The weather in Meghalaya
People love to visit Meghalaya because it has beautiful mountain ranges, sunshine, heavy rain, high plateaus, rivers, grasslands, and stunning waterfalls. But do you know when Meghalaya is at its most beautiful? Before you can know that, you need to know about the weather there.
Most of the time, Meghalaya has a calm atmosphere. Shillong is in the Khasi Hills. In August, the average temperature is in the low 70s F (about 21–23 °C). In January, it drops to the upper 40s F (about 8–10 °C).
In Meghalaya, Chaprapunji is one of the driest places in the world. It normally rains about 450 inches (11,430 mm) a year during the storm season, which lasts from May to September. Shillong, which is only about 50 miles (80 km) from Cherrapunji, gets about 90 inches (2,290 mm) of rain a year. The environment is usually dry from December to February, when it’s cold outside.
The weather in Meghalaya changes depending on how high you are. In the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the scenery is interestingly lovely and encouraging. It’s not too hot or too cold in the summer or winter. However, over the fields of the Garo Hills, it’s warm and muggy all year round.
The name of the state comes from the fact that the sky over Meghalaya is often cloudy. The average amount of rain that falls each year is about 1,150 cm.
Months:
Specifics about Meghalaya’s temperatures
| Months | Max. (°C) | Min. (°C) | Avg. (°C) | Max. (°F) | Min. (°F) | Avg. (°F) |
| JANUARY | 15.9 | 4.9 | 10.4 | 60.6 | 40.8 | 50.7 |
| FEBRUARY | 17.4 | 7.3 | 12.3 | 63.3 | 45.1 | 54.1 |
| MARCH | 21.6 | 11.2 | 16.4 | 70.9 | 52.2 | 61.5 |
| APRIL | 23.5 | 14.4 | 18.9 | 74.3 | 57.9 | 66.0 |
| MAY | 23.4 | 15.9 | 19.6 | 74.1 | 60.6 | 67.3 |
| JUNE | 23.7 | 17.9 | 20.8 | 74.7 | 64.2 | 69.4 |
| JULY | 23.9 | 18.5 | 21.2 | 75.0 | 65.3 | 70.2 |
| AUGUST | 24.1 | 18.2 | 21.1 | 75.4 | 64.8 | 70.0 |
| SEPTEMBER | 23.7 | 17.3 | 20.5 | 74.7 | 63.1 | 68.9 |
| OCTOBER | 22.2 | 14.1 | 18.1 | 72.0 | 57.4 | 64.6 |
| NOVEMBER | 19.5 | 9.3 | 14.4 | 67.1 | 48.7 | 57.9 |
| DECEMBER | 16.9 | 5.9 | 11.4 | 62.4 | 42.6 | 52.5 |
When is the best time to visit Meghalaya?
Every step you take in Meghalaya is like being hypnotized by the wonderful world of nature. The natural beauty is spread out between the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills. Such beautiful drawings of nature are rarely seen in such a small area.
When you get here, it looks like God decided to paint a big picture with clouds, springs, rivers, hills, forests, caves, and tree roots. Thank you for building this wonderful bridge. What is missing from this picture?
The best time to visit Meghalaya is from October to March. The weather is also nice for guests at this time. You can visit Meghalaya at any time of the year, but October through March is the best time.
Summer (April to June)
The weather is mild enough that you can do what you want to do by going outside and exploring the area. Because of this, the best time to visit Meghalaya is in late spring. Since the area is windy, the clouds are always cloudy and shaded throughout the day. This makes it a great time to do some adventure activities and the best time to visit Meghalaya. Since it can get a little wet in the evenings, you could stay inside and relax during that time.
Season of the Monsoons (July to September)
Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram, two cities in Meghalaya, are known for having some of the wettest weather in the world. This means that storms are the best time to wait on the slopes with your family while sipping a hot drink nearby.
For this time of year, it’s not a good idea to go out and look into the area. No matter what, the area makes up for it with foggy mornings, dewy, lush glades, and waterfalls that keep falling in a tough spot.
Fall (October to November)
Because it rains all the time, Meghalaya is cold, wet, and sticky in the fall. There are cherry blossom trees all over the wet state right now. The weather starts to get colder, and the winter season is almost as close as you can get.
Winter (December to February)
The weather in Meghalaya in the winter is very cold. The temperature drops even more as the days go by. In any case, the days are very warm because of the sun, and there are virus winds in the evenings.
There isn’t as much cold weather in December than there is in January and February. No matter what, the weather stays clear.
Meghalaya’s own festival
People think that dance and singing come from the state of Meghalaya. People in Meghalaya enjoy their holidays all year long because they are linked to different types of dance. Each tribe has its own set of festivals that people take part in to get into the holiday mood and break up their everyday lives.
In fact, the native festivals of this beautiful state show how different their heritage is during the harvest and planting seasons. Most of the holidays in Meghalaya are related to farming, which is a big job for the people who live there.
Festival of Shad Suk Mynsiem
The Shad Suk Mynsiem is the Khasi Clans of Meghalaya’s most important holiday. Also, the Jaintia and Garo Clans of Meghalaya honored it. Every year in April, this gathering is praised.
This event of moves is one of a kind and is also known as “Move of bright hearts.” It’s a three-day party that’s commonly known as the “Shad Phur.” This celebration is mostly praised in the Khasi Hills and was planned close to Shilong.
Festival of Nongkrem
For the Khasis, the Nongkrem Festival is the most important holiday. It is held every year in Smit, which is 15 km from Shillong. It is an important place for the Hima Khyriem (Chief of Khyriem) to live.
The Syiem, who is the leader of the Khasi state, and the ka Syiem Sad, who is the head priestess and is loved for being in charge of all the events and people, carry out the traditions. It is known for having a good collection, living in peace, and doing well.
People come from all over the country and the world to see the event, which includes young women performing the Shad Kynthei and men performing the Shad Mystieh around them as a sign of male power and control over the women.
Festival of Behdeinkhlam
The Jaintia Clan praises the four-day Behdeinkhlam event. The Bhdeinkhlam means “Pursuing away the Plague” and is used to stay away from bad things.
It is praised when people of the Niamtre religion get together to ask God for lots of food during planting season.
This is always praised in July. As part of this holiday, people do penance and follow other traditions. The guys of the Janitia group get together and play the Datlawakor, which is like soccer but with a wooden ball. It is understood that the winners of the match will have great creations that year.
Shad Sukra
Jain people always praise Shad Sukra in April or May. An event held before growing season. The Jaintia ranchers wait for this party to end before they can plant their seeds.
The drums and flute are played during ceremonies and dances to ask God for a good growing season. People dress up in their best, as they always do, and are heavily decorated with gold decorations.
This wide range of cultures can be seen in Jowai Town, West Jaintia Hills. The town is 64 km away from Shillong, which is the main city.
Festival of Wangala
The people of Garo celebrate the Wangala Festival, which marks the end of the farming year. It’s a celebration of praise for Misi-A-Gilpa-Saljong-Galapa, the god of fruitfulness.
Right now, this event is commonly known as the Hundred Drums Festival. During this party, a strange creature called Nagara is beaten for making people move smoothly.
Men usually wear dhotis, half-coats, and turbans with feathers. Women wear beautiful silk dresses, sweaters, and a headwrap with quills.
NH7 Weekender by Bacardi
The state of Meghalaya is incomplete without its music scene. It makes sense that Shillong, India’s main city, is called the Rock main of the World. Everyone, young and old, likes music because of the great atmosphere and easygoing attitude of everyday life.
An enormous number of music fans in the state look forward to the Bacardi NH7 Weekender every year. The party is definitely a happy one, thanks to the beautiful scenery and incredibly friendly people in the area.
When food and drinks are sold, the lively part of the party slows down and showcases the best local cooking. It is a place that music lovers from all over the country and the world have to go.
Festival of Strawberry
Meghalaya has been holding the Strawberry Festival every year to support farmers and food makers who use organic products. The state’s climate is perfect for growing the highly-valued organic product.
On Valentine’s Day in February, lots of people go to Umsning and Sohliya town in the Ri-Bhoi area to enjoy delicious strawberries.
There will be a party for families, friends, and neighbors to enjoy, but the main goal is to help the local farmers grow and support their economy.
Average Number of Tourists in Meghalaya
Even though there are some problems, Meghalaya has been able to bring in a huge number of tourists. According to the state’s tourism office, the number of tourists increased to 100,297 in 2017.
Sikkim, a mountainous area in India that got 14.25 lakh tourists last year, is also getting a lot of attention from the government.
The Meghalaya Tourism Department says that 99,856 domestic tourists visited the state last year, while 12,051 tourists from other countries fell in love with it.
In 2016, 830887 travelers from Meghalaya were tourists, and 8476 tourists from outside the state were tourists. A total of 839363 tourists visited the state that year.
In 2000, a total of 172,568 tourists visited the state. The state has come a long way since then and is now a major tourist destination in the region.
Even though the number of tourists coming to the state has grown quickly, as you can see from the fact that there are no longer any strikes or bandhs, tourists who visit the state complain about a lot of problems.
The places we looked into to visit in Meghalaya
It is in Meghalaya that you can find most of the tropical woods. In these woods, you can see birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles. When it comes to tourism, Meghalaya Tourist Place is very important. At the Meghalaya vacation spot, there are lots of people from all over the world.
Khasi Hills
The tourist spots in Meghalaya are called Khasi Hills after the Khasi people who live there. People know the Khasi Hills as a part of the Patkai Hills chain. They are in the Garo-Khasi Range.
Which are a group of hills in the northeastern part of India that separate it from Myanmar. This site is also home to “Nongkhum Island,” which is Asia’s second-largest river island.
Mawsynram
One of the most beautiful places to visit in the world is Mawsynram. This spot is like heaven for people who love rain and nature. The cities of Masinram and Cherrapunji are close to each other.
The name Maasinram comes from the Khasi word “Mav,” which means “stone.” Like Sivalingam, this town is about the same size, and people come here to collect stalagmites.
Cherrapunji
A lot of people visit Meghalaya to see Dawki Lake. Indian and Bangladeshi deal a lot with each other around Dawki Lake. A boat ride through this is very popular with tourists, and it makes them want to see more of the area.
In Meghalaya, Dawki is a place that you should visit because of the cold water in the river and the lovely suspended bridge that crossed it.
Shillong
Some places to visit in Meghalaya are in Shillong, which is the capital of the state of Meghalaya. This is the country’s first hill station that can be reached from all four sides. Shillong is named after U-Shyllong, a powerful god.
The height above sea level is about 1,491 meters, and the trip from Guwahati to Shillong takes about 100 kilometers.
Badalo’s home is also known as Shillong Hill Station. It is also called the “Scotland of the East” because of its beautiful hills.
City of Tura
Tura is a big city in Meghalaya that is in the West Garo Hills, which are great for walking. Nokrek National Park is the main thing that draws tourists to Tura. Only 12 km separate the park from the city of Tura. This is where tourists who are in Meghalaya go.
A Baghmara
Baghmara tourism is one of the best places to visit in Meghalaya. It has a lot of plants and animals, as well as lakes, rivers, hills, and other natural landmarks.
About 4 kilometers separate Baghmara from the city of Meghalaya. You can see the Baghmara Reserve Forest here. The places where langurs, elephants, and birds live.
City of Jowai
Jawanti Hills in Meghalaya are home to tourist spots. Jawai is popular with tourists because it has a beautiful setting and views.
This area, called Jawai, is a seamless blend of many different cultures and traditions that show how the people there live. Thadlasken Lake and Lalong Park are well-known tourist spots.
Dear Cherrapunji
A lot of people visit Meghalaya to see Dawki Lake. Indian and Bangladeshi deal a lot with each other around Dawki Lake. A boat ride through this is very popular with tourists, and it makes them want to see more of the area.
In Meghalaya, Dawki is a place that you should visit because of the cold water in the river and the lovely suspended bridge that crossed it.
The Cherrapunji Nohkalikai Waterfalls
The Nohkalikai Falls is thought to be the fourth largest waterfall in the world and is one of the things to see in Meghalaya. It takes about 335 meters to get to the top of the Nohkalikai Falls. A lot of people come from all over the world to enjoy this waterfall.
Umiam Lake
It was built by people to make Umiam Lake in Shillong. This lake is 15 km north of Shillong, which is the capital of Meghalaya, an eastern Indian state.
For people who love the beauty of environment, this lake is like paradise. The lake is also a favorite place for people in the area to have picnics.
The Jaintia Hills
The Jaintia Hills are a popular tourist spot in Meghalaya. They are made up of beautiful hills and were once part of the Jaintia Empire. There is a lot of natural plant and mineral wealth in these tourist spots.
This Meghalayan hill is an important part of many Patkai hills. This mountain range runs along the border between India and Myanmar. The Cough and Garo hills are bigger, though, than the Jaintia Hills.
Falls of Nohsngithiang
About 4 kilometers away from Cherrapunji is Nohsingithiang Falls, which is on the list of vacation spots in Meghalaya. One of the main places people come to visit in Cherrapunji is this waterfall.
The height of this waterfall is about 1033 feet, making it one of the tallest in India. The Nohsingithiang Falls are in Meghalaya’s Mavsmai village.
Unknown Meghalayan Places to Visit
If you want to find the best places to visit in Meghalaya that are worth your time and money, you should start planning and getting ready for your trip a long time ago. Plan to see even the less-known parts of Meghalaya.
The Lady Hydari Park
There are many places to visit in Meghalaya, but the Lady Hydari Park is one of the most popular. The park is named after “Lady Hydari,” the first lady of the county.
A beautiful little zoo is another name for this big park. At Lady Hydari Park, you can see 73 types of birds and more than 100 types of snakes.
The Mawsmai Cave in Meghalaya
Some beautiful and strange caves can be found in Meghalaya’s tourist spots. One of the most well-known places is Mawsmai Cave. Mawsmai cave is about 6 km from the middle of Cherrapunji.
This cave looks like a maze because of all the stones and bright lights inside. The Mawsmai cave is 150 kilometers long.
The Kyllang Rock
Kailang Rock is a popular tourist spot in Meghalaya. It is about 78 kilometers from Shillong, which is the state capital.
A huge dome-shaped rock called Kailang Rock is found in the West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. It is made of red granite. This rock is 5400 feet above sea level and 1000 feet wide.
The best-kept village in Asia is Mawlynnong
Mawlynnong town is still the main place for tourists to visit in Meghalaya. The town of Mawlynnong in the state of Meghalaya is also known as “Gods on Garden.” This village was named the best in Asia in 2003. A study done in 2014 said that there were about 95 homes in this village.
It has been seen that 100% of people who depend on farming can read and write. The main crop grown here was betel nut. It is also known as the Cleanest Village in India. Mawlinnang village is in Shillong.
William Napier
It was named for Captain Williamson A. Sangma, who was the first Chief Minister of the state of Meghalaya. The center of the historic Williamnagar East Garo Hills district sits there. In 1837, Grass was the last thing that stopped the British from taking over the Garo Hills.
The State Museum of Meghalaya
The Meghalaya State Museum is a popular place for people to visit. With a collection of artifacts and old tribal texts that are saved and kept. The Meghalaya State Government takes care of this lovely museum in Lychumier, which is part of the State Central Library building.
Foods and drinks that you have to try in Meghalaya
The people of Meghalaya have their own unique tastes. Also, their food is different. One thing they all have in common is that they like meat-based meals the most.
Pig
Cow
Chicken
A lot of fish are used here
People in this group also use seasonal green veggies, green bamboo, and herbs from the area. Aside from that, rice is more important to the people here than bread. This piece will tell you about 10 of Meghalaya’s most famous dishes.
Minimal Songa
The Garo people are very proud of this dish. Green bamboo and rice are used to make it. It’s also made in a very special way. This makes rice by putting it inside green bamboo. Which is served with sauce that is hot.
To Drink Kyat
This drink is for a party. It is cooked with rice. Which also has some taste in it. People call it “Beer of Meghalaya.”
Tungrymbai
There are no meats in this dish. Which is made from soybeans. It is what the Khasi people usually eat. Which can be found all over the Khasi Hills.
Khanga
One more thing: this dish is not veggie. That is made from chicken parts. It also has a great taste. It’s served with plain rice here. This dish is made by people from the Garo tribe.
Nakham Bitchi
This fish soup is dry. That people here serve before they eat. Dried fish is used to make it. Incense or fire is used to dry the fish.
After that, the fish is cooked in water, and other things are added to make soup. People in this place really like this dish.
This food tastes great. This is an example of an elevated food. This recipe is made with thick gravy made from beef or pork. The soup is made with black pepper, green chilies, onions, garlic, ginger, and garlic.
This food tastes just like Delhi’s chicken pepper. It also has the best taste. Khasi is a very important dish in the area.
Doh Khlieh
This food, Doh Khalih, tastes great and is good for you. It’s like a salad with nice smells. Fine cuts of pig, cow, chicken, and fish meat are cooked with green peppers and onions.
Some people also use veggies that are in season, like cabbage, carrots, bamboo copal, and so on. People here love to eat this food with roti and rice. One of the most important foods for the Khasi people is this dish.
Jadoh Thali
The Khasi people in Meghalaya really like the dish jadoh. North India is also known for this dish, mostly for its color and taste. Jadoh is a dish that used to be made with meat and rice. Whose colors are red and yellow? Most of it is made from pig and cow mitt.
Some people make it with fish and chicken too. To make it, a mix of things like onion, ginger, turmeric, green chili, and more is made. That is cooked with rice and meat. Some people do it with pig’s blood too. They believe that cooking in pig blood makes the food brave.
Plans for what to do in Meghalaya
You should definitely go to Meghalaya; one of the best things to do there is to go on tours. It is wet there are many streams, sources of water, and waterfalls in the area.
The most popular ways to work out in Meghalaya are to travel and be outside. When you’re done with your trip, there’s no better feeling than being completely satisfied with your journey. Okay. Now let’s look at the most fun things to do in Meghalaya…
Hike to the Living Root Bridges with Two Decks
One of the most beautiful and mysterious things about Meghalaya is the living root bridges. This amazing two-layer root connect, which is sometimes called the “living root connect,” is in Meghalaya. The trip there will blow your mind. One of the many things to do in Meghalaya is to travel.
At Meghalaya’s Umiam Lake, you can enjoy water sports
This huge, wide lake covers an area of 10 square kilometers. The lake is also widely called Barapani in the area because of how big it is. This is a good place to be if you like adventure sports, especially water adventure sports.
In Meghalaya, you can camp near Umiam Lake
Outdoors at the Island in Umiam Lake will give you a great high. It’s popular for adventure sports and as a vacation spot. There are a lot of dangerous games to play, like joomering, diving, rock climbing, zip-lining, and many more. The lake is full of beautiful, tall, and impressive trees that make it look lush and green.
Check out Meghalaya’s Mawsmai Cave
In Meghalaya, these amazing buckles make for an exciting time. The tunnels are very dark, very deep, and very thin.
It’s really hard to get through the tunnels because there is only one way in and out and the scenery is really bad.
Although tourists often find this exciting experience a little scary, they still do it because of the high rush that comes with it.
Visit the Siju Cave in Meghalaya
In the state of Meghalaya, these very old lime arrangements are one of the most beautiful natural sights. These are also known as “bat caverns” because they are full of flying bats. Travelers and earthmovers find that these beautiful caves are unlike any others they’ve seen.
Tips on What Not to Do in Meghalaya
Women who are interested in exploring shouldn’t go out alone at night, but if they do, they might want to bring a friend with them.
Don’t throw trash out the window of your car or on the roads. It makes a bad impression on people in the area and on other travelers.
If you are going to Meghalaya in the summer, don’t forget to bring sunscreen, an umbrella, sunglasses, and slippers.
Try not to go into a restricted or off-limits area, but if you have to, always make sure you know why you are going to the police offices.
When you’re shopping, watch out for salespeople and agents who are only out to trick you into buying fake goods.
Respect the people who live in Meghalaya and be open to their habits and way of life.
Try not to buy specialties or goods made with animals that are in danger or under protection.
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Elephant Falls is one of the most famous tourist spots in Meghalaya and one of the major tourist spots in the North East state. Elephant Falls is a tourist’s dream.
Because it looks like an elephant, the British called this body of water Elephant Falls. But this stone is broken because of the earthquake in 1897.
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You can take your kids to the famous Don Bosco Museum in Meghalaya when you go there with them because it has interesting things for them to learn. The Don Bosco Museum is a great place to learn about North-Eastern India all in one place when you go to Shillong.
It has a theme museum where folk costumes, handicrafts, regional art, decorations, photos, and guns are kept. The museum is a building with seven floors.
Get Travelers Hack For Your Friends
If you’re going to Meghalaya with friends, you have to see the double-decker walking route bridges. The living path bridges with two levels are a popular tourist attraction in Meghalaya. They are 3 kilometers long and 2400 feet above sea level. The Double Decker Living Route Bridge in Meghalaya makes the state more famous and brings in tourists.