Quick take: Shillong to Cherrapunji (Sohra) is about 55 km, and 1.5 to 2 hours of riding on a scooty or bike, longer with stops. The road follows a ridge with valley views most of the way, passing Mawkdok viewpoint and Wah Kaba Falls. Leave Shillong in the morning, fuel up before you go, and ride it in daylight. We rent scooties from ₹799/day and bikes from ₹999/day in Guwahati, and both are allowed to Sohra.
Distance and riding time
| Shillong to Sohra | About 55 km |
| Riding time | 1.5–2 hours without stops |
| With the stops below | Half a day |
| Guwahati to Sohra in all | About 150 km, via Shillong |
| Road | Paved, winding, along a ridge |
Most of the time goes on bends and stops, not distance. Allow a morning for the ride, and arrive in Sohra with the afternoon free for the falls.
The ride, stop by stop
Leaving Shillong
Fuel up in Shillong before you leave: there are fewer pumps beyond it. The road climbs out of town through Upper Shillong and then runs out along the ridge, with the city behind you and the valleys opening up on both sides.
Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint
Roughly halfway, Mawkdok Dympep is the first big valley viewpoint and the place most people stop first. A deep, green valley drops away below the road. It's a good place for tea and a stretch. Go early: by late morning the clouds often roll in and fill the valley.
Across the plateau
After Mawkdok the land opens into the high, bare plateau that leads to Sohra. In the monsoon, clouds sit in the valleys below you, and on a clear day you can see waterfalls pouring off the cliffs on the far side.
Wah Kaba Falls
A few kilometres before Sohra town, Wah Kaba is the first big waterfall on the road. A short path takes you to its foot, where you can stand almost underneath it, behind the spray. In the rains you'll get soaked, so keep your phone in a zip bag and leave the helmet on the bike.
Into Sohra
Sohra town is small, and you can ride its main roads in minutes. From here the sights branch out: Nohkalikai and Dainthlen to the west, Kynrem and Thangkharang Park to the south. Our Cherrapunji waterfall ride by bike or scooty covers them in one day.
Riding the ridge road safely
- Daylight only. Fog often settles on the ridge from late afternoon. Plan to arrive, and to ride back, well before dusk.
- Headlight on in fog, and slow down well before the bends.
- Rain gear in every season. Sohra is one of the wettest places on Earth, and the weather changes fast.
- Watch for loose stones and mud after heavy rain, and for buses and taxis on the narrow bends.
- Riding two-up on a scooty? It's fine, just slower on the climbs. A geared bike is more comfortable for two with bags.
Riding in the rains? Read Cherrapunji in the monsoon on a bike or scooty.
Can I rent a scooty in Shillong for Cherrapunji?
We're based in Guwahati, at Maligaon, not in Shillong. The easy way is to pick up a scooty or bike in Guwahati, ride the 100 km to Shillong on day one, and do Sohra on day two. That way you have the same vehicle for the whole trip, a full tank at pickup, and no hunting for a rental in Shillong. Our Guwahati to Shillong guide has the first leg, and renting a bike in Guwahati for a Shillong trip has the practical details.
Scooty or bike for this road?
- Scooty: the ridge road is fine on a scooty, and it's the cheapest way to ride. The TVS NTorq 150 (₹899/day) is our strongest scooty for the climbs out of Guwahati and Shillong. The Yamaha RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid Street Rally is our most affordable at ₹799/day.
- Bike: steadier for two-up riding, bags, or a longer Meghalaya loop. The Yamaha FZ-S FI V2 starts at ₹999/day, and the Honda SP 125 (₹999/day) is light and easy for first-time geared riders.
A three-day Guwahati–Shillong–Sohra trip comes to ₹2,397 on a scooty or ₹2,997 on a bike, helmet included. Rentals of 7 days or more get 10% off.
Our bikes
For two-up riding and longer Meghalaya loops
Self-drive · BikeYamaha FZ-S FI V2Solo riders · Couplesfrom ₹999/day
Self-drive · BikeHonda SP 125Solo riders · Couplesfrom ₹999/day
Self-drive · BikeBajaj Pulsar N160Solo riders · Couplesfrom ₹1,199/day
Self-drive · BikeRoyal Enfield Scram 440Experienced riders · Couplesfrom ₹1,999/day
Self-drive · BikeRoyal Enfield Himalayan 450Experienced riders · Couplesfrom ₹2,499/day
Self-drive · BikeHero XPulse 200 4VSolo riders · Off-road trailsfrom ₹1,499/day
Self-drive · BikeHero XPulse 210Solo riders · Couplesfrom ₹1,699/dayA two-day plan
- Day 1: Pick up in Guwahati by 9 AM. Ride to Shillong (about 100 km), with a stop at Umiam Lake. Evening in Police Bazaar.
- Day 2: Leave Shillong by 8 AM. Mawkdok, Wah Kaba, then Nohkalikai before noon. Dainthlen in the afternoon. Stay in Sohra, or ride back to Shillong before dusk.
Add a third day for Kynrem Falls and Thangkharang Park, then ride back to Guwahati.
FAQs
How far is Cherrapunji from Shillong by road? About 55 km, or 1.5 to 2 hours of riding without stops.
Can I ride a scooty from Shillong to Cherrapunji? Yes. The road is paved and our scooters are allowed to Sohra. Ride in daylight and take the bends slowly when it's wet.
Can I do Shillong to Cherrapunji and back in one day on a bike? Yes, it's a popular day ride: about 110 km there and back. Leave early and be back in Shillong before dusk.
Where can I fill fuel between Shillong and Cherrapunji? Fill up in Shillong before you leave. There are fewer pumps beyond it.
What are the best stops between Shillong and Cherrapunji? Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint and Wah Kaba Falls, on the way into Sohra.
Contact / Book
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, and tell us you're riding to Shillong and Sohra. We'll suggest a scooty or bike and have it ready at our Maligaon pickup.
The information in this post is indicative. Final terms and policies are discussed and confirmed when you take the vehicle on rent.
