VANAMCOVE 
Well-lit limestone caves
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Half day · The caves
- Entrance walk
- Passage tour
- Stalactite hall
- Exit
- Return
Geography & terrain
Mawsmai Caves lie in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, 5 km from Cherrapunji and 60 km from Shillong — the limestone caves of the region, its lit passages, the stalactites and the family walk set on the plateau's edge.
History & culture
The caves' story runs with the region's cave life — the limestone caves of the Khasi hills and the naturally carved passages, with the caves' modern role as the tourist-friendly cave of the Cherrapunji circuit and the home of the lit walkways of the 1 km route; the caves' history of the rainwater's carving and the bats' life, gives Mawsmai its cave character.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/night
Mid-range
₹2,500–5,000/night
Comfort
₹5,000+/night
Things to do
- Limestone caves
- Stalactite forms
- Lit passages
- Narrow steps
- Bats' dark
Eat & drink
- Jadoh (rice with pork)
- Dohneihong (minced meat)
- Tungrymbai (fermented soya)
- Pumaloi (steamed rice cake)
Getting there
- Fly
- Shillong (SHL) / Guwahati (GAU) nearest major
- Train
- Guwahati for long-distance rail
- Road from Guwahati
- 100 km / 3 hr to Shillong
- Getting around
- Shared taxis and autos
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
- Jan · Best
- 7–23°C · Light rain
- Feb · Good
- 10–26°C · Light rain
- Mar · Good
- 14–30°C · Moderate rain
- Apr · Hot
- 18–32°C · Moderate rain
- May · Pre-monsoon
- 21–33°C · Heavy rain
- Jun · Monsoon
- 23–32°C · Heavy rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 24–32°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 24–32°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Monsoon
- 23–32°C · Heavy rain
- Oct · Good
- 18–30°C · Moderate rain
- Nov · Best
- 12–27°C · Light rain
- Dec · Best
- 8–24°C · Light rain
Practical info
- Language: Khasi / Garo; English common (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–May
- Connectivity: Patchy in villages — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The season (Oct–May) holds the cave's walks
- The cave asks the head cover
- Pairs with Nohkalikai for the Cherrapunji circuit
Frequently asked questions
What are the Mawsmai Caves?
The family-friendly limestone caves of the Cherrapunji.
What is there to do?
The passages, the stalactites and the walk.
How long is the visit?
A half day.
Well-lit limestone caves
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