Fares
Shillong to Dawki, by vehicle
One way to Dawki or Shnongpdeng. Round trip covers the day out and back with waiting at the river, which is what most people book.
| Vehicle | One way | Round trip | Per extra km | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV — Bolero / Scorpio6+1 · 4 bags | On request | On request | On request | On request |
| Innova Crysta6+1 · 4 bags | On request | On request | On request | On request |
| Tempo Traveller 12 / 1712+1 · 14 bags | On request | On request | On request | On request |
Travelling Dawki to Shillong? Same fares apply.
Fuel, driver and tolls included · GST extra. Send the date and we quote it.
The drive
Shillong to the Umngot, stop by stop
Via Pynursla, then a long descent to the river. Eighty-two kilometres that takes two and a half hours, all of it worth it.
0 km · 00:00
Shillong
Leave by 7AM. The Umngot is clearest in the morning and the boats queue later.
Departure
22 km · 00:40
Laitlyngkot ridge
The plateau edge, with the plains of Bangladesh visible on a clear day.
Adds 10 min
48 km · 01:25
Pynursla
Market town and the junction for Mawlynnong. Last reliable tea and toilets.
Adds 15 min
62 km · 01:50
Mawlynnong turn-off
Where you decide: village first or river first. Mawlynnong adds about 90 minutes.
Optional detour
82 km · 02:30
Dawki / Shnongpdeng
Down to the Umngot. Boats run from both Dawki bridge and Shnongpdeng, 8 km apart.
Arrival
Road & drive detail
The descent to the Umngot
Road condition
Narrow, steep, surfaced
Single lane in places past Pynursla. Hairpins on the descent.
Best departure
7AM from Shillong
Clear water, short boat queue, and time for Mawlynnong.
Mobile coverage
Patchy to none
Gaps from Pynursla onward. Nothing at the river.
Fuel stops
Shillong, then thin
Fill in Shillong. Pynursla is the last option and not guaranteed.
The hairpins start after Pynursla, and the last 20 km down to the river is the slowest part of the drive. It is surfaced but narrow, with blind bends and the occasional truck coming up from the border — this is not a road to hurry on.
Morning matters here more than on any other route we sell. The Umngot is glass-clear in the early hours, the boat queue is short, and by early afternoon both of those have gone. Leaving Shillong at 7AM is the single thing that makes this trip good.
Adding Mawlynnong costs about 90 minutes and makes it a genuinely long day — nine hours out of Shillong with the return. Groups in a Tempo Traveller should pick one, or book a night at Shnongpdeng and do both properly.
Vehicles on this route
Hill-ready, because the last hour drops 1,300 m
SUV — Bolero / Scorpio
Best if Mawlynnong and the village roads are on the plan too.
Innova Crysta
The comfortable pick for the descent to the river.
Tempo Traveller 12 / 17
Groups; the last village stretch is tight but our drivers do it weekly.
No hidden charges
What's included, what's extra
Included in the quoted fare
- Fuel for the quoted route
- Driver, and the driver's allowance
- Night halt for the driver on multi-day trips
- Tolls and state entry taxes on the quoted route
- GST, shown on the invoice
Charged extra, at actuals
- Night charge for pickups or drops after 10PM
- Permits and ILP where the route needs them
- Parking and entry fees at airports, parks and city lots
- Off-route detours and extra kilometres beyond the quoted block
- Umngot boat hire, paid to the local boat union at the river
Travel agent or tour operator?
Get net rates and white-label vouchers. We never contact your client.
Get a fare
Get the Shillong–Dawki fare
Dates and pax. We reply on WhatsApp with the fare, the vehicle we would send, and anything that is extra.
FAQ
Shillong to Dawki, asked most
No. Boats on the Umngot are run by the local boat union and paid at the river, priced per boat rather than per person. We drop you at the ghat and the driver waits.
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