and around Shillong, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Iewduh (Bara Bazar)

    Market · in town

    Khasi wholesale market spilling down the hillside, best before noon; carry a small bag and watch your pockets in the crush

  • Laitlum Canyons

    Viewpoint · 24 km out

    Grass ridge dropping into a green gorge, 45 minutes out by taxi; cloud usually closes it in after 2 pm, so go early

  • Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures

    Museum · 4 km out

    Seven floors on the tribes of the northeast ending in a rooftop skywalk over the city; allow two hours, closed Sunday

  • Ward's Lake

    Lake · in town

    Horseshoe lake with a wooden bridge and boats in the middle of town; nominal ticket, open till dusk, good for an hour

  • Umiam Lake

    Lake · 17 km out

    Big reservoir on the Guwahati road, viewpoint above the dam and kayaks at the water sports complex; best at sunset

  • Elephant Falls

    Waterfall · 12 km out

    Three tier fall down concrete steps, busy with tour buses; small ticket, ten minutes down and back, thin water in spring

  • Dylan's Cafe

    Food · 1 km out

    Bob Dylan themed cafe in Laitumkhrah with coffee, cake and a guitar in the corner; one small room, expect to share a table

  • Shillong Peak

    Viewpoint · 10 km out

    The highest point over the city, inside an air force area; carry photo ID and check it is open, it shuts without notice

Getting to Shillong

Fly/bus to Guwahati, then 3h shared taxi to Shillong. No ILP.

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
1525 m
State
Meghalaya
Coordinates
25.5788, 91.8933

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Shillong?

October to February is peak season in Shillong. March to May is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Best window: monsoon just ended, waterfalls still full, skies clearing fast, comfortable temps.

How many days do you need in Shillong?

3 days is the usual stay. Cafe crowd and shared taxis. Easy to link up with travellers heading onward.

How do you get to Shillong?

Fly/bus to Guwahati, then 3h shared taxi to Shillong. No ILP. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Shillong expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Shillong?

Nov: Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Shillong?

Iewduh (Bara Bazar), Laitlum Canyons, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, Ward's Lake, Umiam Lake and Elephant Falls, and more. Khasi wholesale market spilling down the hillside, best before noon; carry a small bag and watch your pockets in the crush.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Meghalaya

All 17 destinations in Meghalaya