Top 12 Must See Tourist Attractions of Meghalaya

Meghalaya, The abode of clouds is one of the seven sister states of India and also the wettest region on Earth. The state is 70% forested and notable for biodiversity of animals, Garo, Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills,waterfalls, Caves and one of the popular tourist locations in north east of India.

Meghalaya state is also known for many adventure tourism such as trekking,mountaineering,hiking,rock climbing and caving. The state offers water sports facilities as well in Umiam Lake along with several trekking routes to jungle with an opportunity to encounter rare wild animals and birds of Meghalaya.

Living Root Bridges

Living root Bridges of Meghalaya are mostly occur in the West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. These root bridges are an important tourist draw, found in the village of Nongriat and near the tourist village of Mawlynnong.

Mawlynnong Village

Mawlynnong village of Meghalaya state is the cleanest village in Asia, Located in the East Khasi Hills district. The village is known for its cleanliness and natural attraction, Discover India travel magazine declared the village as cleanest place in India.

Dawki Town

Dawki town is located at the border of India and Bangladesh in West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. The Dawki Tamabil suspension bridge and clean water of Umngot river is a must visit place in Meghalaya for nature lovers and travelers.

Umiam Lake

Umiam Lake is created by a dam on Umiam river, located 15 km of Shillong in the hills. The lake is a major tourist attraction of Meghalaya and popular destination for water sports such as kayaking, boating and adventure activities.

Sacred Groves

Meghalaya is known for its sacred groves, a small portion of the forest area which have been preserved by the local communities. These forest are protected due to religious and cultural beliefs and home to rare plants inclduing large variety of orchids, insect eating pitcher plant Nepenthes khasiana.

Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Nohkalikai Falls is the highest waterfall in Meghalaya and tallest plunge waterfall in India with height 1115 feet (340 metres), located near Cherrapunji. Nohkalikai Falls and Nohsngithiang Falls are the major tourist attractions of Meghalaya.

The most popular and some of the spectacular waterfalls found in Meghalaya are Langshiang Falls,Sweet Falls,Elephant Falls, Shadthum Falls and Bishop Falls.

Nongkhnum Island

Nongkhnum Island is the second largest river island in India and biggest river island in Meghalaya, formed by the Kynshi River. The Island is known for its pristine beauty, deep gorg,Shadthum waterfall and a very beautiful lake.

Laitlum Grand Canyon

Laitlum Grand Canyon of Meghalaya is a very beautiful place and indeed a paradise unexplored. The Canyon is the most amazing and breathtakingly picturesque tourist destinations near Shillong, a must must visit place in Meghalaya.

Krem Liat Prah Cave

State of Meghalaya is known to have estimated 500 natural limestone and sandstone caves, few of the caves are longest and deepest in the world. Most famous Meghalaya Caves are Mawsmai caves near Cherrapunji,Siju Cave,Krem Liat Prah and Synrang Pamiang.

Synrang Pamiang is the deepest cave and Krem Liat Prah is the longest cave in Meghalaya, These caves are home to some of the India’s rarest bat species, which attract tourists and cave explorer from India and abroad

Mawsynram and Cherrapunji

Mawsynram and Cherrapunji village in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya are the two wettest place on Earth. Mawsynram is currently credited as being the wettest place on Earth, located 16 km west of Cherrapunji but still holds the record of most rainfall in a year.

Garo Khasi and Jaintia Hills

The Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya are inhabited mainly by tribal dwellers and part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion. The mountainous region are known for its abundance of wildlife, great Balpakram valley, Tura range and highest Nokrek Peak of the Garo Hills.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Meghalaya has 2 National Parks and 3 Wildlife Sanctuaries, These wild parks offers richest botanical habitats in India and home to many important mammal species including Asian elephants,rare Stump-tailed macaque,Pig-tailed macaque, weasels,civets,red pandas,Radiated ratsnake and hoolock gibbon.

Nokrek National Park and Balphakram National Park offers hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya and home to eight species of wild cats, seven species of primates,wild water buffalo and red panda.