Meghalaya is a small hill state just south of Guwahati. This guide covers what it is like, how long to stay, when to go and how to get there.
It also covers where to base yourself and the rules visitors should know in 2026. Below the guide sits every Meghalaya post we have written.
What Meghalaya is like
Meghalaya is three sets of hills. The Khasi Hills sit in the middle, with Shillong, the capital, and Sohra. The Jaintia Hills lie to the east, around Jowai. The Garo Hills lie to the west, around Tura.
Most visitors only see the Khasi Hills. That is where the famous waterfalls, caves and root bridges are. It is also where the roads and hotels are best.
The south edge of the plateau drops sharply to the plains of Bangladesh. Rain clouds hit that wall and empty out. So Sohra and Mawsynram rank among the wettest places on earth.
The Khasi people are matrilineal. Family names and property pass through the mother. You will see it in daily life, not on a sign.
How many days you need
Four days is the shortest trip that works. That gives you Shillong and one full day on the Sohra plateau. You will not reach the double-decker root bridge.
Five or six days lets you sleep in Sohra and add Mawlynnong and Dawki. Seven days lets you do all of that and still give the root bridge walk a full day.
That walk is the thing to plan around. It is a steep stair of about 3,500 steps down to Nongriat and the same back up. It needs a night on the plateau and a fresh pair of legs.
Our Meghalaya itinerary for 3, 5 and 7 days lays out each length day by day.
When to go
Meghalaya Tourism names October to April as the best time. Skies are clearer and the viewpoints are not lost in cloud.
The Umngot river at Dawki runs clear from about November to April. That is when the boats seem to float on air.
July to September is the heart of the monsoon. The falls are at full power, but the views can vanish in cloud. Boating at Dawki is often stopped when the river runs high.
Our guide to the best time to visit Meghalaya goes month by month.
How to get there
Almost every trip starts in Guwahati. Meghalaya Tourism calls Guwahati airport the main gateway. Shillong is about 100 km and three hours away by road, on NH-40.
Guwahati is also the nearest big railway station. From there it is the same drive up.
Shillong has its own airport at Umroi, about 35 km from the city. Flights are few and they change, so check before you plan around one. Work to lengthen its runway began in August 2026.
Sohra is about two more hours south of Shillong. Dawki and Mawlynnong lie to the south-east, near the Bangladesh border.
Where to base yourself
Shillong is the base for the city, Laitlum and Elephant Falls. It has the most hotels and the best food. Its traffic is slow, so leave room in the day.
Sohra is the base for the waterfalls, the caves and the root bridges. Sleep here at least one night. Day trips from Shillong mean about two hours each way.
Dawki and Mawlynnong are usually a long day out from Sohra or Shillong. Mawlynnong has homestays if you want to stay. It closes to day visitors on Sundays, so plan that day around it.
Jowai, in the Jaintia Hills, is the base for the quieter east. Phe Phe Falls and Krang Suri are out here, far from the crowds.
Getting around and what to pack
You get around by road, in a car with a driver. Hill roads are slow, so a short distance can still take an hour.
Carry cash. Entry fees at falls, caves and villages are collected locally, often in cash, and they change without notice.
Sohra sits at about 4,300 ft. It gets cold and wet outside summer, and it can rain in any month. Pack a windproof layer and a rain jacket.
Wear shoes with good grip. The rock on the plateau is slick even on a dry day.
Permits and rules
Indian citizens do not need an Inner Line Permit for Meghalaya. Meghalaya Tourism says foreign nationals must register on arrival. They may also need permits for some border areas.
Hotels and homestays now register every guest on the state tourism app. Carry photo ID for each check-in.
In East Khasi Hills, a registered local guide has been compulsory for treks since June 2025. The root bridge walks are among its best-known treks, so check the rule for your walk before you go.
In July 2026 the state announced a visitor registration point at Umling, on the road up from Guwahati. It was not confirmed in force when we wrote this. Check before you go. Our permits page covers the rest of the region.
In this guide
Start with the Meghalaya itinerary if you are fixing dates. The Meghalaya trip cost guide explains what a trip costs and why.
For the sights, read things to do in Meghalaya and the Meghalaya food guide. Travelling with family? See Meghalaya with kids and elderly parents.
Want rhinos too? Our Meghalaya with Kaziranga plan fits both into a week. For the feel of the place, read about the walk to the double-decker root bridge and the road from Guwahati to Sohra.
Every other Meghalaya post is listed below this guide.
Plan your Meghalaya trip
Our Meghalaya in Full trip gives you seven days, with three nights in Sohra and a full day for Nongriat. You can see all of our Meghalaya trips in one place.
Tell us your dates on Plan My Trip. We reply within 24 hours.
