Shillong

2 daysBest: Oct–MayMountains#music#lakes#hill station

Scotland of the East

Why this weekend?

Umiam lakePolice bazaarShillong peak

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The city
- Ward lake
- Cathedral
- Bazaar walk
Day 2 · The falls
- Elephant falls
- Shillong peak
- Return

Geography & terrain

Shillong lies in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya at about 1,525 m, 100 km from Guwahati and 60 km from Cherrapunji — the hill station of the region, its music life, the lakes and the falls set on the Khasi plateau.

History & culture

The city's story runs with the 1874 colonial era — the hill station of the 1874 founding and the 1878-era capital life of the Assam, with the city's modern role as the capital of the Meghalaya and the home of the 1920s-era cathedral and the Ward lake and the elephant falls; the city's history of the 1950s-era music scene and the 1972 state era and the shillong peak, gives Shillong its hill-station character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Hill lakes
Layer falls
City peaks
Cathedral halls
Market lanes

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: ₹4,500–11,000 (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: ₹600–1,000

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 city
The bazaar opens on the evenings
Pairs with Cherrapunji for the circuit

Frequently asked questions

What is Shillong?

The hill station of the Meghalaya.

What is there to do?

The lakes, the falls and the bazaar.

How long is the visit?

Two days.