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Cherrapunji, the Khasi Hills town that once held the world rainfall record, packs its sights into waterfalls, limestone caves, and the living root bridges of the villages below the plateau. Most attractions sit within 15 km of Sohra town and cost between nothing and a few hundred rupees. Here are the best things to do, with entry fees and hours, as one part of our full Cherrapunji travel guide.
Things to Do in Cherrapunji: Waterfalls and Viewpoints
Nohkalikai Falls
At 340 metres (1,115 ft), Nohkalikai is the tallest plunge waterfall in India, dropping off a limestone cliff into a blue-green pool. The main viewpoint is about 7 km from Sohra town, open daily 08:00 to 17:00, and costs 20 rupees for Indians and 200 rupees for foreigners, plus a small parking charge. Go in the morning, since mist rolls in by midday; the falls run strongest from July to October, as the Cherrapunji weather by month guide details.
Seven Sisters Falls (Nohsngithiang Falls)
Seven parallel streams fall 315 metres over a cliff face visible from the Eco Park viewpoint on the Mawsmai road, about 10 km from town. There is no entry fee to see them from the roadside, and they only flow as seven distinct falls during the monsoon and early post-monsoon. In the dry winter months the streams shrink to a trickle, so time a visit for August to November. The best time to visit Cherrapunji guide covers the seasonal timing in detail.
Dainthlen Falls
This free, open-all-day waterfall sits about 8 km from Sohra and is named for the giant serpent of Khasi folklore whose legend is carved into the rocks at the base. The water drops in a wide curtain over a natural rock amphitheatre, and the pool at the bottom is a popular picnic stop in the dry season. Park on the roadside and walk down a short, steep path.
Things to Do in Cherrapunji: Caves and Trekking
Mawsmai Cave
Mawsmai is the most accessible of Meghalaya’s thousands of limestone caves, a 150-metre lit path through stalactite and stalagmite chambers about 6 km from Sohra. It opens daily 09:00 to 17:30 and costs around 20 to 30 rupees for adults and 500 rupees for foreigners, with extra charges for cameras. The ceiling is low in places and the floor is slick, so wear grippy shoes and expect to duck. Combine it with Seven Sisters Falls, which is 5 km further up the same road.
Double Decker Living Root Bridge, Nongriat
The double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat is a two-tier structure grown from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees over generations, reached by a demanding 3,500-step descent from the village of Tyrna, 12 km from Sohra. The trek is free and open all day, but budget five to six hours for the return climb. Do it only in the dry season from October to May, when the stone steps are not slick. For more on the trailheads and villages, see the Cherrapunji neighborhoods guide.
Garden of Caves (Laitmawsiang)
The Garden of Caves at Laitmawsiang strings together a series of short caves, pools, and waterfalls along a marked 1 km loop, roughly 10 km from Sohra. It opens daily 08:30 to 18:00 and costs 100 rupees for adults and 50 rupees for children, with separate parking and camera fees. It is a gentler alternative to Mawsmai for families and anyone who wants caves without the squeezing.
Things to Do in Cherrapunji: Villages and Rivers
Mawlynnong Village
Mawlynnong, about 78 km from Sohra near the Bangladesh border, is marketed as the cleanest village in Asia, with swept bamboo lanes, flower beds, and waste bins at every turn. Entry is free, and the main draws are the single living root bridge on the village edge and the bamboo sky-walk viewpoint over the Bangladesh plains. It pairs naturally with Dawki on the same day trip, and is easiest to reach with a hired taxi from your where to stay in Cherrapunji base; our Cherrapunji travel tips guide has the transport costs.
Dawki and the Umngot River
The Umngot River at Dawki, 40 km from Sohra, is so clear that the wooden boats look like they are floating on air over the riverbed. Boat rides cost about 500 to 600 rupees per boat and run throughout the day, with the clearest water in the dry winter months. The bridge here marks the India-Bangladesh trade crossing, and there are small riverside stalls for tea and snacks. Combine it with Mawlynnong in a single full-day loop, and check the Cherrapunji festivals guide if you want to line the trip up with a festival.
Thangkharang Eco Park
Thangkharang Eco Park, 12 km from Sohra, is a viewpoint garden overlooking the Kynrem Falls and the Bangladesh border plains. It opens 08:00 to 17:00 and costs 20 rupees for Indians and 500 rupees for foreigners. The falls viewpoint inside the park is the easiest way to see Kynrem, one of the highest waterfalls in the region, without a trek. Go on a clear morning for the best view across the plains.
