Unique Things to Do in Meghalaya - The Abode of the Clouds
Updated: Nov 25
In this travel guide, I will tell you all about the unique things to do in magical Meghalaya, a natural paradise in India's Northeast. The Jungle Book, Fern Gully, or Aldous Huxley's Island could have all easily been inspired by Meghalaya's emerald forests, where the monumental monsoons feed powerful waterfalls and crystal clear rivers.
So here are all the top unique things to do in Meghalaya, and yes, most of it is outdoors!
CONTENTS
RELATED POST - Meghalaya's Living Root Bridges Off The Beaten Path |
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About Travel to India
I have been to India eight times and have written extensively about it, so if it's your first time there, check out my Pre-Departure Checklist for Travelling to India. If you're a woman, then most of your safety concerns and questions will be answered in my post, Is India Safe for Female Travellers?
If you want to know how to get around by rail (not an option for Meghalaya), check out my article How to Buy a Train Ticket in India as a Tourist. If you're looking for more North India inspiration, have a read of my guides for Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan!
For travel insurance, I have put my trust in Safety Wing, and I use their 4-week rolling policy as it is affordable and covers almost every country. They have been great so far!
About Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in the Northeast of India, a region that comprises seven states that consider themselves separate from 'mainland India', known as the 'Seven Sisters'.
This part of the country is relatively undiscovered, with very few tourists venturing to these mainly tribal lands nestled between Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Tibet. With less tourism, the art of the scam and relentless hassle has not reached Meghalaya, and it officially joins my list of hassle-free states along with Kerala, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
Meghalaya, "the abode of the clouds", is the rainiest place in the world, and it is one of the least developed states in India, with more than 70% of the land still being natural, primary forest.
It is in these emerald forests filled with deep gorges that surge with water during the monsoons that the Khasi tribe have developed an ingenious way to link their isolated villages using the roots of the Ficus Elastica tree. These Living Root Bridges are the main draw to tourists in Meghalaya, and visiting them is one of the most unique things to do in the state.
The Khasi are the dominant indigenous ethnic tribe in Meghalaya, and other local tribes include Garo, Jaintias, and Bengalis. They speak Khasi, and they have a matrilineal society. I thought it was really interesting to learn that it is the youngest daughter who inherits everything, as opposed to the oldest son, and the woman's family name is taken and continued, not the man's!
Nowadays the Khasi are mostly Christian, and their main form of income is agriculture. Almost every Khasi person I met was chewing Betel Nut and had red-stained lips and decayed teeth – and they are short people! When I was in Meghalaya one of my taxi drivers looked around 13, so when I told him I thought he looked too young to drive he burst out laughing, said he was 24, and that Khasi people are very small!
Driving in from Assam the increase in poverty in Meghalaya is immediately noticeable, which surprised me, as of all the Seven Sisters, Meghalaya has the most visitors - so I wonder where all those tourist dollars go...
How to Get to Meghalaya
Guwahati in the neighbouring state of Assam is the best entry point to Meghalaya, as it has a well-connected airport and lots of transport options south to Shillong; Meghalaya's capital city.
You can take a Sumo, a shared taxi or a private taxi to Shillong, and it would be very beneficial if you could avoid rush hour as the roads into Shillong clog completely – if you get stuck in traffic it can take hours to go just a couple of kilometres, it would be faster to walk.
Sweet FA happens on a Sunday in Meghalaya, so avoid arriving and departing on that day too. Public transport will be infrequent and private taxis will charge more.
Uber and Ola are both available in Guwahati to get from your hotel/the airport to the sumo stand etc.
From Khanapara Bus Stand in Guwahati to Shillong, the prices are as follows...
Sumo – 250rs Shared Taxi – 500rs
Private Taxi – 2000rs
(Prices correct in October 2024)
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Getting Around in Meghalaya
The cheapest way to get around Meghalaya is by Sumo, which is a shared jeep that squeezes in about 10 passengers, and they only leave when they are full. They also only leave at certain times of day, as being a wide vehicle they can't afford to get stuck in traffic on Meghalaya's narrow and poorly built roads, in fact, this state has some of the worst traffic I have ever seen due to the roads not being equipped to deal the amount of people driving.
For this reason, even though driving is the most popular way to get around and gives you more flexibility, I really do not want to endorse a Meghalaya road trip, at least until they have widened the roads, as the traffic is bad-bad-bad and the more tourists with more private vehicles do not help.
There are also shared taxis, which are a bit more expensive than Sumos but take less time to fill up, and of course private taxis. For short distances, you can use Rapidos via Uber which are motorbike taxis. Meghalaya is not well connected by bus in the slightest.
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Things to Do in Meghalaya
Almost every Meghalaya travel guide covers the same itinerary:
Shillong – Cherrapunji – Double Decker Root Bridge – Mawlynnyong (cleanestvillageinasia) – Dawki
The traffic to all of these places, especially Dawki, is an utter nightmare, although admittedly the Dawki area is beautiful - but in my opinion it has been ruined by overtourism.
If you want to stay away from the crowds, just go anywhere else! Here are some other suggestions:
The Living Root Bridges – The most popular thing to do in Meghalaya is to visit the Living Root Bridges, and there are more than 100 to choose from. Most people flock to the Double Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat, but if you prefer to be away from the crowds, instead head to the longest Living Root Bridge at Rangthylliang.
Mawphlang Sacred Forest – A visit to Mawphlang Sacred Forest is one of the most interesting things to do in Meghalaya. This ancient forest holds deep cultural significance to the Khasi and you must take a local guide to explore. Khasi traditions and culture rely on oral story-telling, and your guide will tell you all about the significance of the sacred forest and the intimate relationship between the Khasi tribe and nature.
Shnongpdeng Village – A visit to Shnongpdeng is a great alternative to Dawki, and the ideal place to experience the 'floating boats' upon the crystal clear Umngot River. You can see living root bridges, do some trekking, or just take a glimpse into Khasi village life.
Wahken Bamboo Trek (Mawryngkhang) – This is often described as 'the most dangerous thing to do in Meghalaya' - however I do not think anyone has ever been seriously injured doing the Wakhen Bamboo Trek. The 5-hour hike starts from the village of Wakhen and you can pick up a local guide there. This trek is definitely one of the most fun things to do in Meghalaya!
Nightlife in Shillong – Experiencing Shillong's bar and restaurant scene is the only indoor thing on his list to do in Meghalaya and the perfect rainy day activity! Shad Skye is my personal favourite, it is a rooftop craft cocktail bar inspired by the Seven Sisters.
Laitlum Canyons - Laitlum Canyons is not too far from Shillong and offers lots of walking trails and viewpoints. Be sure to include the villages of Rasong and Smit, pack a picnic, and enjoy the scenery!
Packing Essentials for Meghalaya
Prepare for rain! Meghalaya sees more rainfall than anywhere in the world, so you're likely to get caught in a downpour every month of the year. I always travel with this lightweight raincoat and waterproof trousers (I like RAINS).
Not sure what to pack for your trip to India? Check out my article:
Some more Meghalaya Essentials
Electrolytes (it's humid)
Sweat rags (yep, it's really humid - I can't live without these)
Baby wipes (dirty Sumo face)
Thank you for reading my guide on unique things to do in Meghalaya.
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Happy Travels
xx
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