Summer Holidays in Meghalaya things to do and places to visit

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Come summers and everyone will be looking for a long getaway, away from the scorching high temperatures and hustle-bustle of the inland-city life. With the Mercury rising to unprecedented heights in India, everyone will be looking for places to visit in Summer in India. From the lofty peaks in Himalayas to the Blue mountains and the Andaman Islands in the south and from the Western Ghats to the eastern extents of the Himalayas in the north eastern states, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to go for Summer holidays in India. Here is a list of one of the best places that is surely worth a visit.

Meghalaya-  “The abode of Clouds”- Nothing better can describe Meghalaya more than it’s own meaning . Captivating tourists from far and wide, Meghalaya is a magical land where clouds tend to settle on the surface, making one feel into a wonderland. Not only clouds, but green and dense meadows, scintillating waterfalls, pristine lakes & rivers, fascinating caves and petite villages that show true colours of the state also add a unique charm to this place. For travellers who are nature lovers, it is indeed a treat to the senses to spend some days here. Many likes to witness the grace and beauty of Meghalaya is adorned with. While taking the best services from any travel partner, one can enjoy what Meghalaya offers.

Meghalaya is a magical land dotted with many natural wonders. During monsoon, it becomes lively with numerous full volume waterfalls and mist covered the land like a white blanket. The scenic windy roads lead the way through hilly gorges present you an unforgettable road trip in Meghalaya. So, why to wait? Just plan your must awaited road trip to Meghalaya. Since Meghalaya is a diverse state with lots of things to see and activity to do. So, plan at least a week long holiday and choose the best activity and attraction that suits you. This post is all about the details of how you can plan your road trip in Meghalaya. After reading this post, I assure that you get enough inspiration to start your trip in abode of clouds, Meghalaya by road.

Day1: Drive to Shillong from Guwahati- Kick off the first day of your trip with a refreshing drive to Shillong from Guwahati. To start with roads inside Meghalaya are very smooth. Though small most roads in Meghalaya are made of concrete. The first day trip from Guwahati to Meghalaya is very relaxing and away from city traffic once you enter Meghalaya. If you start in the morning then, on that very day you can visit some popular places in Shillong on your trip.

In the evening you can go for shopping in the Police Bazaar market or taste some awesome local food and other continental foods in numerous eateries available in Shillong city. Some of the best eateries are Jiva Sizzlers, Qzine Restaurants, Dylan’s Café, The Wok, etc. One of the must-try dishes in Meghalaya is Jadoh, a popular Khasi delicacy. Apart from this, you can try sizzler, hot momos etc. Café Shillong is one of the oldest and favourite coffee shop to visit in Shillong.

Where To Stay?

A slew of Hotels and homestays are available in Shillong city which suits everyone’s budget. Silver Brook Homestay, which is one of the top homestays in Shillong. Located in Shillong-Cherrapunjee highway at Mylliem. It is the best homestay with a super friendly and helpful owner. It is the best place to keep away from the crowd and a comfortable and cosy stay with delicious local food.

Day 2: Explore Scotland of East-Shillong and Drive to Laitlum Canyon- Shillong was the bygone Capital of Assam during British rule. It preserved some age-old colonial charm in the form of Churches and ancient buildings which were built in the 18th Century. Shillong also has many beautiful gardens and amazing museums which is worth a visit.

Following are few best tourist points in Shillong which you can include in your Meghalaya travel plan.

• Wards Lake
• Lady Hydari Park
• Don Bosco Museum
• Elephant Falls
• Shillong Peak 
• Ever Living Museum
• Mawphlang Sacred Forest
• Khasi Heritage Village
• Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians

If you want to be more adventurous then Laitlum Grand Canyon is right for you. Located 30km from Shillong city. It is one of the loved destinations by trekking lovers and everyone. There are more than 3000 steps which lead to the Rasong Village located in the bottom. You can sit and relax or go for trekking downstairs and enjoy the birds-eye view of the valley.

Smit Village-It is another charming place located on the way of Laitlum. Stop over there for a few minutes and visit the bamboo house of King of the Khryiem Tribes which is the example of excellent craftsmanship skills of native tribes.

Day 3: Exploring Cherrapunjee-   Cherrapunjee looks out of the world in monsoon. It is a scenic paradise close to nature. Rain is very unpredictable here. Once you step out from your room in the morning warm weather with a ray of pleasant sunshine greet you, however soon it changes to gloomy and rain starts pouring. Most of the time mist covers the land like a white blanket, which is a heavenly experience for the spectator.

Cherrapunjee is dotted with many places to visit like waterfalls, natural caves and living root bridges which are difficult to cover in a single day. So, plan according to your interest.

Here are some our favourite places to visit in Cherrapunjee.

• Mawsmai Cave- Let this be the first thing to see in the area. This is the shortest and most well-maintained caves in Meghalaya centrally located near the city centre. Some top street food joints are also available here which serves delicious Maggie, momo, tea etc.
• Seven Sister Falls- Before reaching the Mawsmai cave, you can see the wonderful Seven Sister Falls or Mawsmai falls from one end side of the road. You can stop here for a family picture taking the amazing falls in the backdrop.
• Thangkharang Park- It is one of the most well-maintained parks of Cherrapunjee. You can catch a glimpse of Khoh Ramhah Rock and plain of Bangladesh from thi park. One of the tallest falls in Cherrapunjee, Kynrem falls can be seen from the park.
• Dainthlen Falls- This is one of the biggest falls in Cherrapunjee which is formed by a hilly river flowing down the top of the cliff. Rainy season is the best time to spot Dainthlen falls which become magnificent with a large amount of water.
• Nohkalikai Falls- This is one of the tallest waterfalls in entire India plunged down from a height of 1115 feet. Your trip is not complete if you did not take some amazing pictures. You can also get down to the base of the fall from where a trekking route start. BUT, DON’T TRY IT ALONE WITHOUT A LOCAL GUIDE!
• Double Decker Living Root Bridge
• Kynrem Falls
• Garden of Caves.

Interesting Facts About Meghalaya

• Meghalaya has a matrilineal system, which means that the lineage and inheritance are traced via women. The youngest daughter inherits everything and looks after her parents. 
• The Tree Root Bridges are made of live tree roots in Cherrapunjee. Meghalaya has about 40 tree root bridges.
• Nohkalikai fall, in Cherrapunjee, is India’s largest plunge waterfall, dropping 1115 feet.
• Locals closely defend the Mawphlang Sacred Forest and visitors are not permitted to take anything from the forest, including fallen leaves and stones.
• Mawlynnong Village is India’s cleanest village.

Best Time to Visit Meghalaya

If you are coming all the way to Meghalaya, you must visit from June- October when Monsoon is in full swing and the falls are thundering with a heavy flow! However, even during this time, the waterfalls could be covered in a blanket of fog, so have to be really lucky to witness all of them in their full glory.

So, escape into the waterfalls of Meghalaya and beat the heat this Summer!