Travel Tuesdays With Quilt: A 36-Hour Virtual Visit to Meghalaya
‘Meghalaya’ literally means ‘abode of the clouds,’ and when you step into this beautiful state, you’ll know why. A part of northeast India’s seven sister states — a mere 36-hour trip is far from enough to cover all that there is to see and experience here. Nevertheless, continuing our digital travel series inspired by the New York Times 36-hour format, we looked at travelers’ posts on the Internet to curate a travel itinerary for our readers.
Known for its gorgeous natural landscapes ranging from transparent rivers to mesmerizing waterfalls, not to forget the famous living roots bridges, Meghalaya is truly a paradise of the east. It’s a round-the-year destination but is particularly lush green and breathtaking in the monsoon season that runs from May to September. An underrated travel destination for far too long, it’s interesting to see +2000% growth in search interest for ‘kerala vs meghalaya’ — reflecting the fast-growing preference for exploring underrated northeast India over conventional tourism destinations such as Kerala. Further, there is +200 growth in searches for ‘meghalaya tourism package’ over the last year.
When we ran over 1000 Instagram posts tagged #meghalaya and related hashtags through our Culture AI models, ‘joy’ was the top emotion detected in the posts, and a majority of travelers’ posts got classified under the concepts ‘going on an adventure’ and ‘escape to nature.’
Our Culture AI also showed Instagram photos to be dominated by objects such as plant, sky, water, tree, cloud, mountain, and grass — reiterating the abundance of natural landscapes in Meghalaya, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and adventurists.
Consequently, the top colors detected in the photos are shades of grey, brown, blue, and green, featuring mountains, rivers, cloudy skies, forests, and waterfalls.
Based on these insights and a scan of popular travel vlogs, blogs, and online conversations about Meghalaya, here’s how we suggest spending 36 hours in this sublime northeast Indian state:
36 Hours in Meghalaya
DAY 1
10 AM: Umiam Lake
The 3-hour drive from Guwahati airport to Shillong is picturesque and allows you to sink in the vibe of the place. Umiam lake is on the way and makes for a great stop to enjoy some natural beauty. A reservoir in the hills, it is worth coming back here to catch the sunset during a longer stay.
11 AM: Scotland of the East
Shillong is often referred to as the Scotland of the East thanks to its European-style architecture and old-world streets. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the city — starting with the bustling Police Bazaar. Famous for locally-produced footwear, street food, and bamboo artifacts, the bazaar along with the Megha Emporium and Khasi Emporium give a glimpse into the art and culture of the people of Meghalaya.
1 PM: Dylan’s Cafe
Grab a quick bite at the famous Dylan’s Cafe — an iconic bakery that serves excellent coffee and fast food. The walls are lined with vinyl records while Dylan’s songs make the quaint cafe come alive. Don’t miss the all-American pancakes and Bob’s Burger.
2.00 PM: Peak and Fall
After a scrumptious meal, head over to Shillong Peak which promises panoramic views of the entire city before proceeding to the Elephant Falls located on the outskirts of Shillong. A multi-tiered waterfall that merges into a plunge pool, swimming is not allowed here but the lush green scenery makes for a lovely post-lunch sojourn.
5 PM: Cherrapunji beckons
Next, proceed to Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places in the world and a 2-hour drive from Shillong. Check out the Nohkalikai Falls, Seven Sisters Falls, and Mawsmai Cave before calling it a night!
8 PM: Sai-I-Mika
Get some rest over a delicious meal at the Sai-I-Mika resort’s restaurant that whips up excellent local dishes and occasionally has live music in the evenings. This is also a great place to halt for the night and enjoy the countryside.
DAY 2
6 AM: Double Decker Bridge
Start the daily as you hike down to the double-decker living roots bridge in Nongriat. It can take anything between 1.5 to 3 hours depending on your fitness level. Don’t forget to pack a light lunch to enjoy by the water once you reach and take a dip!
Made of two tree root entanglements and set in a dense forest, the trail is 3km long from Tyrna village. The bridge was created by the people of the Khasi tribe with the roots of ancient rubber trees and is an alternative to wooden bridges. The roots are believed to be over 500 years old! There are many other similar root bridges in the vicinity, though the double-decker bridge remains the most famous one.
11 AM: Picnic by the roots bridge
Enjoy your packed lunch by the water or sit perched on the living roots bridge before making your way back up!
3 PM: The cleanest village in Asia
Although hiking up and down to the double-decker bridge within the first half of the day is ambitious, we’re taking the liberty of doing so since this is a virtual itinerary, though it is feasible for physically fit travelers. Next up, drive down to Mawlynnong — Asia’s cleanest village. A 2-hour drive from Cherrapunji, the colorful houses, bamboo dustbins, and clean streets are a delight to witness.
5 PM: Transparent river
Before heading back to Shillong, stop over at Dawki river for a boat ride over transparent waters! However, do note that it is transparent only in the winter months — so much so that you can see every single colorful pebble on the river bed. It’s a truly fascinating experience and must not be missed! Unsurprisingly, it has recently been declared the cleanest village in Asia.
7 PM: Rock n Roll
Bid adieu to Meghalaya in classic Shillong style — with rock music and delectable local dishes at Cafe Shillong! Try their smoked pork or steak and thank us later.
36 hours is far too less to truly explore Meghalaya. We suggest traveling for at least a week to cover all the major tourist trails. If you’re looking for a more offbeat, immersive travel experience, we suggest planning a longer trip.
LOGISTICS
How to get there
Guwahati Airport in Assam is the nearest airport. From there, you can take a private taxi or bus to Shillong which is approx. 120 km (3 hours) away.
Places to stay
There are plenty of hotels and homestays to choose from in Meghalaya. You can use Shillong as your base or stay with local families. In Shillong, Ri Kynjai is a good stay option, while in Cherrapunji, Sa-i-mika resort is set in an idyllic setting.
When to go
Meghalaya is an all-year-round destination and when to visit depends on what you wish to do. April and June are generally nice times to visit to experience moderate weather, though Autumn (November) is when you can see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. In winters, the rivers and lakes are transparent and turquoise blue in many places, while monsoons in Meghalaya are an experience in itself! Pick whatever floats your boat.
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