Memorable Journey Through Shillong & Meghalaya Rains
🌧️ Memorable Journey Between the Rains of Shillong and Meghalaya
✨ Emotional Introduction (08-May-2026)
Some places are not only for travelling, but they stay forever in a peaceful corner of the heart. Meghalaya is exactly that kind of place. As soon as I once again stepped onto the land of North East this time, it felt like returning to someone very close. Clouds floating over the mountains, light cold breeze, sound of waterfalls coming from far away, and rain-soaked roads – everything slowly started calming the mind.
It was the month of May, and Meghalaya was in its most beautiful form. This is the time when the waterfalls here flow with full power, roads disappear into the fog, and at every turn a new colour of nature can be seen.
In this journey, not only Shillong, but glimpses of Sohra, Mawlynnong, Dawki, and many beautiful places were also included. But the most special thing in this whole journey was that feeling which kept connecting more deeply with nature at every turn.
1. 🗓️ Best Time to Visit Meghalaya
If you want to see the real beauty of Meghalaya, then the time from May to September is considered the most special. This is the season when rainfall starts and the waterfalls hidden between the mountains become completely alive.
Greenery everywhere, fog, and flowing water – Meghalaya looks like a dream during this season.
However, this is also the time when there is the highest crowd here. Getting hotels and cabs becomes quite difficult. Even this time while planning the trip, this was the biggest challenge. Many hotels were already full and good rooms had become very expensive.
If you come between October and April, then the weather here remains calm and clear. Water in the waterfalls becomes a little less, but the Umngot River of Dawki looks completely crystal clear during this time. The water becomes so transparent that even the stones lying below can be clearly seen.
2. 🚆 Guwahati to Shillong – Beginning of Beautiful Roads
The journey to Meghalaya starts from Guwahati. For travellers coming by train, Guwahati Railway Station is the easiest option. From there, shared taxis are available for around ₹600, while reserved cabs go up to around ₹1700.
People coming by flight can easily take taxis from Guwahati Airport.
The road from Guwahati to Shillong is itself a beautiful experience. As the road moves forward between the mountains, the weather slowly starts changing. And then suddenly on the way appears – Umiam Lake.
3. 🌊 Umiam Lake – Peace Spread Between the Mountains
Umiam Lake was the first place that removed all the tiredness of the journey. Calm water spread far away, clouds floating above it, and mountains all around – this place looked like a painting.
Actually, it is a huge dam and reservoir built on the Umiam River. The view from above the highway looks extremely beautiful. There is also a viewpoint below where people can go and feel the lake closely.
Every traveller surely stops here for some time. A different kind of coolness and peace can be felt in the air, as if nature itself is slowly welcoming you.
4. 🏛️ Don Bosco Museum – A Glimpse of North East Culture
After reaching Shillong, the first place visited was Don Bosco Museum. Looking at the crowd outside itself, it was easy to understand how popular this place is.
This seven-floor museum is not just a building, but a living introduction to the culture of the entire North East.
Every floor shows a different story – tribal life, traditional houses, items made from bamboo and cane, old utensils, and glimpses of the lifestyle here.
From the skywalk built at the top, the whole Shillong can be seen spread between the clouds. The city looked so clean and peaceful that it felt like standing there for some more time and simply watching the views.
5. 🧹 Cleanliness of Meghalaya and the People Here
One of the most special things about Meghalaya is its cleanliness. The people here work very hard to keep their state clean. That is why Mawlynnong, the cleanest village in Asia, is also located here.
Throughout the journey, the roads, markets, and surrounding environment looked very clean and well maintained.
6. 🏨 Shillong Club – A Stay Connected with Old Memories
For staying during this journey, Shillong Club Residential was chosen. It did not feel like just a hotel, but more like an old heritage place. Built during the British period, this club still carries the same old charm even today.
From the balcony of the room, a light view of Ward’s Lake could be seen. The room had simplicity, but comfort was fully present. The most special thing was that even during childhood we had stayed here, so coming back here this time felt like an emotional experience.
For a good hotel in Shillong, a budget of around ₹2500 to ₹4000 is considered better. During peak season, hotels get filled very quickly, so advance booking becomes necessary.
7. 🌊 Elephant Falls – Beauty Increasing at Every Step
After that, we reached Elephant Falls. It is a beautiful waterfall falling in three levels. To reach the bottom, around 200 steps have to be climbed down.
This time the water was a little less, but still the colour of the flowing water between the rocks and the greenery around looked extremely beautiful.
While going down, dry fallen trees on the paths, cold breeze, and the sound of the waterfall were making the whole atmosphere even more peaceful.
8. ✈️ Indian Air Force Museum
On the way to Elephant Falls, the Indian Air Force Museum is also located. Here, real aircraft models, fighter jets, and helicopter displays can be seen.
This place shows the history of the Indian Air Force and its role in North East India.
9. 🌅 Ward’s Lake – The Most Peaceful Evening of Shillong
By evening, we reached Ward’s Lake. It is around a 100-year-old artificial lake which was built in 1894.
The colour of the evening slowly changing above the lake and the cold breeze were making the whole atmosphere extremely relaxing.
The experience of paddle boating here was completely different. The boat slowly moving forward on the water and the silence around gave complete peace to the mind.
10. 🌃 Police Bazaar – The Colourful Night of Shillong
As soon as evening arrived, the liveliness of Police Bazaar started appearing. The atmosphere here was completely different. Everywhere there were people, music, lights, and the smell of food.
While walking, many times it felt as if we were not in Shillong but walking through the streets of some foreign city.
On the way, Delhi Mishthan Bhandar was also seen, which is quite popular for its sweets. However, because of dental surgery, we could not eat much.
11. 🍽️ Beginning of Day 2 and the Road to Sohra
The next morning, breakfast included parathas, poha, and eggs. After this, the journey started from Shillong towards Sohra, which is also known as Cherrapunji.
On the way came Mawkdok Dympep Viewpoint. Here, deep valleys between the mountains and continuously changing weather could be seen.
Sometimes sunlight appeared, and within a few minutes the entire sky became covered with clouds. This felt like the most special thing about Meghalaya – the weather here keeps changing every moment.
12. 🌧️ Cherrapunji and the World of Rain
Today, even though Mawsynram is the place receiving the highest rainfall in the world, before that this record belonged to Cherrapunji.
Even today, heavy rainfall happens here throughout the year. Because of the rain, the greenery and waterfalls here remain alive and beautiful throughout the year.
13. 🪨 Garden of Caves – The Most Memorable Experience of Meghalaya
Garden of Caves became the most beautiful part of this entire journey. Here, around 11 different spots can be seen, including caves, waterfalls, and natural rock formations.
Meghalaya is not only called the land of waterfalls, but also the land of caves. Around 1700 caves are present here. Some have already been explored, while many are still unseen.
At some places, water was flowing between the rocks, at some places paths were passing behind waterfalls, and at some places we had to bend our heads to enter inside the caves.
Water continuously dripping from above and the cold air inside were making that place feel like a completely different world.
14. 🎋 Bamboo Bridges and Medicinal Water
Inside Garden of Caves, bamboo bridges and stairs could also be seen. These bamboo bridges of Meghalaya look very beautiful and are also extremely strong.
At one place, there was also Medicinal Water where the flowing water was said to have medicinal properties.
Bamboo bottles were available there for ₹100 in which water could be filled and carried along.
15. ❤️ Heart-Shaped Rock
In the last part of Garden of Caves, a heart-shaped rock was seen which is called Mowdonad.
Standing there and watching the greenery around and the flowing water was itself a very peaceful experience.
16. 💰 Total Expense of the Trip
This entire trip included:
- 2 nights in Shillong
- 1 night in Mawlynnong
- 1 night in Cherrapunji
If 4 people travel together, then the per person expense comes to around ₹11775.
If 6 people travel together, then the per person expense becomes around ₹10833.
17. 🌈 Emotional Conclusion
When this journey slowly started coming to an end, then it was felt that Meghalaya is not just a place for travelling.
The rain here, mountains, waterfalls, and roads covered with clouds slowly settle deep inside the heart and mind.
Some journeys are not only for taking pictures. They take you away from the rush of the world for some time and give peace to the mind.
This journey of Meghalaya was exactly like that – peaceful, beautiful, and always memorable.
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