The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong, is full of beautiful waterfalls. The main reasons people visit Shillong are the amazing mountain peaks, crystal clear lakes, breathtakingly beautiful golf courses, museums and the zoo. Shillong is also famous for heavy rainfall, caves, tall waterfalls, stunning scenery, and wonderful people and culture, in addition to the natural beauty. Interestingly, Shillong has a culture that is very westernized and has a very young feel to it. As many popular musicians have hailed from this city, Shillong is also famous as India’s music capital. Throughout the year, multiple music events keep happening here, making it a very vibrant place.
Peace admirers, adventurers and nature enthusiasts flock to Shillong to enjoy its rich natural beauty. Tourists often brainstorm how to go Shillong, the nearest railway station to Shillong, the perfect budget to visit this place or the best time to visit Shillong. However, reaching this popular tourist destination from anywhere in the country is not a struggle.
The place is well-routed with several Indian cities and towns via air, rail and road. The Shillong Airport is a small airport at Umroi, that is 35 km from Shillong. Cabs are readily available from Shillong to Umroi. There is regular air connectivity to the rest of the country with regular flights. Guwahati station (GHY) is the major nearest railway station to Shillong, Meghalaya.
How to Reach Shillong?
How to Reach Shillong by Train?
There is no direct rail connectivity to Shillong. Nearest railway station to Shillong is Guwahati Railway Station (GHY). The distance between Shillong to Guwahati railway station is 105 km. The cities are well connected by train from all of the country’s major cities. Shillong also has taxis, cabs and bus services from the nearest railway station of shillong.
Tourists and travellers can hire a taxi, cab or a bus to reach Shillong from Guwahati railway station.
- Nearest Railway Station to Shillong: Guwahati Railway Station
- Shillong Railway Station code: GHY
How to Reach Shillong by Air?
Shillong doesn’t have an airport. The nearest airport to Shillong is Umroi airport, also known as Shillong Airport. It is a small airport situated approximately 40 km from Shillong. The Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) provides bus services from the airport to different states.
Shillong airport is well-connected to Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and numerous destinations. You can take a taxi from Guwahati to Shillong to enter the city.
- Nearest Airport to Shillong: Shillong Airport/Umroi Airport, Umroi.
- Shillong Airport Code: SHL
How to Reach Shillong by Road?
Many Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) bus transport services are available from Guwahati to Shillong. Travellers can choose between sleeper, AC Sleeper, luxury and Volvo buses, depending on their budget and requirements.
Travellers can also drive to Shillong via NH 40, a journey that takes approximately 3 to 4 hours by covering 135 km of distance. Cherrapunji (55 km) and Jowai (61 km) are nearby places that you can visit.
Nearest Railway Stations to Shillong Meghalaya
Digaru (DGU):
Digaru railway station is one of the closest railway stations to Shillong. It is located in Bijni Frant, Assam.
Distance from Digaru railway station to Shillong: 72.74 Kms
Trains passing Digaru railway station:
- Intercity-Express (15469)
- Mairabari Guwahati Passenger (55604)
- Brahmputra Mail (14055)
- Lmg Kyq Passenger (55602)
- Kyq Lmg Passenger (55601)
Kamakhya Junction (KYQ):
Kamakhya railway station is located at Maligaon, Assam. Kamakhya station to Shillong distance is 105.7 Km via NH6 that takes 2 h 56 m. The most affordable way to go from Kamakhya Junction Station to Shillong is by bus which charges ₹650 – ₹750 that takes approx 2 h 47 m.
The fastest means of transport to go from Kamakhya Junction Station to Shillong is a taxi that takes 1 h 32 m. Kamakhya junction is the major nearest railway station to Shillong, Meghalaya.
Distance from Kamakhya railway station to Shillong: 67.36 Kms
Trains passing Kamakhya Railway Station:
- Guwahati – Bengaluru Cantt. (02510)
- GUWAHATI EXPRESS (12515)
- AVADH ASSAM EXPRESS (15910)
- NEW TINSUKIA JIVACHH LI (25910)
Jagi Road Railway Station (JID)
Jagi Road Railway station is another nearest railway station from Shillong. It is located in Kuyadal, Assam. The Station code of Jagi Road Station is JID.
Distance from Jagi Road Railway Station to Shillong: 68.05 Kms
Trains passing through JAGI ROAD (JID) Station are:
- Ntsk Rjpb Exp
- Rjpb Ntsk Exp
- Anvt Sundari Exp
- Agtl Sundri Exp
- Brahmputra Mail
- Apdj Shtt Rr Exp
- Shtt Apdj Rr Exp
Chaparmukh Junction Railway Station (CPK)
Chaparmukh railway junction is located in Nagaon, Assam. It is the second main nearest Railway Station to Shillong after Guwahati station. The Station code of Chaparmukh Junction is CPK.
Distance from Chaparmukh Railway Junction to Shillong: 93.02 Kms
Some trains passing through Chaparmukh Jn to reach Shillong are:
- Dbrt Rajdhani (12424)
- Ntsk Rjpb Exp (13281)
- Rjpb Ntsk Exp (13282)
- Brahmputra Mail (14056)
- Apdj Shtt Rr Exp (15417)
- Shtt Apdj Rr Exp (15418)
Guwahati Railway Station
The time taken to reach Shillong from Guwahati is 2 h 48 m, covering 98 km. The Station code of Guwahati Railway Station is GHY. Guwahati Railway Station is the major nearest railway station to Shillong, Meghalaya.
Distance from Guwahati to Shillong: 98 Kms
Some trains to Shillong via Guwahati Railway Station:
- Ghy Bsb Special (25653)
- GHY HWH SPECIAL(02346)
- LTT KYQ SPECIAL (02255)
- BNC GHY EXP (02509)
- SBC NTSK SPECIAL (02249 )
- LTT GHY SPECIAL (05647)
Shillong to Guwahati Railway Station:
Various means of transport are available from Shillong to Guwahati Railway Station. Direct cabs are serviceable from Shillong to Guwahati and the other way round. The time taken from Shillong to Guwahati railway station by a taxi is 2 h 40 m. It is an inexpensive and fastest way to reach from Shillong to Guwahati. The smooth journey from Guwahati to Shillong by a bus takes 9 hours.
The Guwahati to Shillong taxi fare is approximately ₹1699. Shared taxis from Guwahati to Shillong are also available at a rate of ₹200 – ₹400 per person depending on the taxi service.
Popular Trains Connectivity to Shillong, Meghalaya
- Trains from (KYQ) KAMAKHYA to (GHY) GUWAHATI
- Trains from (JID) JAGI-ROAD to (KYQ) KAMAKHYA
- Trains from (KYQ) KAMAKHYA to (JID) JAGI-ROAD
- Trains from (JID) JAGI-ROAD to (GHY) GUWAHATI
- Trains from (GHY) GUWAHATI to (JID) JAGI-ROAD
- Trains from (JID) JAGI-ROAD to (CPK) CHAPARMUKH-JN
- Trains from (CPK) CHAPARMUKH-JN to (JID) JAGI-ROAD
- Trains from (GHY) GUWAHATI to (KYQ) KAMAKHYA
- Trains from (KYQ) KAMAKHYA to (CPK) CHAPARMUKH-JN
- Trains from (CPK) CHAPARMUKH-JN to (KYQ) KAMAKHYA
The Best Time to Visit Shillong
The best time to visit Shillong is amid September and May. The weather is pleasant during these months. Occasionally it rains, but it is comparatively less than in the monsoon season, i.e. between June and August. The area has heavy rainfall during the season, and it may be difficult and inconvenient to visit the tourist attractions.
The monsoons’ beauty is at its peak as the terrain transforms into a scenic paradise with lush greenery, lakes, and waterfalls coming to life. It could also be an off-season location worth the best season to visit Shillong for some.
Five Amazing Places to visit in Shillong
Umiam Lake
Umiam Lake, one of the most popular places in the whole of Meghalaya, is a great place for leisure and rejuvenation. It has always been a delight to the senses of Shillong’s tourists.
The panoramic beauty of the vast lake with turquoise waters is genuinely enticing. It makes it an ideal spot for landscape photographers, and a popular picnic spot within locals and tourists visiting Shillong. Umiam Lake is the best place to visit Shillong for exciting water sports such as kayaking, boating, and sailing. Umiam Lake is the best tourist spot in Shillong for adventure.
Location: 15 km north of Shillong
Elephant falls
Elephant Falls is a vision to behold and can be visited for a weekend trip with family on a picnic or with friends. It got its name from a rock resembling an elephant at its bottom. From these magnificent waterfalls, three different cascades are encompassed in lush greenery that features the surrounding area.
Location: Upper Shillong, Shillong
Laitlum Canyons
Laitlum Canyons is one of the priceless jewels bestowed upon the area by nature, just a 45-minute drive from Shillong. Laitlum means ‘The End of Hills’ and justifies the name given to it by the panoramic views you can enjoy from here.
Laitlum Canyons, one of the lesser-known tourist places in Shillong, is a great getaway spot if you seek solace and solitude because it is away from the blaring cacophony of urban spaces.
Location: East Khasi Hills, Shillong
Mawphlang Sacred Forest
Mawphlang is a beautiful village and a home to the Holy Forest of Meghalaya. It is located 25km from Shillong. The town is called Mawphlang because it is one of several monoliths in the Khasi Hills. Grassy Stone (Mawphlang) is a land of mythical tales, sacrifices and unique culture. Mawphlang is the place to visit for those who want a glimpse of the Khasis’ heritage, culture, and lifestyle that is slipping away in the modern world.
The monolith has been preserved to bring visitors to the Khasi Tribes and their lifestyle in the lap of nature. In Mawphlang, the sacred forest is also a popular attraction of tremendous spiritual significance to the Khasis. The forest is home to various flora and fauna and is a great destination for nature walks or trekking, making it a true nature lover’s paradise.
Location: Lum Sohpetbneng, Shillong
Local Food in Shillong
Indo-Chinese delicacies are served in Shillong. The flavours, colours, ingredients and famous dishes of authentic Meghalayan cuisine are fostered by Shillong. Try local preparations such as Tungtab, Momos, Tarumbai, Pukhlein and Dohneiiong prepared by using local spices.
You can also relish Kyat, which is a rice-cooked drink. Kwai, made from betel nuts, is a traditional and refreshing item. Other than these, there are enough Chinese, Indian and Tibetan cuisines to choose.