Shillong Tour Packages

The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong is a spectacular hill station often referred to as the “Scotland of the East” owing to its lush greenery, imposing mountains, cool climate and serene lakes. Besides its natural bounty, what draws people here are its museums, trekking trails and heritage sites. Holidify offers a variety of Shillong tour packages suitable for all kinds of travellers, guaranteeing you an incredible experience.

The Umiam Lake and Ward’s Lake are two artificial water bodies that make for stunning sights, with dense forests and peaks around. The city is home to breathtaking waterfalls such as the Nohsngithiang Falls, Sweet Falls and Elephant Falls, perfect for picnics and nature photography. Don’t forget to drive to the Laitlum Canyons, a beautiful unexplored area ideal for trekking and catching the sunrise or sunset.

To learn about the region’s art, history, tribes and biodiversity, pop into some of its museums like the Ever-Living Museum, Rhino Heritage Museum, Meghalaya State Museum and Air Force Museum. The best time to visit Shillong is between September and May when the weather remains pleasant, and there isn’t excessive rainfall. Shillong tour packages also feature nearby destinations like Guwahati, Cherrapunji and Kaziranga National Park.

Said to be the “Gateway to the North-East,” Guwahati is a city in Assam that you must visit to see attractions like the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Saraighat Bridge and Umananda Island and holy sites like Haajo, Basistha Ashram, Umananda Temple etc. You can also go cruising on the Brahmaputra. Kaziranga National Park houses the endangered one-horned rhino and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cherrapunji is one of the world’s wettest destinations popular for attractions like the Double Decker Root Bridge, Mawsmai Falls, Krem Phyllut and The Eco Park. Make sure to add the Khasi Monoliths and Mawsmai Cave to your itinerary too. For a remarkable experience, Holidify brings you a diverse range of Shillong tour packages that are budget-friendly and customisable, therefore perfect for planning a trip with friends or family.

Places to Visit in Shillong

Umiam Lake: Umiam Lake, a mesmerizing man-made reservoir, also known as the Barapani Lake. The scenic Umiam Lake is encircled by lush green East Khasi hills that form one of the best panoramic sights for nature-lovers in the country. The lake is popular for boating, Angling, Kayaking and Water Skiing. The sunrise at the lake is a treat to watch. The Umiam Lake has a park adjoining it which is a hotspot for picnics. 

Shillong Peak: At the height of 6449 ft or 1965 m above sea level, Shillong Peak is the highest point of Shillong. It offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city, the Himalayas, its waterfalls as well as of the Bangladesh plains. A telescope is available for tourists to get a bird's eye view. 

Ward’s Lake: Also known as Pollock's Lake, the mesmerising lake is a popular picnic spot. In the middle of the lake is a small bridge created to enable the visitors to have a panoramic view of the entire lake or feed the tiny fishes floating around in the water (puffed rice is available at the entrance of the lake for feeding the fishes). The major highlight of the lake is definitely paddle boating.

Lady Hydari Park: Named after the first lady of the state and wife of the Governor of Assam, Lady Hydari Park is a japanese styled garden. There is also a small lake with ducks and colourful fishes.  It is an ideal place to visit with children because there is a nice playing area for them. The museum and the mini zoo inside the park premises makes for a good learning experience.

Spread Eagle Falls: ​​The Spread Eagle Falls are considered to be the widest waterfall in Shillong. The scintillating waterfall is also known as Sati Falls or Urkaliar because of the belief that Ka Liar slipped into it. The majestic waterfall gushes down steep hills, towering three sides into a massive pool of water which is ideal for the tourists to sit and lounge by. The Spread Eagle Falls, which looks like an eagle with its wings spread wide (hence the name), is a popular picnic spot.

Police Bazaar: Police Bazar is the major market of Shillong. In addition to an array of restaurants, hotels and big brand stores, the Police Bazaar also has a flea market popular for its traditional handicrafts stores, exquisite Meghalaya merchandise, regional apparels, junk jewellery and the like.

Elephant Falls: Named after an Elephant like stone at its foot, the Elephant Falls are amongst the most popular falls in the North-East, situated next to Shillong. It is a tourists' paradise with three layers of the falls accessible from different vantage points. The first of the three waterfalls is tucked between the dense trees and is very broad. The second waterfall reduces to thin strands of water and is almost negligible in winters due to the receding water levels. The third and the most visible waterfall is the tallest with clear water flowing like a sheet of milk on the dark rocks in the backdrop. Out of the three, the third waterfall tends to strike the visitors as the most impressive. 

Mawlynnong: Mawlynnong is a small village situated around 90 km from Shillong in the East Khasi Hills. It is widely popular as the cleanest village in Asia. Mawlynnong offers some of the most picturesque natural beauty with lush green valleys, crystal clear water in the river, an abundance of flowering orchids hanging from the trees and extremely clean roads. Apart from its cleanliness, Mawlynnong is also famous for its living root bridge which is one of the most popular attractions in Meghalaya.

Mawsynram: Acknowledged as the wettest place in the world, the mesmerizing village of Mawsynram, located 61 kms south of Shillong is a nature lover's delight and the perfect destination for a weekend trip. Many Shillong tour packages include a day trip or 1 night stay in Mawsynram. The village is well known for its huge formation of a stalagmite, which takes after the shape of a 'Shivalinga'.

Cherrapunji: Earlier the wettest place on the Earth, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, also known as Sohra, is known for its double-decker living root bridge. Located around 50 Kms from Shillong, it is included in many Shillong tour packages. Other natural attractions here include cave formations such as the Mawsmai Caves and Krem Phyllut. The misty valleys and the waterfalls in the region make a long drive through Cherrapunji ideal for those who love road trips. 

Kaziranga National Park: Home to the largest population of the one-horned rhino on earth, Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s national treasures. Since it is located around 185km from Shillong, some Shillong holiday packages include a trip to this amazing wonder.  Here, a wide variety of fauna thrives including the one-horned rhino, Asiatic elephants, wild water buffalo, leopards and Royal Bengal Tigers. Kaziranga National Park is also listed officially as a Tiger reserve and is home to one of the world’s largest population of tigers. 

Things to Do in Shillong

Boating & Water Sports at Umiam Lake: A leisure boat ride should never be missed at Umiam Lake. Boating is one of the most preferred activities in the region and visitors can choose between Group, Family, Couple and Solo boat rides between 9:00 AM and 05:00 PM at costs starting from INR 20. Adventure seekers can satisfy their craving for adventure sports at the Water Sports Complex by the Umiam Lake that has provisions for Solo boating, Angling, Kayaking and Water Skiing.

Trek to Laitlum Canyons: Perched on the East Khasi Hills, Laitlum Canyons is a less explored but one of the most picturesque tourist and trekking destinations in Shillong. This exotic viewing site offers the best panoramic views of Meghalaya embraced by the majestic hills and valleys. To reach the viewing spot, a short 2-kilometre trek has to be undertaken. One can also choose the longer path to reach the top. There is also a challenging, yet interesting trekking opportunity for the adventure lovers and trekkers down to the Smit village, which is about 6 kms away from the Canyons. There are other small trails and paths that lead to tiny slate-roofed homes, perched at great heights. 

David Scott Trail: Named after David Scott, a British officer, the David Scott Trail is an old and one of the most popular trekking routes in Meghalaya. It is a 16 kilometres long trek which stretches from Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang. The trek can be done from either side, but it is commonly attempted from the Mawphlang side since it makes it a less ascending trail. The trail is not well marked and one can take the help of locals for directions.

Mountain Climbing at Diengei Peak: Situated on the western side of Shillong, is 6200 ft in altitude, this peak is just 200 ft shorter than the tallest peak in Shillong, Shillong Peak. For a height of about 1000 ft, the gradient of this peak is very steep and precipitous which makes for excellent mountain climbing. Other adventurous sports like rock climbing and rappelling can be done here. If you are an adventurist, visiting here should be on top of your list of things to do in Shillong.

Angling at Dawki: A small border town in the Jaintia Hills, Dawki and its famed river Umngot is a must visit if in Meghalaya. Sandwiched between India and Bangladesh, Dawki is a major center of trade between India and Bangladesh. The city becomes a hotbed of tourist activities especially during the spring months as it hosts the boat riding competition on the Umngot River. The surrounding greenery, the cold water of the river and the beautiful suspension bridge on the River Umngot make Dawki a place worth a visit. Angling is another popular activity to try at Dawki.

Shopping in Shillong

• You can buy Manipuri and Naga shawls and stoles which are made of thick material and feature simple designs and indigenous motifs.
• You can also get Manipuri lungis to wear as they are or to get them stitched into skirts, kurtas, shirts and more.
• Scottish cloth, or fabric with scottish checks, is widely sold throughout Shillong. It is known to keep you warm.
• Do buy some bamboo handicrafts such as mats, baskets, bags, curtains, vases etc. which are sold in markets and emporiums.
• Something interesting to take back with you are Khasi scrubs; an indigenous made from the trunk of date palm trees, they are usually used to scrub floors and are sold by Khasi ladies.
• Shillong is also an excellent place to find a wide variety of organic produce and products. You can find fruits like strawberries, mulberries, pale pink soshang, sour sophie berries and dry fruits like cashews in markets.
• The very fiery Raja chillies are also available here.
• Jams and jellies made of pineapple, peaches, sohiong etc. are also sold widely.
• Furthermore, you can buy beauty and skincare products made out of honey and turmeric like soaps, masks and scrubs along with essential oils of perlia, cedar, lemongrass, wintergreen and more.
• The best places to go shopping are Police Bazaar, Bara Bazaar, Khasi Emporium, Purbashree Emporium and Rebecca’s Thrift Store, amongst others. 

Food in Shillong

The food in Shillong is a combination of traditional Khasi, north Indian, Chinese, Assamese and Bengali food. Must try dishes here include:

• Jadoh, a complete meal, is a famous Khasi dish which is prepared by cooking rice in pork stock and adding chunks of pork to it. Alternately, the rice can also be cooked with stock of fish or other meat. Jadoh pairs well with Phan Sdieh which are Khasi fried potatoes with vegetables, Doh Sniang Nei-ing which is chopped pork with sesame seeds, and Tungtap which is a chutney made of hot dried fish.
• Doh-Thad which is made of pork, fish or beef which is smoked over a kitchen furnace and then fried with onions and chillies.
• Putharo Dohjem which is a combination of putharo which is a steamed rice cake and dohjem which is a dry curry-like dish made of pork, chicken or beef liver, kidneys and intestines cooked with grounded sesame seeds, onions and black pepper.
• Phan Tungtap that is a combination of baked potatoes and hot dried fish chutney along with various herbs.
• Doh-Snam which is basically a sausage made of pork intestines filled with seasoned pork blood.
• Of course, you can’t skip out on momos which are steamed or fried and are served with different kinds of sauces.
• Tungrymbai is a special dish of Shillong that is prepared with fermented soybeans. It is often eaten with roti or bread.
• Pu Saw which is a sweet red rice cake baked in a traditional that is best eaten warm.
• Tpu Saru that is a local corn cake.
• Some of the best eateries to visit while in Shillong include Dejavu, Dylan’s Cafe, Cafe Shillong, Lamee Restaurant and Qzine.