Guwahati & Shillong Hills

Kamakhya temple, Shillong, Cherrapunji's falls, Dawki's clear river and Mawlynnong village.

Your route

1. 1 Guwahati 1 night
2. 2 Shillong 4 nights

1. Day 1 Guwahati

   Arrive, Kamakhya and Umananda.

   Arrive at Guwahati airport or railway station, where you are welcomed and taken to your hotel. After check-in, visit the Kamakhya temple on Nilachal Hill, one of the most important Shakti Peethas in India. Queues can be long, and special entry tickets are available. Then take a short ferry to Umananda temple on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra if time permits. Enjoy a walk along the riverfront in the evening. Guwahati is the gateway to the North-East. Overnight in Guwahati.

2. Day 2 Shillong

   Umiam Lake, Police Bazaar.

   After breakfast, drive to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, about 100 km and three hours. Stop at Umiam Lake, also called Barapani, a large lake surrounded by pine-covered hills, for photos or a boat ride at extra cost. Arrive in Shillong, often called the Scotland of the East, and check in. Spend the evening at Police Bazaar, the lively heart of the town, with shops, cafes and street food. The road winds through pine forests and green hills. Overnight in Shillong.

3. Day 3 Cherrapunji

   Nohkalikai, Seven Sisters, Mawsmai cave.

   A full-day excursion to Cherrapunji, called Sohra locally, one of the wettest places on earth, about 55 km away. Visit Nohkalikai Falls, the tallest plunge waterfall in India, the Seven Sisters Falls, the Mawsmai limestone cave and the Eco Park with views towards Bangladesh. Carry an umbrella and good shoes, as paths can be slippery. Return to Shillong in the evening. The views are often covered by mist, which adds to the magic of the place. Try local Khasi food tonight. Overnight in Shillong.

4. Day 4 Shillong

   Shillong Peak, Elephant Falls, museum.

   Explore Shillong. Drive up to Shillong Peak for panoramic views of the city, when the Air Force area is open, and visit Elephant Falls, a three-step waterfall. See Ward's Lake, a peaceful lake with a wooden bridge, and the Don Bosco Museum, a seven-storey museum of the cultures of the North-East. Visit the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians. Spend the evening shopping at the local markets. Shillong is also known as the rock music capital of India. Overnight in Shillong.

5. Day 5 Dawki

   Umngot river and Mawlynnong.

   A day trip to Dawki and Mawlynnong. Drive about 85 km to Dawki, near the Bangladesh border, where the Umngot river is so clear that boats seem to float in the air in the dry months. A boat ride is available at your own cost. Then visit Mawlynnong, called Asia's cleanest village, walk to the Living Root Bridge at Riwai and climb the bamboo Sky View. Return to Shillong in the evening. Dawki is busy on weekends. Overnight in Shillong.

6. Day 6 Guwahati

   Drive back for departure.

   After breakfast, check out and drive back to Guwahati, about three hours, through the green hills. Our driver drops you at Guwahati airport or railway station for your journey home. Please allow time for traffic near Guwahati. Pick up Assam tea, Meghalaya's Lakadong turmeric and handwoven stoles as gifts. The road to Guwahati is good, but there may be traffic. Please keep your tickets and ID handy. Your journey through Assam and Meghalaya ends here, with memories of waterfalls, clear rivers and misty hills.

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