Our Assam–Meghalaya Trip Day 3: A Shillong Sightseeing Experience & the Journey to Cherrapunji

Day 3 was planned as a Shillong sightseeing day, but like many real trips, it evolved based on how the previous two days had gone. After continuous travel and long hours on the road, we consciously chose to slow things down, adjust expectations, and focus on what we could enjoy comfortably.

What followed was a balanced day—Shillong viewpoints in the morning and a Shillong to Cherrapunji travel experience in the second half.

Our Stay in Shillong: A Quick Context Note

We stayed at Bonnie Guest House.
Overall, it was a comfortable and clean place with supportive staff and cozy rooms, well-located for city sightseeing.

One practical thing worth noting—something we realised only after staying in Shillong and moving around ourselves—is that most homestays and many hotels here do not have lifts. This can be inconvenient for elderly travellers or anyone with knee or mobility issues, so it’s an important check to make before booking.

(We’ll share a detailed stay review separately.)

Dropping Dawki & Resetting the Plan

Originally, Dawki was part of our Day 3 plan. However, considering:

• Fatigue from the first two days
• Health and energy levels
• The desire to enjoy rather than rush

We decided to drop Dawki entirely and focus on Shillong instead. This decision alone made the day far more relaxed and enjoyable.

Breakfast: Limited but Manageable

Breakfast at the homestay was very limited:

• Either one aloo paratha or four slices of bread with jam
• Along with tea or coffee

For our appetite, this felt insufficient, but we treated it as a light start and moved on with the plan.

Starting Shillong Sightseeing (Around 9 AM)

We began our Shillong sightseeing experience at around 9:00 AM, keeping the itinerary realistic rather than packed.

Laitlum Canyon: Space, Scale & Silence

Our first stop was Laitlum Canyon, about 16 km from Shillong, taking roughly 45–50 minutes to reach.

Laitlum Canyon is exactly what it promises:

• A vast, open canyon
• Deep valleys cutting through the hills
• Space that makes you pause rather than rush

We spent close to an hour here, simply taking in the views.

• Entry fee: approx. ₹30–₹50

Elephant Falls: The Most Enjoyable Waterfall of the Day

Next, we visited Elephant Falls.

Elephant Falls is a three-tier waterfall:

• First tier: ~100 steps
• Second tier: ~50 steps
• Third tier: ~150 steps
  ➡️ About 300 steps in total

Even though it wasn’t peak monsoon season:

• There was enough water
• It was the only waterfall where we could comfortably get close to the water
• The layered viewpoints made the climb worthwhile

In monsoons, this place would be far more dramatic, but even during our visit, it stood out among Shillong’s waterfalls.

Shillong Peak: A City-Wide View

Our next stop was Shillong Peak.

Since Shillong Peak lies within a cantonment zone:

• Outside taxis are not allowed
• You must hire a local taxi with a valid permit

We hired a local taxi near the cantonment area and went up to the peak.

From the top:

• You get a panoramic view of Shillong
• Fixed binoculars are available to view the city
• It’s ideal for photographs and a short break

After spending some time here, we wrapped up Shillong sightseeing.

Skipping Museums & Churches

Shillong has several museums and churches worth visiting. However, given time and energy constraints, we chose to skip them deliberately and stick to our core plan.

This was one of those moments where choosing less made the day more enjoyable.

Shillong to Cherrapunji Travel: Changing Our Original Dawki Plan

Instead of heading to Dawki, we drove directly from Shillong to Cherrapunji.

There are multiple viewpoints along the way, but we didn’t stop at any of them. The priority was to reach Cherrapunji comfortably, not extend the day unnecessarily.

Lunch in Cherrapunji: Vegetarian Food Reality

Pure vegetarian food options in Cherrapunji are very limited. In practical terms, there are mainly two choices:

• Orange Root
• Green Leaf

Orange Root

• Fixed menu / plate system
• Limited options but very quick service
• Plate costs around ₹400
• One plate is sufficient for two people
• Extremely crowded due to lack of alternatives

Green Leaf

• Slightly more expensive
• Better taste, in our experience
• Comparatively calmer than Orange Root

We had lunch at Green Leaf and then continued sightseeing.

Seven Sisters Falls: Big Scale, No Water

We stopped briefly at Seven Sisters Falls.

• The structure is massive
• Unfortunately, there was no water during our visit
• It worked more as a viewpoint than a waterfall

We spent about 10–15 minutes, took a few photos, and moved on.

Mawsmai Caves: More Engaging Than Expected

We enjoyed Mawsmai Caves more than we expected.

• Cave walk duration: 10–15 minutes
• Easy to navigate
• Well-lit and structured

Walking through the caves gave a clear sense of how cave formations work and made for a genuinely engaging experience—much more so than Seven Sisters Falls that day.

Stay in Cherrapunji: Nesting Abode Homestay (Brief Context)

Our overnight stay in Cherrapunji was at Nesting Abode Homestay.

It functioned more as a basic overnight halt rather than a full homestay experience:

• Simple rooms
• Minimal services
• Best treated as a place to rest and move on

We reached by around 6:00 PM, which gave us enough time to relax after the drive.

(A detailed review will be shared separately.)

Dinner at Orange Root

For dinner, we chose Orange Root to compare it with lunch.

• The ₹400 plate system works best
• Food arrives within 5 minutes
• Items can be swapped with rotis
• One plate easily serves two people

Given the limited vegetarian options in Cherrapunji, it serves its purpose efficiently.

Final Thoughts on Day 3

Day 3 was about adjustment and realism.

Shillong gave us viewpoints and manageable sightseeing.
Cherrapunji introduced us to caves, landscapes, and the realities of food and stays.

Most importantly, the day reinforced a simple truth:

A good trip isn’t about covering everything — it’s about covering what you can enjoy comfortably.

This experience, documented through Lazy Yatra, is meant to help travellers plan trips that are practical, human, and honest.

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