Duration: 07 Nights/ 08 Days
Tour Destinations: Delhi - Shillong – Mawlynnong – Cherrapunji
Highlights: This tour takes you to one of the most beautiful locales in India – Meghalaya. Draped in mist, rolling green hills, and deep valleys that open suddenly to views across the plains of Bangladesh it is referred as the “Abode of Clouds”. Forests cover much of the state, hiding crystal streams, high plateaus, and sheer cliffs from which some of India’s tallest waterfalls plunge in silver ribbons. Meghalaya’s waterfalls thunder in the monsoon and turn gentle in winter. Driving between Shillong, Mawlynnong, Cherrapunji, and the remote Khasi hills, the scenery shifts constantly from pine groves and meadows to dense rainforests and canyon-like gorges. Considering the above British nicked named Meghalaya as “Scotland of the East”.
Mawlynnong, often described as one of the cleanest villages in Asia, showcases community-led cleanliness and flower-lined lanes. Markets in Shillong and smaller towns reveal everyday hill life, local produce, and music. Remote hamlets, exploring caves, or simply watching clouds roll over a viewpoint at dusk, Meghalaya offers slow, immersive travel. Beneath the hills lies one of India’s most extensive cave systems, where stalactites, fossils, and with underground streams create a surreal world. A visit to Mawsmai Cave at Cherrapunji will testify the above. Nowhere else on earth will you find Living Root Bridges, centuries-old natural structures woven from roots by the Khasi people, including iconic single and double-decker bridges around Cherrapunji and Mawlynnong.
Day 01 - Arrive Delhi. Met by our representative upon arrival at the international airport and transferred to the hotel.
Day 02 – An orientation and tour briefing in the morning is followed by a full-day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi.
Day 03 – In time transfer to airport to board the flight for Guwahati. Fly Delhi/ Guwahati. Arrive Guwahati airport and drive to Shillong (120 Km). Arrive Shillong and check in at hotel.
Day 04 – Morning, proceed for an excursion to Mawlynnong (90 Km) to visit India’s cleanest village, Living Root bridge at Riwai enroute.
Continue driving to Cherrapunji (70 Km) on finishing the Mawlynnong visit.
Arrive Cherrapunji by late afternoon or early evening and check in at hotel.
Day 05 – Morning, proceed on a sightseeing tour of Cherrapunji visiting Mawsmai Cave and few of many viewpoints that commands panoramic view of surroundings hills, gorges and plains of Bangladesh.
Day 06 – Cherrapunji to Sillong
Morning at leisure or free for optional activities. Early afternoon drive to Shillong (60 Km).
Arrive Shillong and check in at hotel with rest of the day at leisure or free for optional activities.
Day 07 – Morning, proceed on sightseeing tour of Shillong visiting some of the important sites here (i.e. Don Bosco Museum, Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Burra Bazar). Also, witness an archery lottery a unique lottery game in Shillong.
Day 08 – In time depart Shillong for Guwahati airport to connect flight for Delhi stopping by enroute at Umiam Lake.
Arrive Guwahati airport in time to connect flight for Delhi. Fly Guwahati/ Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and transfer to international airport to board the flight for onward destination.
Note: One can take following extension with this tour if desired.
ii) Kaziranga National Park, ii) Kolkata, iii) Agra to see the Taj Mahal
Day 01 - Arrive Delhi
Arrive IGI airport Delhi. Met by our representative upon arrival at the international airport and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel (Room held from noon of this day).
Day 02 – Delhi
An orientation and tour briefing in the morning is followed by a full-day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi.
In Old Delhi visit Jama Masjid - the last architectural extravagance of the emperor Shah Jahan, which he built shortly after the completion of Red Fort. The largest mosque in India, its courtyard and surroundings can accommodate 25000 devotees to offer prayer at a time. The visit will be followed by a cycle rickshaw ride in Old Delhi. A cycle rickshaw rides through the narrow alleyways of Chandni Chowk and observing daily activities there is an experience by itself. A flamboyant bazaar (marketplace) once for the elite and the novels of the Mughal court, it today is a bustling wholesale market, the largest in Asia. Also, visit Raj Ghat – the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi referred to as “Father of the Nation”.
On finishing the visit to Old Delhi, drive towards New Delhi stopping by en route briefly to explore the Central Delhi area with colonial remnants. Indo-Saracenic architecture, large boulevards, and a good green cover mark the character of this area. Drive pass government buildings and India Gate built in memory of 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War fighting for the British. This arch built in 1921 is a prominent site in Delhi.
The sightseeing tour of New Delhi will cover a visit to Humayun Tomb, the pioneer of Mughal architecture in India. This 16th-century colossal monument is considered to be an early masterpiece that decisively influenced the design of the later Mughal architecture including the Taj Mahal. A fusion of Persian and Hindu architectural influence is visible in this monument. Built in the middle of a four-cornered garden it is one of the best-preserved Mughal monuments in Delhi. End the day with a visit to Qutab Minar. Built-in red sandstone during the early 13th century and standing 72.5 m tall, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its peak to 14.32 m at the base, it is not only one of the tallest towers of its time but the tallest brick tower in the world. The tower is ornamented with intricate stone carvings and the walls consist of verses from the Koran (the holy book of Islam). The Complex also hosts mosques and a 5th/ 6th-century BC Iron Pillar (in the courtyard of the mosque) which has not rusted even after 2000 years.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 – Delhi To Guwahati and Shillong
In time transfer to airport to board the flight for Guwahati. Fly Delhi/ Guwahati.
Arrive Guwahati airport and drive to Shillong (120 Km).
Arrive Shillong and check in at hotel.
Located at an altitude of 4,900 feet above sea level, Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is also popularly called the Scotland of the East. Lush green hills interspersed by undulating patches of highlands, dotted with enticing waterfalls and a very pleasant climate, make these hills one of the favorite destinations for its visitors.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 04 – Shillong to Mawlynnong and Cherrapunji
Morning, proceed for an excursion to Mawlynnong (90 Km) to visit India’s cleanest village, Living Root bridge at Riwai.
Mawlynnong – a drive through picturesque locales of the Eastern Khasi Hills (pine woods, undulating grasslands, and lush green hills) will take you to this small hamlet with about 75 households and 400 people. Dubbed India's cleanest village, it inspires surroundings with immaculately clean pathways lined by gardens on both sides, a traditional bamboo resort, and a thrilling skywalk.
Living Root Bridge of Riwai - just 3 km before Mawlynnong is Riwai village, home to the Living Root Bridge, a remarkable example of nature-assisted engineering by the Khasi tribe. Rubber tree roots are guided across rivers using hollowed bamboo trunks and allowed to grow strong over 20–25 years, forming sturdy bridges that can support up to 50 people. These sustainable, living structures adapt to soil erosion and can last 200–300 years. The roots form base spans and protective railings, with stones filling gaps, showcasing a centuries-old tradition of harmony between humans and nature.
Note: one has to walk downhill for 15 minutes to reach the bridge from the roadhead.
Continue driving to Cherrapunji (70 Km) on finishing the Mawlynnong visit.
Arrive Cherrapunji by late afternoon or early evening and check in at hotel.
Cherrapunji or Shora as it is locally called is well described as the wettest place on planet earth. Picture perfect locales dotted with numerous waterfalls, undulating highlands and greenery and bird’s eye view of plains of Bangladesh is what dominates landscape of the place.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 – Cherrapunji
Morning, proceed on a sightseeing tour of Cherrapunji visiting Mawsmai Cave and few of many viewpoints that commands panoramic view of surroundings hills, gorges and plains of Bangladesh.
Mawsmai Cave - one of the numerous caves found in Meghalaya which takes you to a lesser know side of the earth. As you move inside the cave you will notice dripping of water from the cave roofs and the formation of stalactites and stalagmites forming exotic figures, wonderful phenomena specially found in limestone caves.
Cherrapunji area boasts of numerous waterfalls which come to full life once the monsoon hits the region and they could be seen from strategic viewpoints. Some of them are as follows:
Nohkalikai Falls viewpoint - signature viewpoint for India’s tallest plunge waterfall here, dropping into a turquoise pool in a vast horseshoe-shaped gorge. On clear days you see the entire cliff face, surrounding forested plateau and distant ridgelines; in monsoon the roar and mist create a very immersive scene.
Thangkharang Park - cliff-edge park giving wide 180-degree views over the canyons and plains of Bangladesh, plus distant sight of the tiered Kynrem Falls.
Eco Park - open plateau-park developed as a “balcony” over Cherrapunji’s famed green canyons, with marked points for canyon, valley and Bangladesh plains views. You can also see waterfalls dropping off the escarpment, including streams that later form Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters) Falls, plus a small stream and orchid house within the park.
Other popular viewpoint Mawsmai side that gives layered valley views and, in places, glimpses towards Bangladesh, often combined with a cave visit. Seven Sisters Falls area viewpoints (often clubbed with Eco Park or separate platforms) face a tall segmented waterfall line pouring down a vast cliff during monsoon, with sweeping valley scenery around.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 – Cherrapunji to Sillong
Morning at leisure or free for optional activities. Early afternoon drive to Shillong (60 Km).
Arrive Shillong and check in at hotel with rest of the day at leisure or free for optional activities.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 07 – Shillong
Morning, proceed on sightseeing tour of Shillong visiting some of the important sites here. Also, witness an archery lottery a unique lottery game in Shillong.
Don Bosco Museum - (closed on Sundays) which is a kaleidoscope of various cultures of entire northeast region. This seven-story building houses a wide collection of regional artwork, attires, accoutrements, handicrafts, ornamentation, photographs and weapons giving insight to the culture and traditions of the northeast India.
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians – originally built by a Salvatorian from Germany in 1913 - a small wooden structure was gutted in a Good Friday fire in 1936. Present building was then built, which now is a seat of Bishop and principal place of worship of the over 300,000 strong Catholics of the Shillong Archdiocese.
Burra Bazar or Idew Market is one of the most interesting markets in Shillong. One can explore/ observe this local market endlessly as one gets to see many local characters.
Teer or the Archery Lottery is a unique and culturally significant lottery game based on traditional archery. The only legalized form of gambling in Meghalaya, the game involves two rounds each day where archers shoot hundreds of arrows at a cylindrical target. The winning number is the last two digits of the total number of arrows that hit the target. Players place bets on numbers between 00 and 99, often guided by dreams and local beliefs.
Overnight at Overnight.
Day 08 – Shillong to Guwahati to Delhi and Depart
In time depart Shillong for Guwahati airport to connect flight for Delhi stopping by enroute at Umiam Lake.
Umiam Lake - just 15 km before Shillong on the Guwahati–Shillong Road near Barapani, is a vast man-made reservoir formed by damming the Umiam River in the early 1960s. Spreading across a 220 sq km catchment, it offers a serene, fjord-like setting with boating, kayaking, water-skiing and other water sports that make it a classic Meghalaya stop.
Arrive Guwahati airport in time to connect flight for Delhi. Fly Guwahati/ Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and transfer to international airport to board the flight for onward destination.
Note: One can take following extension with this tour if desired.
i) Kaziranga National Park, ii) Kolkata, iii) Agra to see the Taj Mahal
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