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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.

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.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Meghalaya

All 13 destinations in Meghalaya