8 Places to Visit in Shillong (2026): Tourist Spots, Timings & Entry Fees
Shillong is Meghalaya's capital and the base for most trips. Within the city are Shillong Peak, Elephant Falls, Lady Hydari Park and the Don Bosco Museum of Northeast cultures; Umiam Lake is on the way in from Guwahati, and the Laitlum canyons and Mawphlang sacred forest are easy half-days. Police Bazar is the centre for food and shopping.
1.Umiam Lake (Barapani)
Ri-Bhoi, 15 km before Shillong
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.
- Timings
- Viewpoints any time; water sports about 9am–5pm
- Entry fee
- Viewpoints free; water sports priced per ride
- Distance
- About 15–20 km from Shillong; 85 km from Guwahati
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time
- October–April
2.Elephant Falls
Upper Shillong, 12 km from the city
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.
- Timings
- Daytime; reported hours vary from 9am–5pm to 6am–6pm
- Entry fee
- ₹20 per person plus ₹20 for a camera (most reports)
- Distance
- About 11–12 km from Shillong, 30 minutes
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Best time
- June–October for the most water
3.Shillong Peak
Laitkor, on the edge of Shillong
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.
- Timings
- About 9am–3:30pm reported; some sources say closed Wednesdays
- Entry fee
- About ₹30–50 reported, plus parking
- Distance
- About 10–11 km from Police Bazar
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Best time
- October–March, mornings
4.Laitlum Canyons
East Khasi Hills, about 25 km from Shillong
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.
- Timings
- Daylight; best at sunrise or sunset
- Entry fee
- Free or a small local fee (reports vary)
- Distance
- About 22–25 km from Shillong, 45 minutes–1 hour
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours; a full day to walk down to Rasong
- Best time
- October–April
5.Don Bosco Museum
Mawlai, Shillong
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.
- Timings
- Mon–Sat 9:30am–5:30pm (summer), 9:30am–4:30pm (winter); last entry an hour before
- Entry fee
- About ₹50–100 for Indians reported; confirm at the counter
- Distance
- About 3 km from Police Bazar
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Best time
- Any time; good on a rainy day
6.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 →
7.Lady Hydari Park
Shillong
Lady Hydari Park is a landscaped garden in central Shillong with a pond, Japanese-style gardens and a small deer and bird enclosure. Timings, the Monday closure, entry fee and what to expect.
- Timings
- About 8 am–5 pm (4:30 pm in winter); closed Mondays
- Entry fee
- Roughly ₹10–20 per adult; camera extra
- Distance
- About 1.5 km from Police Bazar
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Best time
- March–May for flowers; October–November
8.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
Best time to visit Shillong
October to April for clear views from Shillong Peak and Laitlum. March to May is warm and pleasant, and the cherry blossoms usually bloom in November. June to September is wet, though the waterfalls are at their best.
Shillong weather month by month →How to reach Shillong
Shillong is about 100 km (3 hours) from Guwahati airport and railway station by road. Shillong's own airport at Umroi has a few flights.
See Shillong with a local team
Private trips with a driver, hotels and permits arranged, built around the places above.
Meghalaya and Shillong tour packages →Shillong: frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Shillong?+
Two days for the city sights, Umiam Lake and Laitlum. Most trips add two days for Cherrapunji and one for Dawki and Mawlynnong.
What are the best places to visit in Shillong?+
Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, the Laitlum canyons, the Don Bosco Museum and Mawphlang sacred forest.
Is Shillong Peak open every day?+
It is inside an Air Force area and is occasionally closed for security reasons, so check locally on the day.
How far is Cherrapunji from Shillong?+
About 55 km, 1.5–2 hours by road, with viewpoints and waterfalls along the way.
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 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
- Offbeat places to visit in Meghalaya
- 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