Discover Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Meghalaya - Abode of Clouds

Meghalaya has a beautiful natural landscape and a deep cultural heritage. This beautiful state has a beautiful natural landscape, the beauty of which will make any tourist who sets foot here feel relaxed and happy. Overall, the tourist spots in Meghalaya live up to their name – the  “Abode of Clouds.” . Come and witness these stunning surreal landscapes where paradise loses its original essence! Waterfalls, dense forests, crystal clear rivers and exotic hills make up the most exquisite beauty of this wonderful tourist destination. Check the list of top 10 best beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya

Meghalaya, also known as the Abode of Clouds, falls in one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world 

Everything you need to know before traveling to Meghalaya

The best time to visit Meghalaya

The best season to visit Meghalaya is from April to June, when temperatures can reach 20°C during the day and drop to 11°C at night. While many parts of the country suffer from scorching heat, Meghalaya welcomes you with cool breezes, making for a pleasant summer.

How to reach Meghalaya?

By air

Umroi Airport is located about 35 km from Shillong and serves as the closest airport to the city. From there, travelers can easily take a taxi to their hotel or other nearby destinations. Alternatively, many visitors fly into Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, which is approximately 128 km from Shillong. From Guwahati, shared taxis and private transfers are readily available and offer a convenient way to reach Meghalaya’s capital.

Helicopter services between Guwahati and Shillong are operated by Pawan Hans, but these flights do not run regularly. Their availability depends heavily on weather conditions and operational schedules, especially during the monsoon season. Advance booking is strongly recommended, and travelers should confirm the flight status beforehand. While not always guaranteed, the helicopter ride offers a scenic and time-saving option when available.

By train

Meghalaya does not have its own railway station. The nearest major railway station is in Guwahati, Assam. From Guwahati, travelers can take a shared taxi, private cab, or bus to various destinations within Meghalaya, including Shillong. While buses operate frequently from northeastern cities such as Guwahati and Silchar, there are no direct bus routes from New Delhi to Meghalaya. Travelers coming from New Delhi should first take a train to Guwahati and then continue their journey by road. Train schedules can be checked and booked in advance to ensure a smooth connection.

By Road

Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) has good connectivity not only within the state but also with neighboring states. NH40 is the highway that connects Shillong to Guwahati. If you are planning to go sightseeing, then you can book a taxi for the whole day or if you want to get around the city quickly, you can opt for a regular kaali-peeli taxi. During the rainy season, it might be a bit difficult to reach some places but other than that, you can still hit the road and explore the beauty of this beautiful state.

Best ways to travel to Meghalaya

Is Meghalaya safe for Tourists?

Yes. Meghalaya is a safe destinations in India. Women in Meghalaya enjoy empowerment both socioculturally and economically. Solo female travellers also trek to Meghalaya. The police force is helpful to tourists, as are the general populace of Meghalaya. But as with any other tourist destination, one must be equipped with general precautions to keep your precious belongings.

Places to Visit in Meghalaya: Get lost in the Magic of the state

The hills of Meghalaya are calling you to escape to this lesser-known paradise with nature around. An unmatched destination, it is well worth your visit if you seek peace and quiet from hectic lifestyles. Let's look at the best tourist places in Meghalaya that you should put on your itinerary.

Laitlum Canyons

Laitlum Canyons, meaning "The End of Hills" in the Khasi language, is one of the best places to see in Meghalaya, located about 25 km from Shillong in the East Khasi Hills. Perched at a high altitude, Laitlum offers sweeping panoramic views of lush green gorges, mist-covered valleys, and rolling hills that seem to stretch endlessly. The dramatic landscape is especially captivating during clear weather, with scenic trekking trails and a tranquil atmosphere that attracts nature lovers and photographers alike.

While not yet a mainstream tourist spot, Laitlum has gained popularity for its unspoiled natural beauty and serenity. It's an ideal destination for those seeking peace away from crowded tourist hubs. Trekkers often enjoy the challenging descent down the stone pathways to Rasong village, nestled in the valley below.

However, visitors should be cautious during the monsoon season (June to September), as the area can become slippery, foggy, and occasionally closed for safety reasons due to landslide risks. The best time to visit is between October and April, when the skies are clearer and the views more spectacular.

Laitlum Canyons is a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and scenic wonder — a must-visit for anyone exploring the highlands of Meghalaya.

Cherrapunji (now officially known as Sohra)

Cherrapunji — now officially known by its local name, Sohra — is a major tourist centre of the East Khasi Hills region, famous for its heavy rainfall and magnificent natural scenery. Once recorded as the wettest place on Earth, it continues to receive significant rainfall, creating lush landscapes and dramatic waterfalls. Key attractions include Dain-Thlen, Kynrem, and the iconic Nohkalikai Falls, as well as the fascinating Living Root Bridges and Mawsmai Cave, a well-known natural limestone cave.

Garden of Caves, located in Laitmawsiang, is a nature eco-park featuring scenic waterfalls, mossy trails, and small cave formations. Unlike Mawsmai or Siju caves, it is not a natural limestone cave system but a well-developed eco-tourism site. It's an ideal destination for nature lovers seeking peaceful, photogenic spots rather than deep cave exploration.

Cherrapunji is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya

Double Decker Living Root Bridge

Double Decker Living Root Bridge is a unique root bridge located in Cherrapunjee. You should not miss this bridge if you are in Meghalaya as Double Decker Root Bridge is one of the unique places to visit in Meghalaya. The bridge is able to spread its tree roots over time which is one of its greatest features. Hence it gets the name ‘Living Root Bridge’.

Double-Decker Living Root Bridge formed from the roots of an Indian rubber tree is located in Cherrapunji, Meghalaya. One has to walk down a distance of 3 kilometres from Tyrna to reach the bridge and rises 2400 feet. The Umshiang River flowing beneath the bridge makes the most beautiful scene.  

Although this tree root bridge may be the oldest natural bridge dating back to almost 200 years ago, it is still very strong and the locals rely on it for their daily affairs. This incredible living wonder is one of the most wonderful natural tourist attractions in Meghalaya and attracts tourists from all over the world. Hence Double-decker Living Root Bridge is one of the tourist attractions to visit in Meghalaya.

Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge is a living root bridge in Meghalaya, India

Trip to Dawki

Dawki is a beautiful town in Meghalaya, located on the border of India and Bangladesh, with the Jaintia Mountains as a backdrop. The biggest charm of this place lies in its majestic natural beauty, tranquility, Dawki Bridge and the turquoise Dawki River. It is a day trip destination for the quirky traveler from the capital city of Meghalaya.

Dawki is also famous for the incredibly transparent waters of the Umngot River. The river is so clear that boats appear to float in mid-air, making it a dream location for photographers and nature lovers. Boat rides on the Umngot River are a must-do activity, especially between October and April when the water clarity is at its best. Dawki also serves as a trade route to Bangladesh and offers picturesque views of the rolling green hills across the border.

Shillong

Shillong is the most sensational and capital city of Meghalaya that is situated at an altitude of 4,995-feet above sea level. Shillong is well known as the ‘Scotland of the East’ and is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in Meghalaya. Shillong offers a captivating mix of colonial heritage, cultural vibrancy, and natural beauty

Shillong is one of the best honeymoon destinations and the place to reanimate love,recreation, and far from the clutter of busy city life.Itremains of pleasant climate over the year that's allure lots of a different kind of tourist from all over the globe.

With its colonial charm, music culture, and cool weather, Shillong offers a mix of urban energy and natural beauty. It’s the ideal starting point for day trips to Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake, and farther destinations like Mawlynnong (Asia’s cleanest village) and the Laitlum Canyons, which provide panoramic views of the valley below. Shillong is also known for its lively street food scene, handicrafts, and friendly local people.

Shillong is famous for its green fields, misty mountains and gorgeous vistas

Mawlynnong Village

Mawlynnong Village is among the most beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya. You heard it right — Mawlynnong was voted the cleanest village in Asia by CNN-IBN in 2003, a remarkable accolade that put this tiny village on the global tourism map. This prestigious recognition not only celebrates the village’s pristine environment but also highlights the strong community-driven commitment to cleanliness and eco-friendly living.

Apart from being the cleanest, this destination is also known as “God’s Garden” because of its lush natural beauty. From majestic waterfalls to rolling green valleys, the landscape here is truly breathtaking and sure to stir your soul. Moreover, Mawlynnong is one of the rare matriarchal villages in India, where lineage and inheritance pass through the women — mothers hand down property and wealth to their daughters, adding a fascinating cultural dimension to this already unique destination.

The cleanest village in India, Mawlynnong Village is also known as God’s Own Garden and for all the right reasons.

Krang Suri Fall

Brilliantly beautiful, Krang Suri has bright blue waters as well as bright sunlight. The Krang Suri Falls of Jaintia Hills are among the best Tourist Places in Meghalaya, and they attract a lot of visitors all year round. The viewers remain mesmerized by the view of this enchanted pool. It is one of those beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya that makes visitors spellbound with its charm. A few pockets of settlements and limestone exposures are seen en route to the falls. The best time to enjoy this beauty is winter from September to December and after the monsoon. Do try to catch the beauty of autumn in the early morning. 

Safety Note:

The path leading to Krang Suri can become very slippery and muddy after rain, especially on the stone steps and trails near the waterfall. Visitors are strongly advised to wear non-slip footwear, walk carefully, and avoid rushing—particularly when traveling with children or elderly companions. A local guide is also recommended for added safety and assistance.

The waterfalls are truly stunning and a must visit destination in Meghalaya! 

Krang Suri Fall is a mesmerizing falls to be visited by each tourist in Meghalaya State

Garden of Caves

Meghalaya tourist places are known for their natural beauty, one of which is the Garden of Caves, that is in the list of the best places to visit in Meghalaya.  This is not a natural cave system but a landscaped eco-tourism park

Often mistaken for a natural cave system, the Garden of Caves is a beautifully developed eco-tourism site located in Laitmawsiang village, around 10 km from Sohra (Cherrapunji). Unlike natural limestone caves such as Mawsmai or Siju, this attraction is not an underground cavern but a landscape park nestled within a dense rainforest.

The site features a collection of small rock formations, water-sculpted crevices, lush greenery, and seasonal waterfalls that flow over moss-covered stones and into natural pools. Visitors can walk along bamboo bridges, explore serene forest trails, and enjoy the soothing ambiance created by rainfall-fed streams.

Garden of Caves offers a peaceful and immersive nature experience — ideal for those looking to unwind and appreciate Meghalaya’s verdant beauty, rather than venture into deep, dark caves.

Mawphlang Sacred Forest

The legends of the forest follow a simple rule “Nothing goes out of the forest”. This is where the ancient Khasi kings held their meetings. You can also visit the nearby Khasi Heritage Village, which showcases the tribal culture of the Khasi people. It is one of the best places to visit in Meghalaya.

Among the tourist places in Meghalaya, the Mawphlang Sacred Forest holds a special significance. The best time to visit the Mawphlang Sacred Forest  is during the autumn season. The mild and stable climate makes the visit easy and even more beautiful. There are picturesque forest trails, monoliths, the Khasi Cultural Village and the David Scott Trail that are worth exploring. You can reach the forest by road from Shillong.

Nohkalikai Falls

Nohkalikai Falls is a worth visiting waterfalls in Cherrapunji because of its spectacular view. The beauty of this falls makes it one of the best places to see in Meghalaya. It is a waterfall with a drop of approximately 340 meters, making it the tallest plunge waterfall in India

Lush greenery surrounds this spot making it great to hike. Due to the fact that Nohkalikai Falls are rain-fed, the stunning scenery, jaw-dropping falls, and clear skies make October to December and March to May the best times to visit. When clear days occur during the monsoon season, visitors can still fully appreciate the beauty and force of the waterfalls. But you may witness the waterfall at any time of the year.

Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India and among the highest waterfalls in the world, with a drop of about 340 m

Conclusion

In conclusion, Meghalaya is more than just a place to visit; it’s an experience of the natural wonders of the region and a journey through a people who respect its traditions. For those who want to experience the natural beauty of northeastern India, Meghalaya is a must-visit destination because it offers something for everyone, be it adventure, peace, or cultural discovery.

Are you planning to visit Meghalaya? Don’t forget to check India’s visa requirements. Most foreign travelers now only need an Indian e-Tourist Visa, which can be easily applied online through the official Indian immigration service website. The application process is simple, fast, and saves time upon arrival.