Meghalaya, one of the seven sister states located in the Northeast region of India is very famous for its lush green forest, crystal clear lakes, living root bridges, and interesting terrains. Home to rich cultures and traditions, Meghalaya has been attracting thousands of tourists throughout the year. 

Shreya Newar is a Chartered Accountant based out of Kolkata. Aside from being a full-time working professional, she has a profound love for travel and exploring new places. She and her husband went to Meghalaya for a week-long trip. 

She did good research before her journey for the accommodations and destinations to visit. And planned her itinerary with a balance of both, a bit of luxury and a little budget. They also booked a cab through a local transport service for all 8 days of their stay.

Day 1 

Shreya and her husband flew directly from Kolkata to Shillong. Upon reaching, they had their stay booked at Rockski Boutique Bed and Breakfast. After a much-needed refreshment, they had a long and exciting day planned ahead of them. First on the list was Umiam Lake. A reservoir that is very famous for its water sports and adventure activities, like Kayaking, water cycling, scooting, and boating. Moving on from the lake, they went to the Don Bosco Museum. The museum holds a large collection of artifacts of native people and their lifestyles. It is also Asia’s largest museum holding indigenous artwork and tools. 

Much like the lakes of Meghalaya, the Laitlum Grand Canyon is one of the best lakes in India which is famous for its ethereal beauty. It is usually shrouded in fog which adds to the mystery and sublime beauty of this place. Other than the Canyon, they also went to Police Bazar and Lady Hydari Park. Having covered many places in one go, they called it a day. 

Day 2 

Starting the morning early, they shifted to another hotel, Tripura Castle. They dedicated their second and last day in Shillong to its wonderful waterfalls and lakes. So their first stop was at Elephant Falls. It is a multi-tiered waterfall, surrounded by a very dramatic and picturesque location. The next halt was at Sweet Falls. Considered as one of the steepest yet most thrilling falls, it is a single stream waterfall of Meghalaya. Their love for water led them to their third stop, Ward Lake. After some lunch they went to Shillong peak, offering a breathtaking panoramic view; and later again made a quick run to Police Bazar. For dinner, they stopped at Cafe Shillong and had the most scrumptious food.  

Day 3

Meghalaya has 16 major waterfalls, so to state the most obvious, you will obviously need a third day to cover at least half of them! The first waterfall of their third day was Krang Suri Falls. Do note there is an entry fee to enter the premises. Later they went to Phe Phe Falls. To reach here, you might need to hike a little. And then was the Amtasam Falls. It is also known as Thailand falls. 

Visiting Meghalaya and not seeing the Dawki river should be a punishable offense. The river with crystal clear water in a lush green environment offers multiple water sports activities. Shreya recommends staying at an Eco stay/B&B at Dawki or camping at Shnongpdeng. 

Day 4

For their fourth day, they booked their stay at Polo Orchid. They started the day by visiting Mawlynnong village. The living root bridge is the most famous tourist attraction. It has about 3000 steps to reach up to this place. But trust us, the top is so worth it, you will regret it if you miss this. Next, they went to Mawdok viewpoint. It offers one of the most beautiful aerial views of the lush green valley. On the way back you can also go ziplining from Mawdok viewpoint to Cherrapunjee. 

Day 5

Can you imagine, it is the fifth day, but there is no end to the captivating waterfalls. The complete day was dedicated to enjoying their time in nature. They covered Wei Sawdong Falls, Dainthlen Falls, NohKaLikai Falls, Maw sawdong falls, Nohsngithiang Falls, and ended the day with Mawsmai Cave. A narrow, rugged limestone cave is very famous for its well-preserved fossils. 

Day 6 

After all the extensive workouts, they definitely needed a day’s rest. They stayed in for the whole day and enjoyed the luxurious hotel and delightful room service. 

Day 7

After a good rest, it was a Nongriat day! They went for the Double Decker root bridge trek. It needs a good climb and has thousands of steep steps. It can be done within 4 hours if you don’t go further to Rainbow falls. Don’t forget to take a quick snack break in between. Once you make it to the top it is very beautiful and calm. The crystal clear water makes all your stress go away in a quick second. 

Day 8

Capturing memories of a lifetime, it was time to head home. Enjoying their trip to Meghalaya, they boarded the flight from Shillong. 

So this was the eventful trip of Shreya along with her loving husband. For more photos and videos, check out her page @shreyanewar. 

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