Mawphlang Sacred Forest

Where

Mawphlang, about 25 km south-west of Shillong

Altitude

About 1,800 m

Distance

About 25 km from Shillong, 45 min–1 hour

Timings

Daylight; guided walks only

Entry fee

Entry plus a local guide (about ₹30 entry reported; guide extra)

Permit

None

Best time

October–May

Time needed

1–1.5 hours

The sacred forest at Mawphlang, called a law kyntang in Khasi, is a grove of old forest that has been protected for centuries by the belief that it belongs to a deity. It is about 25 km from Shillong, close enough to visit on the way to Cherrapunji, and it is unlike anything else on a Meghalaya trip.

The rule: nothing leaves the forest

Not a leaf, not a twig, not a flower. Local belief holds that the forest is protected by the deity Labasa, who can appear as a leopard or a snake. Taking anything out is said to bring illness or misfortune. The rule has done what laws often fail to: the grove holds trees, orchids, mushrooms and medicinal plants that have vanished from the cleared hills around it.

The guided walk

• Visits are with a local guide from the community, usually a walk of about an hour.
• Guides explain the plants, the rituals and the history of the clan who look after the grove.
• You see only part of it. Visitors are kept to a small section of the forest.
• The monoliths at the entrance are Khasi memorial and ceremonial stones; some are still used for rituals. Don't climb on them.

How to reach Mawphlang

Mawphlang is about 25 km from Shillong, 45 minutes to an hour by road. It's a short detour off the Shillong–Sohra road, so many people visit on the way to or from Cherrapunji. See our car rental in Shillong and Shillong to Cherrapunji cab.

Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing. Drive times are what we see on these mountain roads, not map estimates.

Fees

Expect a small entry fee (one recent visitor reported ₹30) and a separate charge for the guide. There is no official published rate card, so ask at the gate.

Weather and best time

At about 1,800 m Mawphlang is cool, cooler than Shillong, and very wet in the monsoon.

Monthly averages for 2015–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the site's elevation (about 1781 m). Rain and snow are rated relative to this location's own year.

• October–May: dry paths, comfortable for walking.
• June–September: leeches and slippery trails, but the forest is at its greenest.

Things most guides don't tell you

• Wear proper shoes. The paths are roots and mud, not paved.
• Leeches are common in the wet months; tuck trousers into socks.
• Ask about the David Scott trail. The old colonial-era bridle path from Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang is a popular half-day hike nearby.
• Our Mawphlang guide covers where to stay nearby.

Nearby

• Laitlum Canyons, on the other side of Shillong.
• Elephant Falls, on the Sohra road.
• Nohkalikai Falls, further on in Sohra.