What Are The Places To Visit In Meghalaya? – Travel Guide

Aug 17, 2022

Last Updated on: Sep 1, 2025

Travel Guides

Meghalaya, or the Abode of Clouds, here you will find that nature has to give. It is one of the best places for its biodiversity richness. Known best for its famous monsoon seasons, Meghalaya has the most dramatic natural terrains with rich cultural festivals.

Having such beautiful natural diversities, which are among the best places to visit in Meghalaya. The tribals of Garos, Jaintias, and Khasis make up the majority of the population.

Meghalaya: Abode Of Clouds!

Located in the northeastern parts of India, with Shilong as its capital. During the British rule of India, it was dubbed the “Scotland of the East.”

With a range of beautiful terrains, Meghalaya is surely going to surprise your imagination. With beautiful greenery everywhere, with forests, valleys, waterfalls, and mountains, that are one of the best places to visit in Meghalaya.

But since Meghalaya is known for its monsoon seasons, what is the best time to visit there?

What Is The Best Time To Visit Meghalaya?

Since Meghalaya is one of the wettest places in India, with the occasional cloudbursts and landslides, you need to know the best time to visit there.

Weather Condition In Meghalaya

Oct-Feb = 9c        Apr-Jun = 21c        June-Oct =15c 

Peak Season

When the temperature is between 16c and 31c, that is the best time to visit Meghalaya. This will probably be from April and June. During this time, Meghalaya has the optimum temperature for you to explore the place.

Shoulder Season

From the months of November to March receives a moderate amount of tourists, as the weather is cold and misty at the same time.

Low Season

The lowest season for tourism in Meghalaya is from July to October. During this time, the state receives about moderate to heavy rainfall.

Season to visit  Meghalaya

Best Places To Visit In Meghalaya

Now that you know what the best time to visit Meghalaya is, you need to know what are the top Meghalaya tourist places.

1. Cherrapunji

Popularly regarded as the wettest place on Earth, Cherrapunji has the best lush greenery you will ever see. Here you will find the highest rainfall any time of the year.

Tourists from all over the world come here to see the most beautiful waterfalls, like Dain-Thlen,Nohkalikai, and Kyrem. Cherrapunji is one of the best places to visit in Meghalaya.

Specialty – An abundance of natural scenic beauty and environmental attractions.

Places To Stay – Polo Orchid Resort Cherrapunjee, Jiva Resort Cherrapunjee and Saimika Resort.

Attractions – Krem Mawmluh, Wakaba Falls, Double Decker Living Root Bridge, and also Nohkalikai Waterfalls.

How To Reach – From Guwahati, it’s 166km, And from Cherrapunji Umroi Airport, it’s 79km.

2. Shillong

Known as the Scotland of the East, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. Away from the bustling life of the city, Shillong has beautiful forests, hills, and mesmerizing scenic beauty. Shillong is considered the Meghalayan Gateway.

Popular landmarks of Shillong are Elephant falls, Maharam, Lady Hydari Park, Bhowal, Mylliem, and Langrim.

Specialty – Mesmerizing view, the beauty of nature, and its popular landmarks.

Attractions – Elephant falls, Maharam, Lady Hydari Park, Bhowal, Mylliem, and Langrim.

Places To Stay Pinewood Hotel, The Loft-Executive Inn, Hotel Polo Towers Shillong, and Tripura Castle.

Location – East Central Meghalaya.

Best Time To Visit – From September to May.

3. Mawsynram

Out of all the places in Meghalaya, Mawsynram receives the most rainfall each year. This is why here you will find the most greenery and beautiful green hills and valleys. Mawsynram receives about 11,872 mm of rainfall each year.

Specialty – The most beautiful waterfalls.

Location – The East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.

Best Time To VisitFrom April to June.

4. Balpakaram National Park

Known as a traveler’s paradise, the Balpakaram National Park is a “Land of Spirits” for its rich natural biodiversity. With its beautiful wildlife with animals like Tiger, Leopard, Deer, Buffalo, Elephant, and Red Panda.

Specialty – It is rich in natural biodiversity.

Location – Western Meghalaya and Garo Hills.

Best Time To Visit From October to March.

Entry Free – Free.

5. Nohkalikai Falls

The Nohkalikai Falls is the 4th most noted waterfalls in the World. The height of this fall is about 335 meters from the cliff to the ground. The falls are considered “the pride of the territory of Meghalaya.”

Specialty – It is like paradise with an extraordinary scenic view.

Entry Fee – INR 10.

Timing – From 8 am to 5 pm.

6. Double-decker Living Root Bridge

Located in Cherrapunji, the double-decker living root bridge is famous all over, as the bridge is made up of roots. The roots are of rubber trees. The bridge is about 3km long and about 2400ft in height.

Specialty – The oldest of natural bridges.

Location – Cherrapunji, Meghalaya.

Best Time To Visit – Anytime other than from May to September, due to the slippery.

Trek Time – It takes about 4 to 6 hours.

7. Kyllang Rock

This extraordinary rock is made entirely out of red stone. The rock is 54ooft above sea level and 1000ft in width. The hike up the rock gives a beautiful scene with rhododendrons and shrubs.

Specialty – It is on the highest points in all of Meghalaya.

Location – West Khasi Hills, Shillong, Meghalaya.

Best Time To Visit – Anytime, except the monsoon.

Read Also: Which Is The Largest Freshwater Lake In India?

8. Elephant Falls

Meghalaya is known to have the best waterfalls in all of India. And Elephant Falls is definitely one of that beautiful waterfalls. It is called Elephant falls as it has an Elephant-shaped stone at its foot of it. It is one of the best places to visit in Meghalaya.

Specialty – The falls are surrounded by beautiful scenic beauty.

Location – It is only 12km from Shillong.

Best Time To Visit – During Monsoon.

Read Also: Top 10 Famous Wonders Of India

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Now that you know what the best time to visit Meghalaya and the best tourist places is, you won’t have any other problems. But if you do, here are some questions asked by other people.

1. What Is The Popular Place Of Meghalaya?

The most popular Meghalaya places to visit are:

1. Mawsynram
2. Nohakalikai Falls
3. Mawlynnong Village
4. Umiam Lake
5. Seven Sisters Falls
6. Living Root Bridges

2. Does Meghalaya Have Snow?

Though the state of Meghalaya has a higher elevation, it doesn’t receive any snowfall throughout the year. But due to humidity and low temperature, frost forms which can look like snow but are not.

3. What Is Famous Food Of Meghalaya?

The food that is famous in Meghalaya is a spicy preparation of fish or meat and rice. They are great at rearing pigs, goats, cows, ducks, and fowl for their meat.

Visit Now!

If you are an avid nature lover, then visiting Meghalaya should definitely be on your bucket list. There are some beautiful places to visit in Meghalaya. And if you are a mountain lover, then you need to visit here once.

Hopefully, this article encourages you to book your tickets soon for Meghalaya. Let us know in the comments where in India you wanna visit next.

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Nabamita Sinha loves to write about lifestyle and pop-culture. In her free time she loves to watch movies and TV series and experiment with food. Her favourite niche topics are fashion, lifestyle, travel and gossip content. Her style of writing is creative and quirky.

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I was relaxing after a bath at the Kuang Si Falls and suddenly, an electric blue dragonfly came to visit me. It sat on my knees for some time, and then came another. Within 15 minutes or so, I spotted hundreds of dragonflies making the trees appear blue. I was immediately transported to my childhood days when chasing a dragonfly or finding one with the most unique colors was a fun game. Suddenly, my guide called me and said, “Let me show you something unique.” He took me to the “Do Not Enter” board.  He asked, “Want to go there? There is a secret pool.” I said, “Why not?” I found out a milky-blue calm basin. Local teenagers were hanging out there, and they were eating sticky rice from banana leaves. They offered us some, and it was the best sticky rice I ever tasted.  Food in Luang Prabang is magical, just as is the Mekong River, temples, and Buddhist culture here.  While coming back, my guide handed me a plastic bottle. 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In this blog, I will share them and talk about the best waterfalls in Luang Prabang, how to reach them, their spiritual significance, opening hours, entry fee, and everything you need to know.  What Are The Best Waterfalls In Luang Prabang?  Recently, Travel + Leisure has picked the Kuang Si waterfall as one of the 21 most beautiful waterfalls in the world in 2025. This recognition further enhances Laos's international tourism profile.  It is just an hour’s drive from Luang Prabang, and its stunning blue waters and turquoise pools formed with it, create the most dramatic landscape.  However, Kuang Si is not the only waterfall you will find in Luang Prabang. You must also explore the Tad Sae Waterfall, Tad Thong Waterfall, Hoi Khua Waterfall, and Dheva Waterfall.  1. Kuang Si Waterfall When I reached Kuang Si waterfall, I heard the monks' chants from the nearby Buddhist temple. 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Furthermore, for foreigners, the ticket price is 60,000k/person.  What Is The Best Time To Visit The Kuang Si waterfall? The dry season from November to May is the best time to visit Kuang Si waterfall. These months are ideal for swimming in the clear turquoise water of the pools. You can also go hiking and explore the nearby bear rescue center and butterfly park in these months.  Furthermore, these months are ideal for photo opportunities.  However, if you want a quieter experience, June to October is the ideal season. Fewer tourists visit the waterfall during these months. However, the water becomes muddy due to heavy rainfall.  Local people believe that this water carries power.  What To Expect At Kuang Si Waterfall? Swimming pools Bear Rescue Centre Jungle trails Picnic areas You cannot walk around the pools or waterfall with your shirts off or in bikinis. It is considered crude and does not go well with the local culture.  2. 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However, visiting Tad Thong felt like finding a precious old book under a heap of dust.  Throughout the jungle walk, butterflies kept fluttering around, and the silence echoed through the rocks, making me feel a little cold after some time.  Lesser-Known Waterfalls: The Hidden Gems Of Luang Prabang  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bui Nhat Quang (@eziography__) Located near the Green Jungle Park, Hoi Khua Waterfall is a powerful waterfall with a height of 100 meters. Along with swimming in the crystal clear pool formed by the waterfall, you can also relax inside the open-air huts at the Green Jungle Park. Hoi Khua Waterfall also has an interesting lore associated with it. It is said that locals once took shelter behind this waterfall to protect themselves from the approaching soldiers. However, what happened to them is a mystery to date.  Are The Waterfalls In Luang Prabang Accessible? 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So, these are ideal for a short meditation period or spending some moments of introspection.  Cultural Etiquette Tips For Foreigners Visiting Luang Prabang Waterfalls Some areas and pools near the waterfalls are considered sacred, and they are reserved for religious and spiritual activities. Conde Nast Traveller says, “Luang Prabang’s waterfalls offer a spiritual escape into nature.” So, swimming or access to those areas is not allowed. So, you have to adhere to these norms.  There are many other dos and don’ts you need to follow while exploring the waterfalls of Luang Prabang.  Dos ✅Don’ts ❌• Dress Modestly.• Wear a sarong or a towel over your swimsuit when walking around. • Seek permission from the locals before photographing them. • If a sign says “No Swimming” or “Do Not Enter,” respect it. These rules often protect sacred zones, wildlife, or fragile ecosystems.• Locals value quiet and respectful behavior, especially around sacred sites. Ensure children don’t climb on statues, splash excessively, or disturb wildlife.• If invited to join a blessing or offering ceremony, observe first, follow others’ lead, and avoid interrupting or asking too many questions during the ritual.• Using shampoos or soaps while bathing in the natural pools. • Touching the monks or offering them money directly. • Playing loud music or expecting a party vibe at the waterfalls. Waterfalls are often used for meditation, rituals, and family gatherings.• Littering is deeply frowned upon. Waterfalls are natural and spiritual spaces, and locals expect visitors to treat them with reverence. Secrets And Lesser-Known Facts You Did Not Know About Luang Prabang Waterfalls  The turquoise color of Kuang Si’s pools comes from the calcium carbonate particles of the limestone rocks. These particles reflect sunlight. Thus, create the iconic blue shade.  This turquoise blue color looks the most beautiful during the dry season.  Also, locals often bring picnic baskets and spend entire afternoons at waterfalls. Vendors near Kuang Si sell grilled chicken, sticky rice, and jaew bong for this purpose. It’s a cultural experience and the locals are welcoming enough to often ask the tourists to join them in.  Food And Dining Near The Waterfalls In Luang Prabang  You can visit the following areas for food and dining near the waterfall areas.  AreaFood And Dining SpotsLocationKuang Si AreaKuang Si Kitchen and ResortClick HereTad Sae AreaMainland StallsLocal restaurants in the mainland boat landingTad Thong AreaThe Living Land FarmClick Here What Are The Photography Tips For Visiting The Waterfalls In Luang Prabang?  The beautiful waterfalls of Luang Prabang are ideal for photography, and they are quite popular on social media. You need to keep in mind the following instructions for photography at these waterfalls.  Best TimeGears RequiredInstagram Spots • Daily: Golden Hour: 7:00–8:00 AM and 4:30–6:00 PM• Annually: Rainy Season• Wide-angle lens• Tripod for long exposure• ND filter for silky water effect• Kuang Si’s top tier• Bamboo bridge near Tad Sae• Jungle trail at Tad Thong So, visit the Luang Prabang waterfalls and have the best moments exploring the mighty cascades and soaking in their cultural and spiritual vibe.  Luang Prabang Waterfall Guide: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Here are the frequently asked questions and answers about the Luang Prabang waterfall guide.  1. Can I Swim In Kuang Si Falls? Yes, you can swim in the designated pools of Kuang Si Falls and other waterfalls. However, some pools are reserved for spiritual and religious activities. So, swimming is not allowed there. 2. Are There Lockers Or Changing Rooms? Yes, there are changing rooms near the Kuang Si waterfall entrance. However, you will not get a locker. You have to carry a dry bag and keep your valuables there, or if you are traveling in a group, you can enjoy the swim in turns.  3. Is Tad Sae Open Year-Round? No, the Tad Sae waterfall is not open year-round. August to November, or the rainy season, is the best time to visit the waterfall. It does not have water in the dry season (February to July).