Things to do in Cherrapunji
Things to do in Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji, locally known as Sohra, in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya holds the record for some of the highest rainfall ever recorded on earth and is a land of extraordinary waterfalls, dramatic gorges, and the most remarkable feat of human bio-engineering — the living root bridges grown by the indigenous Khasi people by training ficus tree roots across streams over centuries. The Nohkalikai Falls — India's tallest plunge waterfall dropping 340 meters into a turquoise pool — and the panoramic views across the Bangladesh plains from the plateau edge make Cherrapunji one of India's most dramatic natural destinations.
- No photoTrekView full guide
4–5 hours (full round trip)
Double Decker Living Root Bridge trek
One of the most extraordinary sights in India — a naturally formed bridge made of living rubber tree roots, carefully trained over generations by the Khasi people into a fully load-bearing double-decker crossing over a crystal-clear jungle stream. The 3,500-step trek down through dense rainforest is challenging but deeply rewarding, and the bridge itself is unlike anything else you will encounter anywhere in the world.
- No photoNatureView full guide
1–2 hours
Nohkalikai Falls viewpoint
Standing at 340 metres, Nohkalikai is the tallest plunge waterfall in India and one of the most dramatic in all of Asia. It drops sheer off a cliff edge into a turquoise-green pool far below, surrounded by layered limestone cliffs and misty forested gorges. The viewpoint is easily accessible and the sight of that wall of water disappearing into the valley below is nothing short of breathtaking.
- No photoNatureView full guide
1 hour
Seven Sisters Falls (Nohsngithiang) view
During the monsoon, seven separate streams pour off a single cliff face in near-parallel lines, creating the spectacular Seven Sisters waterfall — one of the widest waterfalls in India. From the viewpoint across the gorge, you get the full width of all seven cascades at once, framed by the green plateau edge and the Bangladesh plains far below. It is one of those rare natural spectacles that photographs simply cannot do justice to.
- No photoAdventureView full guide
30–45 minutes
Mawsmai Cave exploration
A well-lit limestone cave system you can walk through in about 30 minutes, Mawsmai is the most accessible cave near Cherrapunji and gives you a vivid sense of the karst geology that defines this entire plateau. Narrow passages open suddenly into cathedral chambers, stalactites hang within arm's reach, and the cool damp air inside is a sharp contrast to the misty plateau outside.
- No photoScenicView full guide
1–2 hours
Eco Park and Bangladesh border viewpoint
Perched right on the edge of the Meghalaya plateau, the Eco Park viewpoint at Cherrapunji looks straight down thousands of feet into the plains of Bangladesh. On a clear day you can see the silver threads of rivers winding across the flatlands below and, in the far distance, the haze where land meets sky over Bangladesh. It is one of the most dramatic cliff-edge views in the entire Northeast.