Cherrapunji is one of the most favourite places for tourists heading to North East India. Cherrapunji is the second wettest place of the world. It has only one season - that is monsoon. There is no month without rain here. Only the magnitude of rain may differ from summer to winter. It rains throughout the year and that makes tourism in Cherrapunji so special and unique. The best time to visit the place is from September to January when the weather is pleasant and cool. Another surprising factor here is that it rains mostly during night time. Also popular as Sohra, Cherrapunji has loads of fun activities and some gorgeous places to visit, all of which you will see in this travel guide to Cherrapunji.

By Air:

The nearest and most well-connected airport to Cherrapunji is Guwahati, which is 181 Km from Cherrapunji. It is easy to reach Guwahati because it has regular flights from all the major cities in India. On reaching Guwahati you can either take a bus or a taxi to reach Cherrapunji. 

By Rail:

Again Guwahati is the nearest railway station to Cherrapunji. Although Guwahati is 181 km from Cherrapunji, it is well connected by trains to all the other cities. On reaching Guwahati you can either take a taxi or bus to reach Cherrapunji.

By Road:

The only way of transportation to Cherrapunji is by Road. You can reach either Shillong (55 km), or Guwahati (180 km); and from there take a bus to Cherrapunji. Many Government and state-run buses operate from these places. The Meghalaya tourism department has daily tourist bus services in Cherrapunji, which will take the tourists to all the important attractions of the place.

Summer (March-May):

The place receives moderate rain during summer. May is the wettest month in summer and it is better to avoid this month if you are planning for a visit.

Monsoon (June-September):

It is best to avoid visiting Cherrapunji during monsoon months because it rains heavily during this time. However, if you are interested in enjoying the waterfalls, some of which are perennial, then it is better to visit Cherrapunji during monsoon. The temperature ranges between 12°C to 16°C during monsoon.

Winter (November- February):

Winter is the best time to visit the place when the temperature varies between 5°-15°C. You can visit all the major attractions during this month. Many festivals are celebrated during these months like the Nongkrem Dance festival during the months of October-November. These festivals attract a lot of tourists.

Cherrapunji is not only a place with many attractions but also an adventurers' paradise. You can go caving, trekking and biking in the mountains of Cherrapunji. Few are mentioned below.

Caving in Cherrapunji:

There are around 750 caves in Meghalaya, out of which only 150 caves are explored. Caving is something you should not miss if you are in Cherrapunji. There are many caves you can explore with the help of a guide, few on your own. Few caves that you can explore in Cherrapunji are the Mawsmai Cave, Krem Mawmluh Cave, Arwah caves, and Krem Liat Prah caves. Among these, only Mawsmai caves are lit caves where you can very well see the limestone stalactites and stalagmites formation in the caves. The ideal time to visit these caves is from October to May.

Trekking in Cherrapunji:

If you are a trekking enthusiast then Cherrapunji is the place you should visit. Cherrapunji has many famous trekking trails through the East Khasi Hills, tribal villages and forests. You will totally be enthralled by the beauty of the place when you cross hills, valleys and rivers which are loaded with lush green forest, waterfalls, living root bridges and picturesque villages. Do not miss a trek to the living Root Bridge, Double Decker Root Bridge and Natural Swimming Pools. Treks to Umkar Root Bridge are also quite famous. The ideal time for trekking is from October to May.

Go biking in the mountains of Cherrapunji:

Mountain biking is one of the major attractions for the adventure enthusiasts in Cherrapunji. The best season to go biking here is from October to May, when the weather is pleasant and it does not rain heavily. Although the mountains here are quite tough to explore, they are worth the effort. You can start your journey near the village of Mawmluh, which is close to Nongriat root bridges. It is better to carry all the necessary items like water, snacks and cycling kit along with you, since the tour may continue for a long time.

Sightseeing in Cherrapunji:

Your trip is incomplete until you visit all the beautiful palaces in Cherrapunji. Few of the must visit places are listed here; please go through the places to visit to know in detail about each and every place of interest. The most coveted sites to enjoy here are Nohkalikai Waterfalls, Mawsynram Village, Mawsmai Nongthymmai Eco Park, Wakaba Falls, Dainthlen Waterfall, Mawlynnong Village and Mawkdok Dympep Valley View.

Rice is the staple diet in Cherrapunji; they eat rice either with fish or meat. Rice is also used to make beer and liquor. However, Pork rice is a Khasi speciality that you must try when you are in Cherrapunji. Sohra Pulao, which is rice cooked with oil and vegetables without spices is another delicious item on the menu you should not miss. You can find many eateries that sell pork and red meat items. In Cherrapunji you can also get to taste the typical north Indian and Assamese dishes since many tourists from Delhi and Guwahati travel there often.

Cherrapunji is known for bamboo and cane handicrafts. Many shops sell these items ranging from small mementos to furniture. If you are in Cherrapunji don’t forget to buy the Meghalaya tea which has a distinct flavour compared to Darjeeling and Assam tea. Cherrapunji is also known for spices like bay leaf and cinnamon sticks; extensively grown here. It is the best place to buy excellent orange flavoured honey.