Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After landing at Guwahati Airport around 8 a.m., allow time for baggage and meet your pre-arranged driver. The road journey to Shillong via NH6 and Nongpoh usually takes about 3–4 hours, though traffic and road conditions can stretch it; a private car commonly costs around ₹3,500–6,000, while shared options may be cheaper but less flexible. Stop for breakfast on the way, and check with your hotel about early check-in or leaving bags there if your room isn’t ready.
Once you’ve settled in, head to Ward’s Lake in the city centre for a relaxed walk around the water and its garden paths—about an hour is plenty after the drive. It’s generally open during daylight hours and has a small entry fee; check locally for the day’s timings. From there, walk or take a short taxi ride to Police Bazaar to browse the lively central streets and get your bearings. It’s busy, so keep an eye on belongings and leave room for an unhurried wander.
Stay in the area for dinner at City Hut Family Dhaba, a convenient first-night choice for Indian and local dishes. Budget roughly ₹300–600 per person, and expect a short wait at peak dinner time. After the early start and road journey, keep the evening simple and save the longer sightseeing drives for tomorrow.
Start at Don Bosco Museum in Mawlai; give yourself about two hours for its well-curated displays on the cultures and history of Northeast India. It’s a short taxi ride from central Shillong, but allow 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. Opening days and hours can vary, so check before setting out; if it’s closed on your day, keep the visit in the same order and confirm a suitable opening time with your hotel. Admission is usually a few hundred rupees, with separate charges possible for the rooftop viewing area.
Take a taxi to the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Laitumkhrah (around 20–30 minutes from Mawlai), and allow about 45 minutes to look around. Dress respectfully and check whether a service is in progress before entering. Then stay in Laitumkhrah for coffee and a relaxed café lunch; Café Shillong is a popular option, and nearby cafés make it easy to linger. Budget roughly ₹250–500 per person for coffee and a light meal.
Head to Lady Hydari Park near the Civil Hospital area for a gentle one-hour stroll through its gardens; it’s best enjoyed in daylight, and you can check the gate for current entry fees and closing time. Finish at Shillong Golf Course in Golf Links, about 15–20 minutes away by taxi. Walk the scenic grounds for around an hour, keeping to public paths and following any local access guidance. A cab between stops is the simplest option; ask your driver to wait or arrange pickups in advance, especially toward evening.
Leave Shillong around 7:30–8 a.m. by pre-booked taxi; the day’s loop to Sohra (Cherrapunji) and back takes roughly 7–9 hours, depending on traffic and stops. Start at Elephant Falls in Upper Shillong, where paths and steps lead down past all three cascades. Allow about an hour, wear shoes with a good grip, and expect a small entry fee—typically around ₹30–50, with possible extra charges for parking or cameras. Then continue south on the Shillong–Sohra road to Mawkdok Dympep Valley View Point for a 30-minute photo stop; the viewpoints are roadside, but take care near the edges and watch for passing traffic.
Continue to Nohkalikai Falls, near Sohra, and allow about an hour for the viewpoints and walk from the parking area. The falls are most impressive when there has been recent rain, though mist can obscure the view; carry a light rain layer. Next, head to Mawsmai Cave in Mawsmai village. The main visitor route is short but narrow and uneven, so allow 45–60 minutes and expect a modest entry fee, often around ₹30–50. It can be slippery, and visitors who are uncomfortable in tight spaces may prefer to wait outside.
Have a late vegetarian lunch at Orange Roots in Laitkynsew (budget roughly ₹250–500 per person). It is a worthwhile stop, but it sits beyond the usual Sohra sightseeing loop, so confirm the extra driving time with your driver before setting off; if you’re running late, keep the meal simple and start back to Shillong before dusk. Agree the full-day taxi fare in advance—often around ₹3,500–5,500, depending on the vehicle and route—and carry some cash for entry fees and roadside stops.
Sightseeing, in order: Elephant Falls → Mawkdok Dympep Valley View Point → Nohkalikai Falls → Mawsmai Cave → Orange Roots
Set off from Shillong around 6–7 a.m. in a pre-booked car with a driver who knows the route. Allow 7–9 hours to Kohora, including traffic and a proper meal stop; keep water and snacks handy, as services become less frequent on some stretches. The first planned pause is Umiam Lake—take about 30 minutes to stretch and enjoy the broad water view before continuing toward Guwahati.
If timing and traffic cooperate, pause for around 20 minutes at a Brahmaputra River viewpoint on the Guwahati bypass; treat this as optional rather than letting it delay your arrival. Continue to Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park in Durgapur, near Kohora. If you arrive before its closing time, spend about 1½ hours among the orchid displays and cultural exhibits; hours can vary, so check ahead. If the drive runs late, skip the park and head straight to your accommodation to rest.
For dinner, choose a local Assamese restaurant around Kohora market and ask what’s fresh; a simple regional meal is typically about ₹250–500 per person. If you’re arriving after dark, check with your lodge before setting out, since nearby options may close early and the area is quiet compared with a city centre.
Book an early drive in Kaziranga National Park, choosing the Central (Kohora) range for a convenient start from the village. Confirm the pickup, reporting point and current entry rules with your lodge or an authorised operator the evening before; safari timings and availability depend on seasonal conditions. Allow about 2½–3 hours door to door, and bring photo ID, water and sun protection. October access can depend on park conditions, so have your lodge confirm that the range is operating.
After the safari, spend around 45 minutes browsing Kohora market for Assam tea, local snacks and small souvenirs. It’s an easy stop in the village; carry some cash, as smaller shops may not take cards. Take a relaxed break back at your lodge before heading out again.
Take a car or auto-rickshaw to Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park in Durgapur; check the day’s opening hours locally before setting off, as schedules can vary. Give yourself about two hours for the orchid collections and cultural exhibits, with time to stroll the grounds.
Return to Kohora for an Assamese meal at a local restaurant—ask what’s fresh and try an Assamese thali or fish curry. Budget roughly ₹300–600 per person, and check dinner service times with the restaurant or your lodge. After a full day outdoors, keep the evening unhurried and arrange any transport back to your accommodation in advance.
Leave Kohora around 7 a.m. in your pre-booked car; the drive to Guwahati usually takes 5–6 hours before sightseeing stops, and traffic can add time. Check road conditions with your driver before setting out, and plan a brief restroom stop along the way. If you’re making good progress, pause at Agnigarh Hill in Tezpur for a short walk and broad views of the Brahmaputra—allow about an hour, including the uphill paths.
Have lunch in Tezpur at a local Assamese restaurant around Court Chariali; ask your driver for a reliable thali spot, and budget roughly ₹250–500 per person for about an hour. Then continue to Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Panjabari, Guwahati. Set aside 1.5–2 hours for the cultural displays and traditional architecture, but check its current opening hours before you leave: the Tezpur stop makes the afternoon timing somewhat dependent on traffic.
Finish with a relaxed coffee at a café in Panjabari—allow about 45 minutes and budget ₹200–450 per person—then check in nearby or continue to your accommodation. Keep the Kalakshetra visit flexible: if the road or lunch stop runs late, confirm the venue is still admitting visitors before heading over.
Start early for Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill; getting there before the main rush gives you the best chance of keeping the visit to around 2–3 hours. A taxi from central Guwahati takes roughly 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic. Entry to the temple is generally free, though special darshan options cost extra and queues can be long. Wear shoes that are easy to remove, dress modestly, and check current timings and entry arrangements with your hotel before setting out.
Head to the Umananda ferry ghat for the boat ride to Peacock Island and Umananda Temple. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the crossing and visit; ferry services and fares can change, so confirm the last return boat locally and carry some cash. From the ghat, take a taxi or auto-rickshaw to Fancy Bazaar for about an hour of browsing—its busy lanes are good for textiles, snacks and last-minute souvenirs, but leave time for traffic getting in and out.
Have an early Assamese meal at Paradise Restaurant in Uzan Bazaar; budget about ₹400–800 per person and allow 1–1.5 hours. Then take a pre-booked taxi to Guwahati Airport. Allow around 45–75 minutes for the drive from this part of town, plus the airline’s recommended check-in buffer; for a same-day return, this itinerary is best suited to an evening flight, and earlier flights may require dropping some visits.
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