Frequently Asked Questions about Shillong Meghalaya

Question: How is Meghalaya?

Answer: Meghalaya (Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit) is one of the seven Northeastern states of India. Famous for its high rainfall, subtropical forests and biodiversity, it is abutted by Assam in the north and east and by Bangladesh in the south. The River Brahmaputra (or Luit as called locally) forms the border in the west.

Question: What is Meghalaya famous for?

Answer: Meghalaya is famous for its wide variety of orchids, medicinal plants, exotic fruits and vegetables. It receives the highest rainfall in India, is a place of beautiful waterfalls.

Question: Who gave the name Meghalaya?

Answer: SP Chatterjee

The term Meghalaya, which is of Sanskrit origin, was coined by SP Chatterjee, Professor Emeritus, department of geography, Calcutta University. It is a combination of two words: Megham meaning clouds and alayam meaning abode. Hence, in its entirety Meghalaya signifies abode of the clouds.

Question: What is the culture of Meghalaya?

Answer: The people of Meghalaya have a rich tribal cultural heritage. One of the distinct features of the culture of the people is their tradition of matrilineal system where lineage and inheritance are traced through women. These dance forms vary according to their regional taste but still portray a universal culture.

Question: What is the climate of Meghalaya?

Answer: The climate of Meghalaya is generally mild. In August the mean temperature at Shillong (in the Khasi Hills) is in the low 70s F (about 21–23 °C); it falls to the upper 40s F (about 8–10 °C) in January. … During the winter months (December to February), the climate is relatively dry.

Question: Is Shillong beautiful?

Answer: Of these, Meghalaya, located in undulating pine covered hills, has a milder climate than tropical India. Shillong is its beautiful capital, home to several waterfalls, parks, rolling hills and quaint land forms, and also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’.

Question: Which is the best place in Shillong?

Answer: Places To Visit In Shillong: Mawlynnong, Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Don Bosco Museum, Mawsynram, Ward’s Lake, David Scott Trail.

Question: Which are the best things to do in Shillong?

Answer: Trekking, Angling, Rafting, Horse Riding, and Kayaking are some of the best things to do in Shillong.

Question: Which are the best restaurants in Shillong?

Answer: City Hut, Qzine Restaurant, Munchies, and Jiva Sizzlers are some of the best restaurants in Shillong.

Question: Which are the best shopping places in Shillong?

Answer: OB shopping mall, Glory’s Plaza, Raps Mansion and Paltan Bazar are some of the best shopping places in Shillong.

Question: Which are the most popular local dishes of Shillong?

Answer: Jadoh, Tungrambai, Kyat, Ktung, and Ki Ktu are some of the best local dishes that one must try when in Shillong.

Question: Which are the best places to visit in Shillong in December?

Answer: Though December is the coldest month in Shillong with minimum temperature as low as 6 degrees Celsius. If you still wish to explore Shillong, you can visit Don Bosco Museum, Shillong View Point and Laitlum.

Question: Is Shillong safe for tourists?

Answer: Shillong is one of the safest places for female solo travellers. It is better you book hotels in police bazaar/ jail road area, as that is the central place in Shillong and is well connected with buses and taxis to other parts of the town.

Question: Which is the best time to visit Shillong?

Answer: March to June: March and April see the advent of summers but the weather is still quite pleasant. Summers are overall mild and a good time to plan a trip in Shillong with the temperature ranging from a maximum of 24°C to a minimum of 15°C. This is the perfect time to plan sightseeing and adventure activities.

Question: How many days are enough for adventure in Shillong?

Answer: 4 days should be enough.1 day to visit the hill and lake in Shillong .One day for the natural tree bridge, a day to visit Cherapujee to see the falls and a day to see the cleanest village. You can compress the itinerary to 3 or 2 days also by efficient planning.

Question: Does snowfall in Shillong?

Answer: A few places in the state witness sub-zero temperatures, like Upper Shillong and peak area. Despite the elevation and the temperature, Meghalaya does not experience snowfall. The layer of frost that develops over the region happens because of low temperatures and humidity, but that’s not snowfall!

Question: Why is Shillong famous for?

Answer: Located on the Shillong plateau about 55 km southwest of Shillong, Cherrapunji and Mausynram (another village nearby) are reputed to be the wettest places in the world. The heavy rains here often swell the waters of the Nohsngithiang waterfall. The town is famous for its limestone caves and orange honey.

Question: What is the main food of Meghalaya?

Answer: The staple food of the people is rice with spicy meat and fish preparations. They rear goats, pigs, fowl, ducks and cows and relish their meat. The popular dishes of Khasis and Jaintia are Jadoh, Ki Kpu, Tung-rymbai, and pickled bamboo shoots; bamboo shoots are also a favorite dish of the Garos.

Question: What should I wear in Shillong?

Answer: What to wear – For the spring time light cotton clothes are preferable during the day. …

Monsoon season are wet with heavy rainfall so carry some warm clothes as you may get cold due to the rainy weather.

Winters are extremely cold and chilly so carry heavy woolen clothes.

Question: Why is Shillong called Scotland of the East?

Answer: Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya, one of the smallest states in India and home to the Khasis. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, Shillong is known as “Scotland of the East”.

Question: Why Shillong is cooler than Guwahati?

Answer: Due to its strategic location between the Surma Valley and the Brahmaputra River, Shillong was declared the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam in 1874. This decision was also taken because the climate of Shillong was much cooler than the rest of tropical India.

Question: Can we see Himalayas from Shillong?

Answer: Most of the mountain ranges and hills of Northeast India are a part of the Himalayas themselves, called the Lesser Himalayas. So technically, by being in Shillong, you are in the Himalayas. Hence, you just have to look around. However, to really answer your question, yes you can.

Question: Is it cold in Shillong in October?

Answer: Average Weather in October in Shillong India. Daily high temperatures decrease by 3°F, from 72°F to 69°F, rarely falling below 65°F or exceeding 76°F.

Question: Where is dawki Lake?

Answer: Dawki also known as Dauki, is a town located in west Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, India. This town is a must visit destination for travelers and nature lovers. Dawki is located on the border between India and Bangladesh. It is really hard to ignore the crystal clear water of the Umngot River of this town.

Question: How do I get to dawki from Shillong?

Answer: Guwahati is about 200 km from Dawki and can be reached by hiring a cab. Alternatively, there is a helicopter service from Guwahati till Shillong from where one can reach Dawki by road.

Question: What is dawki famous for?

Answer: The small border town of Dawki in the West Jaintia Hills has the famous river Umngot which is a major tourist destination in Meghalaya. Dawki lies between India and Bangladesh and is the trade hub between the two countries. This small city is also famous for its famous Umngot river and a beautiful bridge.

Question: What is the best time to visit dawki?

Answer: Dawki can be visited anytime of the year, and there is no fixed season or month for visiting it. The winters are cold, but not too chilly and lack of rainfalls makes visiting Dawki a very pleasant experience.

Question: What is the old name of Shillong?

Answer: The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong. During the British rule of India, the British imperial authorities nicknamed it the “Scotland of the East”. Meghalaya was previously part of Assam, but on 21 January 1972, the districts of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia hills became the new state of Meghalaya.

Question: What is the best time to visit dawki?

Answer: Dawki can be visited anytime of the year, and there is no fixed season or month for visiting it. The winters are cold, but not too chilly and lack of rainfalls makes visiting Dawki a very pleasant experience.

Question: How do I get to Mawlynnong village?

Answer: Mawlynnong, located about 90 km from Shillong and 92 kms from Cherrapunjee can be reached by road. The nearest airport is Shillong. From Shillong airport you can take a taxi till Khasi Hills Sumo stand at Bara Bazaar market. From here shared sumo run till Mawlynnong.

Question: Which is the cleanest village of India?

Answer: Mawlynnong

Around 100km from Shillong there is a magical paradise – Mawlynnong – a small village which won the status of being the cleanest village (2003), not just in India, but in Asia.

Question: Which is the cleanest city in Asia?

Answer: Here’s Why The Cleanest Village In Asia, Mawlynnong Deserves More Tourists In 2019. The cleanest village in India, Mawlynnong Village is also known as God’s Own Garden and for all the right reasons. In 2003, Mawlynnong was awarded the title of the cleanest Village in Asia by Discover India.

Question: Which are the best places to visit in Shillong in June?

Answer: June is the best time to visit the waterfalls in Shillong. The rainfall washes away the city producing scenic vistas for you. Elephant Falls and Spread Eagle are two of the beautiful falls in Shillong.

Question: Which are things that you should not do in Shillong?

Answer: Not making reservations before you arrive in Shillong and not carrying enough cash are two of the things you should not do in Shillong. ATMs here are scanty. Also, do not forget to carry your ID proofs.