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6 Places to Visit in Dawki and Mawlynnong (2026): Tourist Spots, Timings & Entry Fees

Dawki and Mawlynnong sit close together on Meghalaya's southern edge, above the plains of Bangladesh, and are usually seen in one day from Shillong. Dawki is known for the glass-clear Umngot river and its boat rides, with Shnongpdeng upstream for camping and swimming; Mawlynnong is the tidy village next to the easy Riwai living root bridge, with Borhill Falls on the road between.

Meghalaya tour packages →Best time & how to reach

  1. 1.Dawki and the Umngot River

    Dawki, West Jaintia Hills, on the Bangladesh border

    Boat on the clear green Umngot river at Dawki, Meghalaya

    The Umngot river at Dawki is famous for water so clear that boats seem to float in air. Here is when it is actually clear, what boating costs, Dawki vs Shnongpdeng, and what happened to the river in 2025.

    Timings
    Boating roughly 8am–4pm
    Entry fee
    Boat about ₹700–1,500 per boat in recent seasons; some 2026 reports higher
    Distance
    About 80 km from Shillong, 2–2.5 hours
    Time needed
    Half a day; overnight at Shnongpdeng
    Best time
    November–March for clear water

    Dawki and the Umngot River: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  2. 2.Mawlynnong Village

    Pynursla block, East Khasi Hills

    A clean lane through Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya

    Mawlynnong, called Asia's cleanest village since 2003, is a Khasi village of bamboo bins, flower-lined paths and a living root bridge near the Bangladesh border. Since January 2026 it is closed to day visitors on Sundays.

    Timings
    Daylight hours, Monday–Saturday; closed to day visitors on Sundays since January 2026
    Entry fee
    Parking about ₹200 per vehicle; Sky View about ₹10; root bridge about ₹20 (reported)
    Distance
    About 75–90 km from Shillong, 2–2.5 hours
    Time needed
    2–3 hours
    Best time
    October–April

    Mawlynnong Village: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  3. 3.Riwai Living Root Bridge

    Riwai village, near Mawlynnong, East Khasi Hills

    Single-decker living root bridge over a stream at Riwai, Meghalaya

    The single living root bridge at Riwai, next to Mawlynnong, is the easiest root bridge to reach in Meghalaya: a short walk down stone steps through forest to a stream. Entry fee, timings and how to combine it with Mawlynnong and Dawki.

    Timings
    Roughly 7 am to 5 pm
    Entry fee
    Small fee, reported as about ₹20–50 per person
    Distance
    About 2 km from Mawlynnong; about 80–90 km from Shillong
    Time needed
    45 minutes–1 hour
    Best time
    October–May; the stream is fuller in the monsoon

    Riwai Living Root Bridge: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  4. 4.Shnongpdeng

    On the Umngot river, near Dawki

    Wooden boats on the clear green Umngot river in Meghalaya

    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)

    Shnongpdeng: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  5. 5.Dawki Bridge and the India–Bangladesh Border

    Dawki, West Jaintia Hills

    Dawki suspension bridge over the clear Umngot river, Meghalaya

    Dawki's old suspension bridge spans the clear Umngot river a short distance from the India–Bangladesh border crossing, where you can look across into Bangladesh. What you can see, rules at the border and how to reach.

    Timings
    Daylight; the border crossing keeps official hours
    Entry fee
    Free to view the bridge and border area
    Distance
    About 80 km from Shillong, 2–2.5 hours
    Time needed
    30–45 minutes
    Best time
    November–April, when the Umngot is clearest

    Dawki Bridge and the India–Bangladesh Border: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  6. 6.Borhill Falls

    Riwai–Dawki road, near Mawlynnong

    Borhill Falls on the Riwai–Dawki road, Meghalaya

    Borhill Falls is a roadside waterfall on the Riwai–Dawki road near Mawlynnong, seen from a small bridge in front of the falls. A quick, free stop on a Dawki and Mawlynnong day, best after the monsoon.

    Timings
    Daylight
    Entry fee
    Free
    Distance
    A short drive from Mawlynnong and Riwai; about 85 km from Shillong
    Time needed
    15–20 minutes
    Best time
    June–October for the most water

    Borhill Falls: full guide, how to reach and tips →

Best time to visit Dawki and Mawlynnong

November to April, when the Umngot is at its clearest and the roads are dry. In the monsoon the river turns muddy and boating may stop, though the waterfalls are bigger.

How to reach Dawki and Mawlynnong

Dawki is about 80 km and Mawlynnong about 80–90 km from Shillong, each 2–2.5 hours by road. A private cab from Shillong can cover both in a long day; staying a night at Shnongpdeng or Mawlynnong makes it easier.

See Dawki and Mawlynnong with a local team

Private trips with a driver, hotels and permits arranged, built around the places above.

Meghalaya tour packages →

Dawki and Mawlynnong: frequently asked questions

Can I visit Dawki and Mawlynnong in one day?+

Yes, from Shillong in a long day, usually with the Riwai root bridge and a boat ride on the Umngot.

When is the Umngot river clearest?+

From November to April. In the monsoon the water becomes muddy.

Is Mawlynnong really Asia's cleanest village?+

It has been widely called that since a travel magazine named it in 2003, and it is still known for its tidy lanes and bamboo dustbins.

Can I see Bangladesh from Dawki?+

Yes. The border is right at Dawki, and from the riverbank and border area you look across to the Bangladesh plains.

More places to visit in Northeast India