Cherrapunji travel guide

Land of living bridges

Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth, is famous for dramatic waterfalls, limestone caves, living root bridges, mist-covered valleys, and lush green landscapes, making it a premier adventure and nature destination in Meghalaya.

Best time to visit Cherrapunji

Oct–Mar is the main season; Nov–Dec is dry with falls still flowing. Apr–Sep is the monsoon, wettest Jun–Jul: waterfalls roar but treks get slippery.

Month	Verdict	Temperature	Rain	Crowds	What to expect
January	good	7–17 °C	15 mm	medium	Dry and cool, often hazy; Seven Sisters Falls dry, good for caves and treks
February	good	9–19 °C	50 mm	medium	Dry and mild; Nohkalikai Falls thin, trails firm for root bridge treks
March	good	12–21 °C	360 mm	medium	Pre-monsoon showers begin; warmer, still hazy at times
April	mixed	14–23 °C	790 mm	medium	Rain sets in early here; falls refill, trails turn slippery
May	mixed	16–23 °C	1300 mm	high	Heavy rain most days; waterfalls in full flow, holiday crowds
June	mixed	18–23 °C	2610 mm	high	Among the wettest months; cloud rolls in often, trails slippery
July	mixed	18–23 °C	2670 mm	medium	Wettest month; downpours, roaring falls and frequent fog
August	mixed	18–24 °C	1770 mm	medium	Still very wet; waterfalls at full force, green everywhere
September	mixed	18–24 °C	1090 mm	medium	Rain easing; lush, with strong falls and clearer spells
October	good	15–24 °C	460 mm	high	Rain tails off; falls still flowing; Puja holiday crowds
November	best	11–22 °C	50 mm	medium	Dry and clear; falls still have water and trails are firm
December	best	8–19 °C	10 mm	high	Cool and dry; good for root bridge treks; busy around New Year

How many days to spend in Cherrapunji

Two days cover Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Cave, Seven Sisters Falls and the trek to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge; a third adds Garden of Caves and Wei Sawdong Falls.

How to reach Cherrapunji

• By air: Guwahati (GAU) — 170 km by road. Shillong (SHL) is nearer but has few flights
• By train: Guwahati (GHY) — 150 km by road
• By road: From Shillong — 53 km

Getting around

Sights lie around the plateau edges, too far to walk between. Hire a local taxi at Sohra Market in Upper Sohra or in Lower Sohra; both also have Sumo stands.

Things to do in Cherrapunji

1. NohKaLikai Falls — India’s tallest plunge fall (1 h · Paid entry)
2. Double Decker Living Root Bridge — Unique root bridge trek (5 h · ₹20)
3. Umiam Lake — Scenic reservoir lake (2 h · Free entry)
4. Umngot River Camp — Crystal clear river (3 h · Paid entry)
5. Elephant Falls, Shillong — Three-tiered waterfall (1.5 h · Rs 20)
6. Krang Suri Waterfall — Blue pool waterfall (2.5 h · ₹50)
7. Shillong View Point, Laitkor Peak — Highest city viewpoint (1 h)
8. Seven Sisters Waterfall — Seven-segment waterfall (1 h)
9. Mawlynnong Road — Clean eco village
10. Laitlum Canyon — Dramatic canyon views (2.5 h)
11. Mawsmai Cave — Accessible limestone cave (1 h · Rs. 30)
12. Mawjymbuin Cave — Shiva stalagmite cave (1 h · ₹30)
13. Police Bazar — Main shopping hub
14. Wei Sawdong Falls — Three-tiered blue falls (4 h · Rs. 50)
15. Ward's Lake — Central scenic lake (1 h · Paid entry)
16. Living Root Bridge, Riwai Village — Natural root bridge (2 h · ₹40)
17. Don Bosco Museum — Northeast culture museum (2.5 h · Paid entry)
18. Mawkdok dympep valley — Valley viewpoint (1 h)
19. Mawphlang Sacred Forest — Ancient sacred grove (2 h · Rs. 30-50)
20. Dainthlen Falls — Myth-linked waterfall (1 h)
21. Shnongpdeng Suspension Bridge — Historic suspension bridge (2 h · Free entry)
22. Dawki Bridge — Historic suspension bridge
23. Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians — Prominent Catholic church (45 min · Free entry)
24. Rainbow falls — Remote rainbow waterfall
25. Phe Phe Fall — Twin tier waterfall (2.5 h · ₹50)
26. Sweet Falls — Tall scenic waterfall (1 h · Free entry)
27. Arwah Cave — Fossil limestone cave (1.5 h · Rs. 20-50)
28. Balancing Rock of Mawlynnong — Natural balancing rock (30 min · ₹20)
29. Lady Hydari Park — Family-friendly park (1.5 h · Paid entry)
30. Garden Of Caves — Landscaped cave park (2 h · Rs. 20)
31. Nartiang Monoliths — Ancient monolith park (1 h · Free entry)
32. Spread Eagle Falls — Wide cascading falls (45 min · Free entry)
33. Thangkharang Park — Bangladesh view park (1.5 h · ₹20)
34. Shillong Golf Course — Historic golf course (2 h · Paid entry)
35. Khoh Ramhah — Giant rock formation
36. Thadlaskein Lake — Serene freshwater lake (1.5 h)
37. Kremdam — Adventure cave system (2 h · Paid entry)
38. Lum Diengïei — Volcanic hill peak (1.5 h)
39. Cherrapunji-Mawsynram Reserve Forest — Wettest place viewpoint
40. Air Force Museum — Defense aviation museum (1.5 h · Paid entry)
41. Wah-Kaba Falls — Seasonal roadside falls (45 min)
42. Syntu Ksiar Fish Sanctuary — Golden sand riverbank (1.5 h · Free entry)
43. All Saints' Cathedral — Colonial-era cathedral (45 min · Free entry)
44. Tyrna — Trek starting village
45. Rhino Heritage Museum — Military heritage museum (1.5 h · Paid entry)
46. Lyngksiar Falls — Scenic hidden waterfall (2 h)
47. Zero Point — Border viewpoint
48. Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum — Khasi culture museum (1.5 h · Paid entry)
49. Eco Park — Landscaped viewpoint park
50. Wankhar Entomology Museum — Private insect museum (1 h · Paid entry)
51. Ranikor Bridge — River canyon region (2 h · Free entry)
52. Thlu Amwi Falls — Hidden waterfall (2 h · Free entry)
53. Borhill Falls — Seasonal waterfall (1.5 h)

Food to try in Cherrapunji

• Jadoh — Khasi rice cooked with pork and spices, a staple of local eateries
• Dohneiiong — Pork cooked in a paste of black sesame seeds
• Tungrymbai — Pungent fermented soybean, often cooked with pork

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Cherrapunji?

Oct–Mar is the main season; Nov–Dec is dry with falls still flowing. Apr–Sep is the monsoon, wettest Jun–Jul: waterfalls roar but treks get slippery.

How many days are enough for Cherrapunji?

2–3 days. Two days cover Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Cave, Seven Sisters Falls and the trek to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge; a third adds Garden of Caves and Wei Sawdong Falls.

How do I reach Cherrapunji?

By air: Guwahati (GAU) — 170 km by road. Shillong (SHL) is nearer but has few flights. By train: Guwahati (GHY) — 150 km by road. By road: From Shillong — 53 km.

What are the top things to do in Cherrapunji?

NohKaLikai Falls, Double Decker Living Root Bridge, Umiam Lake, Umngot River Camp, Elephant Falls, Shillong, Krang Suri Waterfall.

Plan your Cherrapunji trip

Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.

Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store

Guide checked on 2026-10-06.