Dawki travel guide

Crystal clear river town

Dawki is a scenic border town in Meghalaya known for the crystal-clear Umngot River, adventure water activities, suspension bridge views, nearby waterfalls, and proximity to Bangladesh, making it a popular nature and river tourism destination.

Best time to visit Dawki

Nov–Feb is best, when the river runs clear and the weather is dry. Apr–Sep is very wet and humid, with the heaviest rain in May–Aug.

Month	Verdict	Temperature	Rain	Crowds	What to expect
January	best	12–23 °C	10 mm	medium	Dry and cool; the river runs clear
February	best	14–26 °C	30 mm	medium	Dry and mild; good for boating and riverside walks
March	good	19–31 °C	110 mm	low	Warm, with the first heavy showers
April	mixed	22–32 °C	390 mm	low	Hot and humid with heavy showers
May	avoid	24–32 °C	580 mm	low	Very heavy rain; landslides can hit the hill road from Shillong
June	avoid	26–31 °C	790 mm	low	Torrential rain; the river runs high and loses its clarity
July	avoid	26–31 °C	730 mm	low	Rain nearly every day; roads and river activities disrupted
August	avoid	26–31 °C	620 mm	low	Rain nearly every day; landslides can cut the road
September	mixed	25–31 °C	450 mm	low	Rain easing; still wet and humid
October	good	23–30 °C	260 mm	medium	Drier, with occasional heavy showers
November	best	18–28 °C	20 mm	medium	Dry, clear days; the river runs clear again
December	best	14–24 °C	20 mm	high	Dry and cool; popular over Christmas and New Year

How many days to spend in Dawki

A day covers Dawki Bridge, boating on the Umngot and Shnongpdeng Suspension Bridge; two more add Mawlynnong with Riwai Living Root Bridge, then Krang Suri and Phe Phe falls.

How to reach Dawki

• By air: Guwahati (GAU) — 190 km, about 3–4 h by road. Shillong (SHL) is nearer, but Guwahati has many more flights
• By train: Guwahati (GHY) — 170 km, about 2.5–3.5 h by road. Main railhead; the road continues via Shillong
• By road: From Shillong — 81 km, about 1–1.5 h

Getting around

Dawki Bridge, the river camps and Shnongpdeng lie along the same stretch of the Umngot. A cab from Shillong or Dawki links them with Mawlynnong and the falls.

Things to do in Dawki

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 Dawki

• Jadoh — Khasi rice cooked with meat, a staple of the Khasi and Jaintia hills
• Doh khlieh — A Khasi pork salad with onion, chilli and ginger
• Tungrymbai — Fermented soybean cooked with pork, a hill speciality

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Dawki?

Nov–Feb is best, when the river runs clear and the weather is dry. Apr–Sep is very wet and humid, with the heaviest rain in May–Aug.

How many days are enough for Dawki?

1–3 days. A day covers Dawki Bridge, boating on the Umngot and Shnongpdeng Suspension Bridge; two more add Mawlynnong with Riwai Living Root Bridge, then Krang Suri and Phe Phe falls.

How do I reach Dawki?

By air: Guwahati (GAU) — 190 km, about 3–4 h by road. Shillong (SHL) is nearer, but Guwahati has many more flights. By train: Guwahati (GHY) — 170 km, about 2.5–3.5 h by road. Main railhead; the road continues via Shillong. By road: From Shillong — 81 km, about 1–1.5 h.

What are the top things to do in Dawki?

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

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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.