Assam Meghalaya Tour Packages – My First Tour To Meghalaya: Shillong, Sohra & Mawlynnong

Back in 2015, I started dreaming about backpacking across Northeast India. My friend Arunabh and I used to tag each other on photos of wild places Dzukou Valley, those famous Living Root Bridges always promising we’d go together someday. In June 2015, we finally did it. We packed our bags and headed off to Meghalaya for our first real adventure.

We didn’t bother with strict plans or detailed schedules. We just decided to figure things out as we went, letting the road set the pace. I’d been to Meghalaya once before, but that was for a leadership program. This time, I wanted to see Shillong and beyond on my own terms.

Day 1: Guwahati to Shillong – The Adventure Begins

We started out in Guwahati, hopping a ride to Shillong. The cab dropped us near Police Bazaar—the city’s busy center. Instead of Google Maps, we used a pocket-sized foldout map from Meghalaya Tourism. It made us feel like actual explorers, not just tourists following a checklist.

Hostels were all full, so we found a no-frills hotel on Quinton Road. We barely knew how to get around, so we hired a cab and set off to see what Shillong had to offer. The weather couldn’t have been better—cloudy, breezy, no rain.

First up was Elephant Falls. The water was roaring, and the whole place looked alive. Then we headed to Shillong Peak, the highest point in town, about 1,948 meters up. When the clouds finally broke, the view just opened up—panoramic, endless. We squeezed in a quick visit to the Air Force Museum and caught a glimpse of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians before calling it a day.

Day 2: Mawlynnong, Living Root Bridge & Seven Sisters Falls

The next morning, we set off for Mawlynnong, known as Asia’s Cleanest Village since 2003. The place is spotless—bamboo bins everywhere, not a plastic bag in sight, and everyone pitches in to keep things that way.

A quick drive brought us to the Riwai Living Root Bridge, which people usually just call the Mawlynnong Root Bridge. It’s woven right out of living rubber tree roots—a crazy mix of nature and human effort. Hardly anyone else was there, so it felt peaceful, almost like we’d stumbled into a secret.

We pushed on toward Sohra (Cherrapunji). Fog swallowed the road, clouds drifted next to us, and the hills looked unreal. At Mawkdok Dympep Valley, we stopped for tea and stared down into the gorge.

By evening, we rolled into Sohra and checked into a simple riverside resort. Later, we wandered over to Seven Sisters Falls. Just as we arrived, the clouds pulled back, and there it was—the waterfall in full flow, and even the plains of Bangladesh off in the distance.

Day 3: Caves, Waterfalls & Misty Mornings in Sohra

Nothing beats waking up to drizzle, mist, and the sound of water rushing somewhere outside. Even with the low visibility, we grabbed a cab and went out to see more: Mawsmai Cave, Thangkharang Park, Arwah Cave, and Nohkalikai Falls.

Mawsmai Cave was wild—lit tunnels, weird rock shapes. Arwah Cave felt even more adventurous: fossils in the walls, streams running through, sunlight squeezing in wherever it could.

Nohkalikai Falls stole the show. It’s one of the tallest waterfalls in India, plunging 340 meters straight down. We ended up kicking a football around with some local kids—not planned, just one of those good moments that happen when you travel.

Instead of shelling out for another cab, we hopped a public bus back to Shillong. It wasn’t glamorous, but it felt real—like we were actually part of the place for a minute.

Why I Keep Thinking About Backpacking Meghalaya tour

What sticks with me most is the freedom. We could stop where we wanted, talk to anyone, just slow down and take it all in. Traveling that way—on your own schedule, meeting locals, soaking up the little things—makes the memories stronger.

If you’re into a more comfortable trip, Assam Meghalaya Tour Packages are out there. They bundle the culture of Guwahati with the wild beauty of Shillong and Sohra.

We wrapped up our trip with a big Khasi meal in Shillong. That was the perfect ending to a trip I’ll never forget.

FAQs: Places to Visit in Meghalaya

Top places in Shillong?
Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Don Bosco Museum, Ward’s Lake, Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitlum Grand Canyon.

Best spots in Cherrapunji (Sohra)?
Nohkalikai Falls, Seven Sisters Falls, Mawsmai Cave, Arwah Cave, Double Decker Living Root Bridge.

How to reach Meghalaya?
Shillong Airport is about 30 km from the city. Guwahati’s LGBI Airport is the closest international airport.