Meghalaya: A Driver's Paradise
Meghalaya's terrain — a series of high plateaus cut by deep gorges and river valleys — creates the conditions for extraordinary road scenery. The roads here do not gently wind through gradual hills. They plunge off plateau edges in dramatic switchbacks, traverse ridgelines with drops on both sides, and emerge suddenly into viewpoints where Bangladesh stretches flat to the horizon.
Here are the seven most rewarding scenic drives in Meghalaya.
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1. Shillong to Cherrapunji (54km via NH206)
The classic. The highway from Shillong drops off the plateau edge into the gorge country, traversing a ridge road above the Mawkdok Valley before climbing to the Cherrapunji plateau. Mawkdok Dympep Valley viewpoint offers the single best road-trip photo in Meghalaya. Continue past Mawphlang Sacred Grove and the journey ends at the plateau edge above Nohkalikai Falls.
Best for: First-time Meghalaya visitors. Viewpoints, forests, and waterfalls all on one route.
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2. Shillong to Dawki (83km)
The descent into the Dawki Valley is the highlight: a series of tight hairpin switchbacks dropping from 1,200m to nearly 200m, with the entire Dawki basin visible below. The road is narrow but dramatic. The prize at the end — the glass-clear Umngot River — makes every bend worthwhile.
Best for: River and border scenery lovers.
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3. Cherrapunji to Mawsynram (15km)
A short but spectacular drive along the plateau edge between the world's two wettest places. The road follows the escarpment with periodic views over the Bangladesh plains. Both sides of the road can be running with waterfalls during monsoon season. In good weather, the views extend for 100km.
Best for: Plateau edge views and monsoon drama.
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4. Shillong to Nongstoin via NH106 (100km)
The road west into the West Khasi Hills is less traveled than the Cherrapunji highway but arguably more scenic in places. It passes through dense oak and rhododendron forests, over several high passes, and eventually descends into the broad Nongstoin valley. The section between Mairang and Nongstoin is particularly beautiful.
Best for: Off-the-beaten-path travelers who want forest and solitude.
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5. Tura to Balpakram (120km, Garo Hills)
In the Garo Hills in western Meghalaya, the road from Tura (the main Garo town) south to Balpakram National Park passes through dramatic plateau country. Balpakram itself — a high plateau with deep gorges dropping into the Bangladesh plains — is called the "Land of Perpetual Winds" by the Garo people. The views here are among the most dramatic in Meghalaya.
Best for: Wilderness and Garo culture enthusiasts.
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6. Jowai to Krang Suri (35km, Jaintia Hills)
The road east from Jowai drops through rolling Jaintia Hills countryside to the hidden valley where Krang Suri Falls is located. The landscape here is more open than the heavily forested Khasi Hills — broad hilltop farmland alternating with forested valleys.
Best for: Waterfall seekers and Jaintia Hills explorers.
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7. Laitlum Canyons Road (20km from Shillong)
The road to Laitlum Canyons east of Shillong is short but leads to one of Meghalaya's most underrated viewpoints: a deep canyon system where the land drops hundreds of metres into a valley network. The road itself is narrow and winds through villages before the canyon viewpoint appears. Best in the morning before haze develops.
Best for: Canyon views within easy reach of Shillong.
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General Driving Tips for Meghalaya
Experience all seven of these routes with Meghalaya Cabs. Our drivers know every bend and viewpoint in the state. WhatsApp us to design a custom scenic drive itinerary.
