13 Offbeat Places to Visit in Meghalaya (2026): Hidden Spots, Timings & Entry Fees
Past the busy Shillong–Cherrapunji–Dawki loop, Meghalaya has quieter places that most tours skip: Kongthong, the village where everyone has a whistled name; Krang Suri's blue pool in the Jaintia Hills; the Nartiang monoliths; Wari Chora's canyon in the Garo Hills; and viewpoints like Nongjrong over the valley. Many need a full day and a local driver, which is exactly why they stay uncrowded.
1.Kongthong (Whistling Village)
East Khasi Hills, between Sohra and Pynursla
Kongthong is Meghalaya's 'whistling village', where every child is given a tune by their mother as well as a name, and people call each other across the valley by melody. India nominated it for UN Tourism's Best Tourism Villages in 2021.
- Timings
- Day visit or overnight
- Entry fee
- Village fee may apply
- Distance
- About 53 km from Shillong
- Time needed
- 1 night
- Best time
- October–April
Kongthong (Whistling Village): full guide, how to reach and tips →
2.Krang Suri Falls
Amlarem, West Jaintia Hills
Krang Suri is a turquoise waterfall in the Jaintia Hills where you can swim (with a life jacket) and walk behind the falls. Here is the fee, the life-jacket rule, the drive from Jowai or Dawki and when the water is blue.
- Timings
- About 9am–5pm
- Entry fee
- About ₹50 per person; life jacket extra (about ₹100–200)
- Distance
- About 30 km from Jowai and 30 km from Dawki; 85 km from Shillong
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Best time
- October–April for blue water
3.Shnongpdeng
On the Umngot river, near Dawki
Shnongpdeng is a riverside village on the Umngot, about 8 km upstream from Dawki, with camping, boating, cliff jumping, kayaking and a zipline. It's where people go to spend a night by the clear water rather than just look at it.
- Timings
- Activities in daylight; camps overnight
- Entry fee
- Pay per activity
- Distance
- About 8 km from Dawki; 74 km from Shillong
- Time needed
- 1 night
- Best time
- November–March (clear water)
4.Nongjrong Viewpoint
Mawkynrew block, East Khasi Hills
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.
- Timings
- Arrive before sunrise; the clouds lift by about 8am
- Entry fee
- None reported
- Distance
- About 45–55 km from Shillong
- Time needed
- Half a day from Shillong
- Best time
- October–April, mornings after a clear night
5.Mawlyngbna
Near Mawsynram, East Khasi Hills
Mawlyngbna is a village on the southern edge of the Khasi Hills known for fossil-studded rocks, the Um Khakoi lake where you can kayak, and the Mawlyngbna crevice walk. It's run as a community tourism village with its own homestay.
- Timings
- Daylight; activities through the village
- Entry fee
- Village activity charges vary
- Distance
- About 75–80 km from Shillong; 16 km from Mawsynram
- Time needed
- 1 night
- Best time
- October–April
6.Wari Chora
South Garo Hills, near Baghmara
Wari Chora is a narrow river canyon in the South Garo Hills where you glide by bamboo boat between sheer, fern-covered rock walls. It's a long way from Shillong, which is why it's still quiet. Here's how to get there, when, and what it costs.
- Timings
- Boats run in daylight; start the trek by 8–9am
- Entry fee
- Local entry and boat charges, paid to the village; varies
- Distance
- About 45 km from Baghmara; 230–250 km from Guwahati
- Time needed
- 2–3 days from Guwahati
- Best time
- November–March (clear water, low river)
7.Nartiang Monoliths
Nartiang, West Jaintia Hills
Nartiang has the largest cluster of monoliths in Meghalaya, a garden of standing stones raised by the Jaintia kings, the tallest about 8 metres high. A 500-year-old Durga temple stands nearby.
- Timings
- Daylight
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 56–65 km from Shillong; 25 km from Jowai
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Best time
- October–April
8.Phe Phe Falls
Shkentalang, near Jowai, West Jaintia Hills
Phe Phe Falls drops into a turquoise pool in a forested gorge near Shkentalang village, about 20 km from Jowai. A short walk down from the road gets you there, and it's still quiet compared with the Sohra falls.
- Timings
- About 8am–5pm reported
- Entry fee
- About ₹50 reported
- Distance
- About 20 km from Jowai; 75–85 km from Shillong
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Best time
- October–April
9.Krem Chympe
Near Khaddum, East Jaintia Hills
Krem Chympe is a cave in the East Jaintia Hills where a river pours out of the rock as a waterfall into a turquoise pool. Reaching it means a guided trek down from the road, and it's off-limits in the monsoon.
- Timings
- Daylight; start the walk by 9am
- Entry fee
- About ₹50 reported; guide charged separately
- Distance
- About 120–130 km from Shillong; 70 km from Jowai
- Time needed
- Full day from Jowai
- Best time
- November–March; avoid June–September
10.Kyllang Rock
Near Mairang, Eastern West Khasi Hills
Kyllang Rock is a huge granite dome rising out of the hills near Mairang, about 59 km from Shillong, tied to a Khasi legend of a battle between two hills. You can walk up it for views over the West Khasi Hills.
- Timings
- Daylight
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 59 km from Shillong; 14 km from Mairang
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Best time
- October–April
11.Lyngksiar Falls
East Khasi Hills, west of Sohra
Lyngksiar Falls is a tall, little-visited waterfall in the East Khasi Hills, reached by a short walk through a cave. Distance from Shillong and Cherrapunji, the walk, the best season and tips.
- Timings
- Daylight hours
- Entry fee
- Free or a small local fee
- Distance
- About 50–55 km from Shillong, 2 hours by road
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the walk
- Best time
- October–November, after the monsoon
12.Wei Sawdong Falls
Near Dainthlen, about 12 km from Sohra
Wei Sawdong is a three-tiered waterfall near Cherrapunji with square blue pools, reached by a steep 15–20 minute walk down bamboo and stone steps. Here is the fee, the trail and when to go.
- Timings
- Roughly 7am–5pm
- Entry fee
- About ₹50 per person; parking ₹20–50 (reported)
- Distance
- About 12 km from Sohra; 55–60 km from Shillong
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Best time
- October–March for safe paths; July–September for the fullest flow
13.Mawphlang Sacred Forest
Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills
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.
- Timings
- Daylight; guided walks only
- Entry fee
- Entry plus a local guide (about ₹30 entry reported; guide extra)
- Distance
- About 25 km from Shillong, 45 min–1 hour
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Best time
- October–May
Mawphlang Sacred Forest: full guide, how to reach and tips →
Best time to visit Meghalaya
October to May. Krang Suri and the other falls have the clearest water from November to March; Wari Chora's boat ride is best in the dry months. Some roads to these places are rough after heavy rain.
How to reach Meghalaya
Most are reached by road from Shillong (Kongthong, Nongjrong, Mawphlang, Kyllang Rock), from Jowai (Krang Suri, Nartiang, Phe Phe, Krem Chympe) or from Dawki (Shnongpdeng). Wari Chora is in the Garo Hills, a long day's drive from Guwahati via Baghmara.
See Meghalaya with a local team
Private trips with a driver, hotels and permits arranged, built around the places above.
Meghalaya tour packages →Meghalaya: frequently asked questions
Which are the best offbeat places in Meghalaya?+
Kongthong whistling village, Krang Suri falls, Shnongpdeng on the Umngot river, the Nartiang monoliths and Wari Chora in the Garo Hills.
How many extra days do I need for offbeat Meghalaya?+
Two to three days on top of a Shillong and Cherrapunji trip: one for the Jaintia Hills, one for Kongthong or Nongjrong, and more for the Garo Hills.
Are these places safe to visit?+
Yes. They are quieter rather than risky, but roads can be narrow and mobile signal patchy, so travel with a local driver.
Do I need a guide for Kongthong or Wari Chora?+
A local guide is recommended for Kongthong's trails and is usually arranged at Wari Chora for the boat ride through the canyon.
More places to visit in Northeast India
- Places to visit in Darjeeling
- Places to visit in Meghalaya
- Places to visit in Sikkim
- Places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh
- Places to visit in Gangtok
- Places to visit in Assam
- Places to visit in Shillong
- Places to visit in Cherrapunji
- Places to visit in Tawang
- Places to visit in Pelling
- Places to visit in Guwahati
- Places to visit near Guwahati
- Places to visit in Northeast India
- Places to visit in Gangtok and Darjeeling
- Places to visit in North Sikkim
- Places to visit in South Sikkim
- Places to visit in Nagaland
- Places to visit in Kaziranga
- Places to visit in Dawki and Mawlynnong
- All Northeast India attractions