Meghalaya as a location is one of the most visited tourist spots in the north east of India. And the popularity of this beautiful location is because of a variety of reasons. The first and foremost is the beauty of nature that one can experience here. And the next point is the important sightseeing places that a visitor can explore here. At one point of time during the British rule Meghalaya was popular as the Scotland of the East. And what makes it even more unique is that this is the wettest region of India as well. The word Meghalaya literally means the Abode of Clouds where Megha means Cloud and Alaya means Abode. So now you can understand how beautifully unique a state like this can be. So in case you are thinking of visiting Meghalaya then you need to keep on reading this Meghalaya tour plan article.
What to expect?
Meghalaya has multiple sightseeing locations that attract a major chunk of visitors here. The wettest region getting the highest amount of rainfall, Cherrapunji is one of the major locations to visit here. Along with that there are the Living Root Bridges which are only found in Meghalaya. You would also get to visit Mawlynnong which is Asia’s cleanest village. And we simply can’t forget the cleanest river Dawki that divides the two countries of India and Bangladesh. In this article I will share a 6 days and 5 nights Meghalaya tour that will be helpful for you. I will also mention the day wise Meghalaya tour itinerary, hotel, food, transport, Meghalaya tourist places as well as a detailed budget for this trip.
So no matter if you are travelling alone or in a group this Meghalaya tour plan article will be helpful for you. By the end of this article you will get a fair idea about Meghalaya along with all the necessary information that you need to plan a trip there. So keep on reading this article and plan a trip to Meghalaya as soon as you can.
Meghalaya Tour Plan
How to reach
By train
One of the cheapest options to reach Meghalaya is by train but Meghalaya doesn’t have a railway station. So for that the nearest railway station to reach Meghalaya is the Guwahati railway station in Assam. Guwahati railway station is a well connected railway station, so you will get trains from major cities and towns to reach there.
By air
You can choose to travel by air as well and for that you have 2 options. You can either take a flight to the capital of Meghalaya, Shillong. Or else you can even get a flight to Guwahati airport in Assam to reach Meghalaya. However there are a very limited number of direct flights to reach Shillong airport though. If you get a flight to reach Shillong from your location then you can surely opt for that. But in case you don’t get a direct flight to Shillong you will have to get a flight to reach Guwahati airport in Assam. You will get regular flights from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata to reach Guwahati airport. The flight charges will range between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5000.
Meghalaya Tour Itinerary
And now we will discuss the day wise itinerary in this Meghalaya tour plan.
Meghalaya Tour Plan Day 1
On day 1 of this Meghalaya tour plan you must try to reach Guwahati by 12 pm in the afternoon. In case you are traveling by train you should reach the Guwahati station by 12 in the afternoon. And then from there you should take the flyover to reach Paltan Bazar in Guwahati. Paltan Bazar in Guwahati is one of the major localities where you will get everything from hotel, restaurants to street food and cabs and buses to reach Cherrapunji and Shillong etc. Similarly if you are travelling by air then you will get autos from the Guwahati Airport to reach Paltan Bazar. But the best option would be the ASTC Special AC Service Bus that you can take. It will cost only Rs. 100 to reach Paltan Bazar from the airport.
Where to Stay?
After reaching Paltan Bazar the first thing that you need to do is check in to your hotel. You can either book the hotel here in advance and check in. Or else if you haven’t booked them in advance then the best option would be to reach Paltan Bazar and book a hotel there. You will get hotels here starting at Rs. 500. I had stayed at a hotel called D D Lodge which is located at a 10 minutes walking distance from the Guwahati railway station towards Paltan Bazar. The cost of the hotel was Rs. 800 for a double bed room for 1 night.
Kamakhya Temple
After checking in to the hotel you will have to head out for your first destination for day 1 that is the Kamakhya Temple. From Paltan Bazar you will get multiple options of transport to reach the Kamakhya Temple. You can opt for an auto, bus, cab etc to reach the Kamakhya Temple. The auto fare would be around Rs. 150, the Uber Cab fare would be around Rs. 200. And in case you are travelling solo then you can even take an Uber Bike as well. The bike fare would cost you around Rs. 60.
If you wish to travel by bus then the bus fare would be around Rs. 15. But keep in mind that there are very limited numbers of buses from Paltan Bazar that will directly take you to the temple. Also keep in mind that the autos in Guwahati only allow 3 people. So in case you are in a group with more than 3 people then you will have to book a cab.
The Kamakhya Temple is located on top of the Nilgiri Hill. And on your journey towards the temple you would also get to enjoy a scenic wide range view of the whole city of Guwahati. So by the time when you are going to the temple take some time out to enjoy this view. Because it might get really late in the evening after the darshan and so you may not be able to enjoy this view in the evening.
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What’s more?
After reaching the temple you should start standing in the line for darshan. And also keep in mind that it is one of the most crowded temples as well that attracts a huge crowd on a regular basis. On a regular day it takes around 2 to 3 hours for darshan here. And during any special occasion it takes more than 7 to 10 hours to complete the darshan. There are two lines here for darshan, a general line and a VIP line. For the general line there is no entry fee and for the VIP line the price is Rs. 500. If there is a huge crowd then you can opt for the VIP line to speed up the darshan procedure by a few hours.
Dedicated to Maa Kamakhya this temple in Guwahati is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth as well as one of the oldest 4 Shakti Peethas as well. The Ambubachi Festival is one of the major festivals of this temple when a huge number of devotees visit the temple to pray to the Goddess.
Umananda Temple
After a visit to the Kamakhya Temple you can opt for a visit to the Umananda Temple if there is time in hand. The Umananda Temple is yet another prominent temple and a popular spot to visit in Guwahati. The Umananda Temple is located on top of the Peacock Island amidst the River Brahmaputra. Dedicated to Lord Shiva the temple holds a lot of importance for the devotees who visit here in huge numbers. To visit the temple you will have to take a ferry ride as it is located on an island.
Things to remember
On day 1 the main focus should be on visiting the Kamakhya Temple as it takes a lot of time for the darshan here. And after that if you have time in hand you can visit the other sightseeing locations here as well. If you wish to stay in Guwahati for 2 days then there are some other sightseeing locations that you can visit here. These are Guwahati Ropeway, Guwahati Zoo, Guwahati Museum, Guwahati Zoo, ISKCON Temple etc.
But if you are opting for only a day at Guwahati then you won’t be able to visit all these places. In that case you will have to return to Paltan Bazar by the end of your visit to the Kamakhya Temple. And then you will have to book your transport for the next days of sightseeing to Shillong. For a solo traveler there are options for scooty rent that you can opt for. Other than that for group travelers there are options for cab and cab with drivers, so you can take that.
If you are opting for a bike on rent then you can check out Ahija.com and for cab rent you can opt for Fufu Gadi.com. The starting price for bikes on rent is around Rs. 600 per day and for cabs the price will be around Rs. 1600 per day. And there is another option that you can opt for the sightseeing as well. Near Paltan Bazar you will find many cab drivers available and from there also you can book your cab for sightseeing. So on day 1 you can have your dinner at Paltan Bazaar and then you can get back to your hotel and sleep early.
Meghalaya Tour Plan Day 2
On day 2 you will have to get ready early in the morning by 6 or 7 am to reach Shillong from Guwahati. If you are travelling solo then you will travel through your pre booked scooty. And group travelers will start their journey through their pre-booked cabs. But if you have not booked a scooty or a cab then they will have to opt for a shared cab or else government buses from Guwahati to reach Shillong. The cost of shared cabs in that case would be around Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 per person. And the bus tickets would cost Rs. 180 per person.
But if you are opting for a shared cab or a government bus to reach Shillong from Guwahati then you will anyway have to book a cab for the sightseeing in Shillong. However there are options for sightseeing in Shillong and Cherrapunji by private buses, but that would not be very convenient. The distance from Guwahati to Shillong is around 90 km.
Umiam Lake
The first famous sightseeing location of day 2 is the Umiam Lake. Also popular as the Bara Pani Lake, this is a popular tourist spot in Shillong. The entry fee here is Rs. 59 per person. The lake is located on the way from Guwahati to reach Shillong and is around 15 km away from Shillong. It is a picturesque location here and the lake offers a pristine view as well. The site is popular for speed boat rides as well that you can try here.
If you are travelling through a cab or a scooty you would get to visit this lake on your way to Shillong. But if you are travelling in a shared cab or a bus then you would get to visit this spot later as a part of Shillong sightseeing locations. I would however recommend you to visit this lake on your way to Shillong as that would be much more convenient. You can even pay Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 extra and request your driver to take you to this spot on your way to Shillong. Otherwise it would be a hassle to again travel 15 km back from Shillong to visit this lake later.
Where to Stay?
After reaching Shillong you will now have to check in to your hotel. You should however try to find a hotel near the Police Bazar in Shillong as that is an accessible location. You will find cabs for sightseeing, hotels, restaurants, street food and everything easily at the Police Bazar. I stayed at a hotel called Aura Cottage which was a cottage. It was located at a 7 minutes walking distance from Police Bazar.
I had visited there with my family so I had opted for a family room and it cost me Rs. 3000 per night. Other than that you will get other hotels here as well and the starting price would be around Rs. 1000. You can check out the Hotel Barbareek Inn here which is a popular hotel. However keep in mind that it would always be better to book the hotel here in advance before visiting here.
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Shillong Sightseeing
After checking into the hotel it would be time for sightseeing at Shillong. At Shillong you will find a lot of locations for sightseeing. But for day 2 it would be better to opt for local sightseeing here. I will now mention some of the really popular sightseeing spots in Shillong that you should not miss out on.
Elephant Falls
The Elephant Falls would be the first location of sightseeing for this day. The entry fee at Elephant Falls is Rs. 15 per person. This waterfall is located around 12 km away from the Shillong Bus stand. It is a beautiful 3 tier waterfall that looks beautiful amidst lush greenery. To reach the waterfall you will have to navigate down at least 150 steps. However the steps here can be a little troublesome for aged people as well as the children. But the beauty of this waterfall is definitely worth visiting.
Air Force Museum
The Air Force Museum is the next sightseeing spot and it is located just next to the Elephant Falls. Here the entry fee is Rs. 20 per person. It is a small museum so if you like visiting museums then you can surely go and visit here.
Shillong Viewpoint
The next sightseeing location for the day is the Shillong Viewpoint. And as the name suggests it is a viewpoint that offers a beautiful view. The viewpoint is located inside the military area and the entry fee is Rs. 30 per person. Upon a visit here you would get to enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole Shillong city.
Cathedral Church
Located at the heart of the city the Cathedral Church is the next sightseeing location that you need to visit. The church is located at a walking distance from the Police Bazar. It is a beautiful church and it is open from 7 am in the morning to 6:30 pm in the evening.
Ward’s Lake
The next destination for the day is Ward’s Lake. Here the entry fee for adults is Rs. 20 per person and for children it is Rs. 10 per person. And there is an additional charge for a video camera here which is Rs. 100. Here you would get an opportunity to wear the traditional dress and you can click pictures here as well. For the traditional dress the charge here is Rs. 100 and for photographs the charge is Rs. 50.
So that was all about the sightseeing for day 2 in this Meghalaya tour plan. For a whole day of sightseeing the cab charges will be around Rs. 1500. And after visiting all these locations you can reach Polica Bazar again and then you can have some street food there. After dinner you need to go to your hotel and sleep as the next day will also be a sightseeing day for you.
Meghalaya Tour Plan Day 3
On day 3 you will have to be ready by 7 am in the morning to start the sightseeing for the day. If you miss out on any spots that I have mentioned on day 2 local sightseeing it is still fine. But on Day 3 all the locations that I will mention are popular and famous. So you should try your best to visit all the locations that I will mention now.
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Laitlum
For day 3 the first sightseeing location is Laitlum which is a popular Meghalaya tourist spot. Perched on top of the Khasi Hills, what makes this site so beautiful is the never ending view that you can enjoy here. On your trip to Meghalaya this is one of the must visit spots that you should not miss out on. The Laitlum Canyon is also a favored spot for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts as well.
Krang Suri Falls
The next destination for the day is the Krang Shuri Falls which is yet another popular sightseeing location. This falls is located around 90 km away from Laitlum. The way to the waterfall is scenic and beautiful amidst lush greenery. One of the major attractions here is the Zipline which you can try here. The cost for zipline here is Rs. 300 and the experience will be enjoyable. The ticket price for the Krang Suri Falls is Rs. 50 per person. Located near Jowai, the crystal clear water cascading downwards is definitely worth seeing with your own eyes. The location is popular for camping as well, and a lot of visitors enjoy overnight camping at this spot. For nature lovers this will be one of the best locations that you can explore in Meghalaya.
Phe Phe Waterfalls
The Phe Phe Falls in Meghalaya is yet another popular sightseeing site that offers a breathtaking view. Surrounded by lush greenery the waterfall is located in Jaintia Hills district just a few km away from the Krang Suri Falls. It is a popular trekking destination as well and trekkers enjoy this trekking trail to reach Phe Phe Falls. It is a perennial waterfall that doesn’t dry out so technically you can visit here any time of the year. Personally during my trip I could not visit here as I got a little late. But you must not miss out on this pristine waterfall so try to start your sightseeing as early as 7 am in the morning.
And with that we come to an end of the Shillong sightseeing and you can reach the Police Bazar after that. For the last time you can explore the Police Bazar on this day as tomorrow you will have to check out from the hotel to travel to Cherrapunji. So have dinner and then sleep early to again start a brand new day the next morning with the trip to Cherrapunji.
Meghalaya Tour Plan Day 4
On Day 4 you will have to check out from the hotel early in the morning by 7 am to start your journey to reach Cherrapunji. It will be a long day on day 4 as you will go for the Cherrapunji sightseeing for the whole day and reach the hotel and check in only at night. The distance from Shillong to Cherrapunji is 54 km and all the sightseeing locations will actually fall within this 54 km of journey as well.
Mawkdok Viewpoint
The first sightseeing location for Day 4 is the Mawkdok Viewpoint. The location is located a little away from the Mawkdok village where you will find a bridge. This is a beautiful location and the official name of the location is Duwan Sing Syiem View Point or Mawkdok Dympep Valley. You will have to climb some steps to actually reach the viewpoint here to witness the majestic view. Surrounded by hills the viewpoint offers a stunning view of the whole area.
Wei Sawdong Falls
The next destination for the day would be this waterfall and it is yet another popular sightseeing location here. It would take you a small 15 minutes trek down to reach the location of Wei Sawdong Falls. The trek down can be a beautiful as well as a thrilling experience for every traveler. It is a three tiered waterfall and the water here is bluish green in colour. The waterfall is not so easily accessible and for aged people or kids it would not be very safe to trek down. But nevertheless the site of the crystal clear waterfall is one of the best things that you can explore in Meghalaya.
Dainthlen Falls
The Dainthlen Falls is located close to the Wei Sawdong Falls. Here you will have to climb upwards to see the starting point of this waterfall from the top. The water of this waterfall goes down to the Wei Sawdong Falls. You can best experience the beauty of this waterfall during the post monsoon season.
Arwah Cave
This cave is the next tourist destination for the day. The entry fee to Arwah Cave is Rs. 50 for adults per person and Rs. 10 for children per person. It is also a beautiful location with a stunning viewpoint that will offer a breathtaking view. And you will have to walk for around 10 minutes to actually reach the cave. The cave is open from 6 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening. The cave is also popular as Sohra and is famous for its natural limestone formations. According to beliefs these formations are more than millions years old. You will get guides here for Rs. 100 that you can opt for. That way you would get a lot of information about the history of this cave.
Nohkalikai Falls
The Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India with a height of about 340 meters. The entry fee is Rs. 50 per person and it includes the use of washroom as well as camera charges. This waterfall is one of the major attractions in Meghalayas as well as in Cherrapunji. The falls also offers a breathtakingly beautiful view as well. What makes the waterfall more special is the pool of water here. The water here changes its colour from blue to green according to various changes of seasons.
Mawsmai Cave
The next sightseeing location for this day is the Mawsmai Cave and the entry fare is Rs. 30 per person. This cave is also famous for the natural limestone formation and is old as well. The cave is long but only the first 150 meters is accessible for tourists. It is moreover a narrow cave and there are points in the cave where you cannot even stand. You can visit this cave from 9 am in the morning to 5 pm in the evening.
Seven Sister Waterfall
This is the last and one of the most popular sightseeing locations for this day. The Seven Sister Falls is famous as visitors can spot 7 waterfalls here during the monsoon season. The waterfalls here cascades from a height of 1033 feet or 315 meters. And they have a width of about 230 feet or 70 meters. Additionally these 7 streams of waterfall also symbolizes the 7 Northeastern sister states namely Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya. However you need to visit here during the monsoon or post monsoon season to spot the waterfall. As I went there during the winter season I could not spot any of the seven sisters here.
After visiting the Seven Sister Waterfall the sightseeing for the day would come to an end. And now you will have to reach your hotel and check in. The cost of a hotel here is a little costly and it starts from around Rs. 2000. However if you are travelling solo then you can check out Booking.com for hostels. And for hostels the starting price would be around Rs. 500. I stayed at hotel Bynardi Inn which was located very close to the Seven Sister Waterfall. You would get to enjoy the view of this waterfall from the hotel any time. I had to pay Rs. 4000 per night for 2 rooms. In each room 3 people can stay easily and conveniently.
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Meghalaya Tour Plan Day 5
On Day 5 of this Meghalaya tour plan you would get to enjoy the Double Decker Root Bridge in Cherrapunji. However let me tell you that if you are above the age of 50 years then you can cancel this day’s itinerary. Instead you can directly jump on the itinerary of the Day 6 of this Meghalaya tour plan. But for others day 5 will be interesting enough. You will have to complete your breakfast early in the morning and then start your journey to reach the Tyrna Village in Cherrapunji for a trek. At the starting point of this trek you should buy a bamboo stick by paying Rs. 20 as it will be helpful for you in the latter part of the trek.
Also you must book a guide here that will cost you Rs. 700 till the Double Decker Root Bridge. However if you are taking the guide to Rainbow Falls then the guide charges would be Rs. 1000. The guide here is not just for showing you the way. But he will also provide you with food and water if you are hungry or thirsty. Additionally if you have a bag with yourself then he will carry that as well. Furthermore he will also encourage you on your way if you feel demotivated at any point to continue this trek.
From Tyrna Village to Double Decker Living Root Bridge there are a total of 3500 steps that you will have to cover. However these steps are not like other stairs or steps as you will find steps here at some point that you will have to trek down along with some steps where you will have to climb up. In between the journey you will find many shops here for water and some quick refreshments as well.
Single Living Root Bridge
Finally after covering around 2000 steps you will reach the Single Living Root Bridge. For trekking there the cost would be Rs. 30 for adults and Rs. 10 for children. If you have a camera along then the charges would be Rs. 20, for video camera or go pro the charge will be Rs. 200 and for film shooting the charge will be Rs. 500. The Single Root Bridge is very old and at a time only 2 people are allowed to climb it. Meghalaya is the only location where you will get to see the Living Root Bridge.
The Living Root Bridge is basically made of the roots of the rubber trees and it takes years for the construction to happen. In Meghalaya you will find a lot of these root bridges which they use here. The process of this intertwining and making of the bridge can take up to 20 to 25 years or more.
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Double Decker Living Root Bridge
After visiting the single root bridge you will again have to start trekking to cover the remaining 1000 steps here. And by the end you will reach the Double Decker Root Bridge here. Here also there is an entry ticket which is Rs. 50 for adults and Rs. 20 for children per person. And for cameras I had to pay an additional charge of Rs. 100 as well.
After reaching the Double Decker Living Root Bridge there are 2 options that you can opt for. Either you can choose to spend some time here and then you can head back. Or else if you have some more energy left then you can trek further for another 1 hour to reach the Rainbow Waterfall. This decision would largely depend on your energy and your health condition. In my case my family members went back, but I continued with this journey towards the Rainbow Waterfalls.
However there is yet another option available here as well and that is you can even choose to stay here at a homestay near the Double Decker Root Bridge as well. And then you can trek to the Rainbow Waterfalls the next day and then head back. The homestay cost will be around Rs. 1000 if you wish to stay here. But in that case your trip to Cherrapunji will extend by one more day, so you can choose what you want.
Blue Lagoon Lake
This is yet another hidden gem on this trekking trail and a lot of people avoid visiting here and directly reach the Rainbow Falls. But personally I really wanted to visit here and the beauty won over my heart. The water here is crystal clear and looks magnificent. So if you wish then you can definitely visit here to enjoy the beauty of the Blue Lagoon Lake.
Rainbow Waterfalls
The Rainbow Falls in Cherrapunji is one of the most beautiful locations. And such a long trek is definitely worth it for witnessing such a beautiful waterfall.
Important Double Decker Root Bridge Trekking tips to remember
1. You must not include a trek to this location on the last day of your trip. Because in case you get late or something happens during the trek, then you might miss out on your buses and trains to return.
2. Another important tip is to definitely trim your nails on your feet. Because in case you have long nails then it will be painful for you after you complete a whole day of trekking.
3. In case of any unforeseen circumstances or accidents, then you don’t need to worry. The locals and villagers here are hospitable and helpful. So they will make sure to bring you up to your location again. However, for that you will have to spend some extra money here.
4. If you wish to trek to the Rainbow Waterfalls then you must take a guide. The trail here is confusing and there can be chances of going the wrong way if you don’t have a guide along.
5. While you are trekking you must go slow and steady. If you are not a seasoned trekker then you must take a break after every 20 steps.
6. Furthermore to carry on with the trek in peace you must start as early as you can in the morning. That way you would have enough time in hand to pause in between and complete the trek as well.
7. Take care of your food intake during your trekking. Remember to not skip meals at all and also do not overeat. You must eat in moderation and drink water in between to keep yourself hydrated.
Meghalaya Tour Plan Day 6
On day 6 of Meghalaya tour plan the day will start early in the morning and you will have to check out from your hotel in the morning. And then you will have to take all your luggage along with you and start your journey for day 6 sightseeing. Remember on this day the Meghalaya trip will end once you reach Guwahati at night.
Riwai Single Living Root Bridge
This root bridge is the first sightseeing location for the day 6 of this Meghalaya tour plan. It is located a little away from Mawlynnong. This root bridge is a great option to explore for aged people and also others who are unable to visit the Double Decker Root Bridge because of its difficulty level. There is an entry ticket here which is Rs. 40 per person and for camera there is an additional charge of Rs. 20. You will find some small shops here where you can have some light food. Also there are some shops selling handicrafts items here as well that you can check out.
Mawlynnong Village
The Mawlynnong Village is not a regular village but the cleanest village in the whole of Asia. In 2003 the village received an award for that as well. The village is definitely very clean and the beauty of the village cannot be explained in words. It can definitely pass as the most beautiful village as well. Everything from the small houses to their roads, the greenery and natural beauty, lifestyle of the locals everything will make a visit to this village worth it.
It is not a very big village but no matter how small it is, it is an example of cleanliness in front of the whole world. This village furthermore practices a complete ban on plastic as well. If you want you can even complete your lunch here after exploring the location. We had lunch here and veg thali was Rs. 130 and non veg thali was Rs. 200.
India Bangladesh Border
It will be one of the interesting locations that you can explore during your Meghalaya trip. There is an India Bangladesh Friendship Gate here as well. And the Indian side here has an Indian flag hoisted and the Bangladeshi side has a Bangladeshi flag hoisted.
Dawki
This is by far one of the most important sightseeing locations in Meghalaya which is the last town in India, Dawki. The Dawki River is located in between the India and Bangladesh area. You can opt for boating here and the boating rate is Rs. 800 here for 3 people for a 45 minutes ride. The river is originally called the Umngot River and it is located at the bottom of the Jaintia Hills. The river flows in between the East Khasi Hills and the West Jaintia Hills. And there is a beautiful suspension bridge here as well which is a major attraction here.
One of the major attractions of this river is also the crystal clear water. It is so clear that even the boats seem like floating on top of a crystal glass surface. You would be able to enjoy the view of the river bed while you enjoy boating here.
And with that the last day of sightseeing will come to an end in Meghalaya. Then you will have to leave for Guwahati and from Dawki it will take you around 5 hours to reach there. So make sure your trains and flight tickets are at least after 10 pm at night on this day. And at night you will get your train or flight from Guwahati to reach your destination back home.
Things to remember
Till now I have explained the sightseeing in Meghalaya through cabs and private cars or scooty. But other than that there is yet another option available here that is journey through private buses. In Meghalaya you will find Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) buses that you can opt for sightseeing. If you wish to not book scooty or a cab then buses will be a very cheap option for you. After reaching Shillong you can book tickets from the MTDC counter for sightseeing.
But you will have to keep in mind that whichever places I have mentioned here will be different in this case. For example you will only visit the locations that I have mentioned on day 2 if you are opting for the bus services. Also on day 3 the bus would not cover locations like Krang Suri Falls and Laitlum. Similarly for Cherrpunji tour also there are buses for only day 4 and day 6. And they do not cover the Double Decker Root Bridge so you will miss out on that. They do not include sites like Wei Sawdong Falls, Dainthlen Falls, Arwah Caves etc.
Also keep in mind that in case of the bus everyday your trip will start from Shillong and end at Shillong. So for that you will only need to book your hotel at Shillong for all these days. Additionally you will be able to complete the trip in 4 days 3 nights or 5 days 4 nights. I am personally not recommending this option, but I am just mentioning it in case any of you want to opt for this.
What to Eat
Now that we are done with the itinerary of this Meghalaya tour plan, let’s discuss the kind of food that you will get here. In Meghalaya the food will cost around Rs. 400 to Rs. 500 per day. You will get veg thali here for Rs. 100, non veg thali for Rs. 120 to Rs. 150. On day 1 you can try the street food at Paltan Bazar area along with some restaurants. And on day 2 and day 3 you can explore the food options at Police Bazar. On Day 4 you can have your lunch near Mawkdok viewpoint while going to Cherrapunji. And on day 5 you can have your lunch at the Double Decker Root Bridge. And on Day 6 you can have your lunch at Mawlynnong village. For dinner you can have that at the same hotel where you would be staying in.
I am sharing some prices of a few items that I had tried there. Maggi for Rs. 50, egg fried rice for Rs. 60, egg chowmein for Rs. 50, chicken steam momo for Rs. 80, chicken soup for Rs. 70, sweet corn for Rs. 50, chicken pakora for Rs. 50 etc. With this you can easily form a fair idea about the prices of food in Meghalaya.
Meghalaya Tour Plan Budget
For hotels the total price will be around Rs. 4800 for 5 nights. On day 1 the hotel at Guwahati would be Rs. 800 for 1 night. And for Shillong and Cherrapunji it will be Rs. 1000 per night.
800+ 1000+ 1000+ 1000 +1000 = Rs. 4800
However if you are staying at Guwahati on day 6 and not heading back home on that day itself then add Rs. 800 more.
For the food the cost would be around Rs. 500 per day for 6 days.
500 *6= Rs. 3000
For entry fees at different sightseeing locations it will be around Rs. 400
And for extra cost including accommodation cost to reach Kamakhya Temple on day 1, I am keeping Rs. 500.
Transportation cost would be Rs. 4500 total.
If you are travelling solo then you can rent a bike and it will cost Rs. 600 each day and Rs. 1200 for the petrol price.
600+ 600 + 600+ 600 + 600 + 1200 = Rs. 4200
And if you are in a group of 4 people then the cab fare will be Rs. 1600 per day and Rs. 2500 petrol price
1600 + 1600 + 1600 + 1600 + 1600 + 2500 = Rs. 10500
So if you are 4 people in a group then transportation cost for each person would be Rs. 2625.
There is another option to book Guwahati to Guwahati cab as well and for that the cost will be Rs. 3500 for Shillong and Cherrapunji. And for the last day it will be around Rs. 5000 as you will directly return to Guwahati on that day.
3500 + 3500 + 3500 + 3500 + 5000 = Rs. 19000
I have not included the transport cost for day 1 here as you will get a cab, auto etc to reach Kamakhya Temple easily.
To sum up
Solo traveler cost would be 4800+ 3000+ 400+ 500+ 4500 = Rs. 13200
Group traveler cost would be around Rs. 8500 per person
The total budget for this particular trip would largely depend on the kind of transport that you are opting for. So you can choose whatever suits your need and your preference and the budget will get up and down on the basis of that.
Wrapping Up!
So that was everything about the Meghalaya Tour Plan. I have mentioned everything here that you need for a successful Meghalaya Tour. If you are planning a trip to this beautiful location just keep this Meghalaya Tour Plan article handy. I am sure this article will be helpful for you in planning a successful trip to Meghalaya. So when are you planning a visit to this beautiful north eastern state of Meghalaya? And also let me know if this article on Meghalaya tour plan is helpful for you in planning a trip to this beautiful location.
