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Voykit pocket guide · India
Cherrapunji
Sohra
Give Cherrapunji 2 nights: one full day for Nohkalikai and Mawsmai, one for the Nongriat root-bridge trek. Skip it in Dec–Feb if you want waterfalls.
Cherrapunji, called Sohra by locals, is a plateau town in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills about 600 m above the valleys below. It is a scatter of villages, not one compact town: Upper Sohra holds the market and transport hub, Lower Sohra sits about 4 km south. Two nights covers the main falls, one cave and the Nongriat trek; add a night if you want the caves and swimming holes at an unhurried pace. Costs are low, roads are slow, and the weather decides what you actually see.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- Sohra
- Best months
- Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr (waterfalls still running, roads passable); Jun–Sep for maximum falls but heavy rain
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb if waterfalls matter (many run dry); Jun–Jul for anyone who dislikes constant rain
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,500 excl. bed · High ₹4,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112 · Tourist helpline (24 h) 1363
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Khasi tea-stall meal (rice with a side) | ₹80–150 |
| Restaurant main dish | ₹150–350 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₹20–40 |
| Local taxi, short hop | ₹200–500 |
| Shared Sumo seat, Shillong–Cherrapunji | ₹150–200 (check) |
| Guesthouse double room | ₹1,200–3,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SHL · Shillong (Umroi)
- Nearest airport, limited flights; most travellers fly into Guwahati (GAU) and drive.
- GAU · Guwahati, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi
- Main gateway; about 4–5 h by road to Cherrapunji via Shillong (check).
Typical fares
- Shared Sumo, Shillong → Cherrapunji
- about ₹150 per seat, about 2 h (check)
- Shared car, Shillong → Cherrapunji
- about ₹200 per seat (check)
- Local taxi, half day of sights
- about ₹1,500 per car (check)
Get around
There is no city bus network. Local taxis and shared Sumos run from Sohra Market and from Saitsohpen; agree the fare and the waiting time before you set off, since sights sit at the plateau edge, too far to walk. A taxi for a half or full day of sightseeing is the practical choice for two or more people. Roads are narrow and slow; allow more time than the distance suggests.
See and do
Known for
- Nohkalikai Falls
- Seven Sister (Nohsngithiang) Falls
- Mawsmai Cave
- Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat
- One of the wettest places on Earth
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mawlynnong | Taxi or shared Sumo via Pynursla, about 1.5–2 h | 2–2.5 h |
| Shillong | Shared Sumo or taxi from Sohra Market, about 2 h | About 2 h |
| Nongriat Double Decker root bridge | Taxi to Tyrna, then the staircase trek, about 2 h each way | 5–6 h round trip |
| Wahrew Bridge | Taxi down the mountain toward the Bangladesh border | Half day |
Sleep
- Upper Sohra (Khliehshnong, around Sohra Market)
- Main commercial centre, Sumo stand and taxis; best if you have no car.
- Lower Sohra (Saitsohpen, Lad Thanad)
- Smaller hub about 4 km south; closer to some falls and caves.Smaller hub about 2.5 mi south; closer to some falls and caves.
- Mawsmai village
- Guesthouses and a few restaurants within walking distance of Mawsmai Cave and the Seven Sisters viewpoint.
- Laitkynsew and Nongriat
- Remote stays near the root bridges; basic, quiet, book ahead by phone.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Khubleikhoo-blay |
| How much is it? | Katto ka dor?kat-to ka dore |
| Where is the market? | Hangno ka ïew?hang-no ka yew |
| Please help me | Sngewbha ïarap ia ngasngew-bha ee-rap ya nga |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon landslides and washed-out roads can close the Shillong road and the Nongriat steps: check locally before setting out.
- The Nongriat trek is roughly 2 h down and 2 h back up a long staircase; the return is the hard part. Start early and carry water.
- Many guesthouses have no reception desk — confirm your arrival by phone in advance.
- Some waterfalls are dry from about December to February; do not plan a falls trip on winter photos.
- Cash is king outside the bigger resorts; carry small rupee notes.
Cherrapunji is a small, low-crime hill town and safe for tourists. The real risks are the weather and the terrain: slick steps, landslides, leeches in the wet season and unlit roads after dark. Do not trek alone in heavy rain.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cherrapunji yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Nohkalikai Falls
- Seven Sister (Nohsngithiang) Falls
- Mawsmai Cave
- Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat
- One of the wettest places on Earth
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Meghalaya Tourism: www.meghalayatourism.in/
- Wikivoyage: Cherrapunji, revision 5118515 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5118515
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
CherrapunjiSohra
Leit sha kane ka jaka, sngewbha
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Cherrapunji or Shillong; the nearest are in Guwahati (consulates) and New Delhi (embassies). Check your own country's list.
Khasi and English are both widely spoken in Sohra; English will get you through most of the day.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cherrapunji). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.