Arrive in Shillong and settle into your hotel or guesthouse in the Police Bazaar area, then stretch your legs with a stroll through the bustling Bara Bazaar and Police Bazar market where vendors sell handicrafts, Khasi silverware, and local jams — a great spot to pick up souvenirs and taste piping-hot momos from a street stall. If time allows, pop into the nearby Don Bosco Museum for a compact introduction to Northeast India’s cultures and artifacts before heading up to Cathedral Hill to enjoy panoramic views of the city framed by pine-clad hills.
After a relaxed lunch at Café Shillong or Dylan’s Café, wander through the quieter lanes toward the Ward’s Lake gardens for a gentle paddle-boat ride and photo stops among manicured flowerbeds. Continue to the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians on Cathedral Hill to absorb the tranquil atmosphere and impressive architecture, then walk down to Laitumkhrah for a coffee at a local café and to watch daily life unfold in one of the city’s liveliest neighborhoods.
Return to Police Bazaar as dusk falls to explore its evening energy—browse boutiques, enjoy a casual dinner of Khasi specialities like Jadoh or Jalang at Trattoria or a local eatery, and sample hot tea at a roadside stall. Finish the night with live music at a local pub (try The Heritage or Dylan’s) or a quiet rooftop view of Shillong’s twinkling lights, preparing for an early start tomorrow to Cherrapunji’s waterfalls and viewpoints.
Leave Shillong early after breakfast and drive the scenic route to Cherrapunji (Sohra), stopping first at the awe-inspiring Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters) Falls for photos and the thunderous cascade view from the roadside viewpoint. Continue to the Eco Park and Mawkdok Dympep Valley viewpoint to stretch your legs, inhale the misty air, and enjoy sweeping panoramas of limestone cliffs and rolling tea gardens before heading deeper into Cherrapunji’s waterfall circuit.
After a packed picnic or a simple lunch at a local dhaba, visit the iconic Nohkalikai Falls — walk to the official viewpoint for the dramatic drop and the surrounding gorge, then explore nearby attractions like the Mawsmai Cave for a short spelunking adventure and the historic Kynrem Falls viewpoint if time permits. Pause at local stalls to sample Khasi snacks and pick up handwoven shawls or honey from roadside vendors as you move between sights.
As daylight fades, check into a guesthouse in Cherrapunji, relax with hot tea while soaking in hilltop views, and enjoy a hearty Khasi-style dinner (try Jadoh or a seasonal vegetable stew) at your lodge or a nearby eatery. Spend a quiet evening stargazing if skies are clear or swapping stories with fellow travelers by a fireplace, preparing for tomorrow’s journey to Mawlynnong and the living root bridges.
Set out early from Cherrapunji after a simple breakfast and drive to Mawlynnong, voted Asia’s cleanest village; wander its tidy lanes, visit the famous living root pathways and the skywalk for panoramic views over the Bangladesh plains, and stop by local homes to see bamboo craft and buy fresh honey. Continue toward the Dawki/Umngot area if time allows for a brief riverside photo stop, then head to Tyrna or Tyrna Bridge to begin the trek down toward the Nongriat living root bridge.
Spend the afternoon on the scenic trek (about 3,000 steps round-trip from Tyrna to Nongriat) through dense rainforest, crossing smaller waterfalls and suspension bridges en route, arriving at the double-decker living root bridge where you can swim in the cool pool beneath the falls and relax on the mossy rocks. Refuel with a packed lunch or a simple meal at a local homestay in Nongriat while chatting with villagers about Khasi traditions and their stewardship of the root bridges.
Climb back up at a comfortable pace and return to Mawlynnong or a nearby guesthouse as dusk falls, enjoying tea and hot local dishes like dohneiiong (pork with black sesame) if available, and swapping photos with fellow trekkers. Wind down with a peaceful walk through the lantern-lit lanes of Mawlynnong, stargaze from the village skywalk if weather permits, and prepare for your departure back to Shillong the next morning.