How To Reach Williamnagar

A small town located on the plains around the Simsang River, Williamnagar is a part of the East Garo Hills district in Meghalaya. The town was previously known as Simsanggre and was renamed Williamnagar after the state’s first Chief Minister, Captain Williamson A. Sangma. This pristine and well-planned township glorifies the true essence of north-eastern hospitality, where the locals are warm and welcoming of the tourists all year round. The Garo tribe is the main population occupying the town, whose rich culture also contributes to the thriving tourism here. Read on to find out the top ways to reach Williamnagar.

The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, is the nearest airspace situated near Williamnagar, which is about 118 km. Shillong Airport is situated about 232 km away and may also be used to travel in to the state; however, Guwahati Airport has better connectivity to other cities across India and is more frequently opted by tourists. The rest of the journey between either airport and Williamnagar needs to be covered via road, for which there are both buses and taxis available from the terminal.

Since there are no rail lines in the state of Meghalaya, the nearest train station from Williamnagar is the one in Guwahati. However, the first and only railway station in the state was recently constructed in Mendipathar, which runs passenger trains to and from Guwahati. Travellers coming in via train either have the option to catch a bus or taxi directly to Williamnagar from Guwahati Railway Station, or catch a passenger train from Guwahati to Mendipathar Railway Station and then cover the rest of the distance to Williamnagar via road. It should be noted though Williamnagar is closer to Guwahati than it is to Mendipathar.

The Meghalaya Transport Corporation connects Williamnagar to several cities nearby via public buses. Private vehicles, both buses and taxis, can also be availed from major cities like Shillong and Guwahati to reach Williamnagar. The road journey from Guwahati to Williamnagar takes just under 3 hours when travelling in a car; buses take just a little longer.

Tourists who travel in their own private vehicle in this part of Meghalaya are usually at an advantage in terms of getting around this region. Bus connectivity is not very good between the remote towns in this area, and within Williamnagar itself tourists can use the auto-rickshaws to move around. Since the rickshaws don’t run on meters, it is advisable to negotiate the rates before getting onto one.