Shillong

Don Bosco Museum

The Don Bosco Museum of Indigenous Cultures in Shillong is a seven-storey museum of Northeast India's tribes, with more than 17 galleries and a rooftop skywalk over the city. It's closed on Sundays.

Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls is a three-tier waterfall in the forest 12 km from Shillong, reached by a short flight of steps. It's on almost every Shillong sightseeing day.

Laitlum Canyons

Laitlum, 'the end of the hills', is a clifftop above deep green gorges about 25 km from Shillong. It's best at sunrise or sunset, and a steep stairway leads down to Rasong village.

Mawphlang Sacred Forest

Mawphlang's sacred grove is a patch of old Khasi forest protected for centuries by belief: nothing, not even a fallen leaf, may be taken out. Visits are on a guided walk with a local guide.

Nongjrong Viewpoint

Nongjrong is a ridge-top village in the East Khasi Hills where, on the right winter morning, you look down on a sea of clouds filling the valley below. It's a pre-dawn drive from Shillong and worth every minute of lost sleep.

Shillong Peak

Shillong Peak, at Laitkor, is the highest point around Shillong, with a viewpoint over the whole city inside an Indian Air Force area. Bring your ID; here's what to expect at the gate.

Umiam Lake (Barapani)

Umiam Lake, or Barapani, is a large reservoir among pine hills on the Guwahati–Shillong road, 15 km before Shillong, with boating and water sports.