Tourist Places To Visit In Cherrapunji

With the rain embroidering the entire landscape, Cherrapunji is where you get to see nature at its glorious best. Home to alluring waterfalls and caves, the town calls out to the nature lover in you; the tryst with nature here never ends. The beguiling environs and the refreshing monsoon showers here will keep you occupied for the entirety of your trip in this picturesque town of Meghalaya. If a trip to Cherrapunji is on the cards to witness its serenity, here is a list of places to visit in Cherrapunji: -

1. Mawsmai Cave

Cherrapunji is home to caves that are easily reachable and a hit among tourists. Let’s kick off with Mawsmai Cave, one of the most intriguing tourist places in Cherrapunji. The Mawsmai Cave is a 150-meter long limestone cave that you must include in your Cherrapunji tour. After visiting the cave, you can stop at the ancient monoliths of Mawsmai that commemorate clan members and heroes, and are present just a few meters before the cave. The absolute quiet and the fascinating insides of the caves will have you hooked in an instant!   

2. Nohkalikai Falls

A beautiful single-drop waterfall within Meghalaya, India, the Nohkalikai falls is a perfect example sightseeing in Cherrapunji done right. At 340 meters, these waterfalls are a sight to behold. In fact, such is the prominence of Nohkalikai that you can spot this gorgeous waterfall from the viewpoint which is located 6.6 km from the market.  Providing a fascinating view of the splashing waters, the waterfalls are a must-visit during your Cherrapunji tour.

3. Nongriat Root Bridges

The most interesting things you will come across while sightseeing in Cherrapunji is the remarkable living bridges made from rubber-fig roots that are truly one of nature’s wonders. You can spot them around the beautiful Meghalaya hills. Many of them can be seen near the hamlet of Nongriat located in a jungle valley. Nongriat is located around 2600 steps from a village called Tyrna which is 12 km from Cherrapunji. It takes around one and a half hours for the descent which includes a brief detour after 40 minutes that takes you to the first root bridge.

For reaching the next root bridge that comes before Nongriat, you have to cross the two metal suspension bridges. After that, you can head to the double-decker living root bridge which comes five minutes after you cross Nongriat. You will also come across the very famous bathing pools in the river on your way; take a dip if you please!

We wouldn’t be exaggerating when we say that these root bridges are the face of Cherrapunji tourism. Ask any traveller; you’ll realize that this is one of the things to do in Cherrapunji that you simply shouldn’t miss.

4. Rainbow Falls

If you have run out of steam from your visit the double decker bridge, worry not - the mighty Rainbow Falls shall refuel you. You have often heard that persistence pays dividends; the trek to the Rainbow Falls feels exactly that way.

This hike has a total duration of 1¼ hours. Twenty minutes into the hike, you cross a metal suspension bridge and another root bridge. One of the most wonderful things to do in Cherrapunji, at the end of it all, there is a mighty waterfall!

5. The Seven Sisters Waterfall

If face value was a measure of the best tourist places of Cherrapunji, then there is no beating the Seven Sisters Waterfall that looks stunning in every sense of the word. The best time to visit this waterfall in Cherrapunji is during a bright sunny day because it remains cloudy most of the time. But when it does come to the fore, it is breathtaking!

6. Krem Mawmluh

Easily one of the best places to visit in Cherrapunji, Krem Mawmluh in Cherrapunji is a magnet for adventure junkies. Both the locals and tourists throng to the place to admire the caves. When you visit the cave, you can enter it from the 2 river passages or its 3 entrances. Once you are in, you will get a feeling that this is Mother Nature’s way of sculpting a masterpiece.

All of this brings us to…

The best time to visit Cherrapunji

The best time to visit Cherrapunji is between September and May. The town should not be visited in the month of June, as this month sees the highest amount of rainfall (yep, it is a bit too much). Even July and August should be avoided for visiting the popular tourist places in Cherrapunji as these months witness heavy rainfall as well. The town has a cooler temperature in the months from October to May, so plan your trip accordingly.

After you have factored in the best time to visit the tourist spots in Cherrapunji, identify all the places you plan to visit and opt for a Cherrapunji tour package so that trip-planning is the least of your worries.

Cherrapunji offers you the perfect pathway to walk arm-in-arm with nature. The sheer beauty of the place leaves you mesmerized and keeps you coming back for more. It will convince you that heaven does exist in small gorgeous pockets on planet Earth, only if you are willing to discover them.