Meghalaya is one of India’s easternmost states, sharing a long border with Bangladesh. Due to India’s geographical position and size, it technically falls under three time zones. However, the country follows only one time – the Indian Standard Time. Since the sun rises in the east, the day starts and ends early in the eastern states of India. It is recommended to commence your journey early in the morning to conclude your day by 5 pm (around the time the sun typically sets in winters). I highly recommend starting your journey early to make the most of the daylight.
During our trip, we stayed in Shillong for three nights, organizing two full-day trips from Shillong and spending one day exploring the city. One day trip took us to the Indo-Bangladesh Border, Dawki River – absolutely stunning, and Mawlynnong village, awarded the cleanest village in Asia. On this day, we also hiked to the live root bridge at Rewai village. The other day trip was to Cherrapunji – known for receiving the maximum rain in India and once considered the wettest place in the world (a record now held by a nearby town). Here, we saw amazing waterfalls and a cave.
The drive in Meghalaya is a total joy. The hills are lined with pineapple and bamboo trees, along with ferns and other unique plants.
Dawki
Our visit to Dawki was one of the highlights of our trip. The Dawki River was spectacular. We arrived early, a highly recommended strategy to avoid traffic jams. The crystal-clear water allowed us to see the beautiful pebbled riverbed. The boat ride was peaceful and refreshing. We opted for a 30-minute boat ride, which was perfect. By the time we left, there was a traffic jam at least 2 km long on the approach road. We were glad to have arrived early.
Indo-Bangladesh Border
Our hotel manager suggested visiting the India-Bangladesh Border. Our driver and locals at Dawki river discouraged us, but we persisted. The border is a good 30-minute drive from Dawki river. The road was not in great condition, and there were many trucks en route. Nevertheless, the visit was interesting. The India-Bangladesh Border is an open border. Gates were open, and vehicles from both sides were traveling across. We interacted with guards and met a Bangladeshi boy selling fresh vegetables and berry pickles. According to border security, the sheep were Indian and stayed within their territory.
Mawlynnong Village
A short and beautiful drive from Dawki river is Asia’s cleanest village. Mawlynnong village is breathtakingly beautiful, resembling a fairytale from a Disney movie. Each house has a tiny garden with colorful flowers. The tiny streets are clean, and as you walk, you witness children playing and some drinking water from a hand pump. The village has souvenir stalls, and if interested in staying overnight, there are home-stays available.
Rewai Village
Our next stop was Rewai village and our hike to the single-decker live root bridge. The walk from the car park to the root bridge took around 30 minutes, mostly downhill. We had never seen anything like this before, and it was definitely worth visiting. Meghalaya is home to a number of live root bridges, handmade by the Khasi and Jaintia people to navigate the mountains.
Cherrapunji
Our day trip to Cherrapunji was good, known for waterfalls and the highest rainfall. Cherrapunji also hosts a beautiful Eco Park with breathtaking views. The limestone and sandstone caves of Cherrapunji were another fascinating stop.
Shillong Sightseeing
Our last day in Meghalaya was spent exploring Shillong. We visited the Elephant Waterfall, the Dam, Shillong Zoo, and the Church, built-in 1936. In Shillong, we also visited the Golf course, created in 1889. The third oldest golf course in India with an 18-hole course. One of the most interesting places in Shillong is the Don Bosco Museum, focusing on showcasing indigenous communities of the Northeast.
Food
When planning our visit, there was uncertainty about available food and facilities. Shillong, being the capital, offers a variety of options. During excursions, there were limited food options, adding to the charm of the countryside. Roadside shops sold caps, strolls, souvenirs, instant noodles, chips, biscuits, and freshly cut pineapple. Most roadside eateries offered a standard thali (fixed meal) with rice, dal, a dry vegetable, chicken, or fish. If traveling with kids, it’s advised to be prepared, having a heavy breakfast, and packing some fruit cake and instant soup packs for lunch. On excursions to Dwaki and Mawlynnong, fixed meal roadside restaurants were the only food option.
I had combined our trip to Meghalaya with Assam. It is recommended to spend 7 nights in Assam and 3 nights in Meghalaya. You can make two separate trips or do it as one tour.
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.