Having been lucky enough to trek amidst the gorgeous Himalayas couple of times, I have always wondered when I first fell in love with the mountains. How did I end up staring at those rocks for hours and not getting bored??Why do I give up all those lavish and relaxing holidays in the best of the hotels for the long and difficult treks just to be belittled by the mountains?

And as I traverse back in time trying to find the answers, I end up with more questions. Was it the hills surrounding the small yet beautiful town where I grew up? Was it the view from the window of my room, where I could see those far hills and hear the songs that resonated from them in the night? Was it my visit to one of the best hill stations with my family where my senses were knocked off by seeing the stunning snow-clad peaks for the first time? Well, it seems the buck stops at Shillong because being a greenery lover it was my first encounter with the lush green hills amidst milky white clouds in proximity..

Best time to visit Shillong: When it is served with Clouds

I visited Shillong in the end of May, and this is the best time to visit Shillong because neither the sun is harsh nor the rains heavy. It’s a perfect blend of dry and wet weather.

It is suggested to visit Shillong from October to mid-May because after that the peak rainy season starts, which goes on till September and it is NOT recommended to visit Shillong then because of landslides, zero visibility on roads ,and the increased chances of getting sick. But for people who love taking chances and are good enough to move around with just a rain coat on, monsoon is the best time because the whole place turns into a fairy land. However, if I have to suggest the best time, it will definitely be end of May because then the rains just start due to which the weather interruptions are not much and also we can get a glimpse of the makeover that the monsoon is about to do to it. You can also choose end of September because even that is the time when the rains starts subsiding, leaving behind the beaming Shillong at its best.

Shillong is also a land of waterfalls

Best Time to Visit Shillong: Birds eye view of Shillong form the Shillong Peak

Shillong - Cherrapunjee

Best Time to Visit Shillong : The Khasi hills somewhere on the way of my visit to Cherrapunji from Shillong

Being in Shillong definitely calls for a visit to Cherrapunjee. Located at a distance of 60 km from Shillong and originally known as "Sohra," Cherrapunjee is famous for receiving the heaviest rainfall, which is another reason to avoid peak monsoons if you are planning to club Cherrapunjee with Shillong. And that makes end of May as the best time to visit Shillong because the rains are not that heavy in Cherrapunjee at that time and you can also experience the dark green landscape dotted with clouds on your way. However be prepared to lose sight of the road as you near Cherrapunjee because you will be actually travelling through dense clouds, which is a nothing less than a breathtaking experience. 

Best Time to Visit Shillong: On the way to Cherrapunji with zero visibility

Best Time to visit Shillong : The living root bridge at Cherrapunji

Shillong – Mawlynnong

However ,Monsoons comes with its own drawback, like the visit to its famous living root bridge can get really risky because of the growth of the mosses due to rains,  so its best to carry proper shoes while visiting these places because monsoon or not Shillong  & Cherrapunji is blessed with showers every now and then and thus mosses are common to grow.So leave behind those fancy heels or ballerinas. while planning for Shillong and travel like a conscious traveller.

Best time to visit Shillong: A Day @Mawlinnong

Another beautiful place to visit near Shillong is a small village called Mawlynnong. It was declared to be the cleanliest village of Asia by a travel magazine, Discover India, in 2003. Located approximately 90 km from Shillong, this is a place straight out of heaven. Over here time stands still, and you can feel everything that’s happening around. The air, the trees, the sky, the houses, the people, everything comes together to form a beautiful painting. The best thing of this tiny village is that to take care of the cleanliness, Mawlynnong has placed small dustbins made of bamboo at frequent intervals so that no one ever gets a chance to throw the garbage in the surrounding.

No matter which time of the year you visit, Shillong and the villages nearby are always beautiful, but the rains do add magic to it. The earthly smell of the wet earth, dark green surroundings with colourful blossoms, the painted blue sky with the sun and clouds playing hide and seek, and the red-cheeked kids clapping and playing in the puddles outside their houses adds to the overall experience of being in a hill station.

Essentials for Shillong during monsoons

1. Anti-slip water proof shoes

2. Rain coat/poncho

3. Mosquito repellant

4. A light jacket for occasional use

How to reach Shillong

Shillong has a small airport of its own 25 km outside the city, but it has limited connectivity with major airports. The best option is to reach Guwahati and then take a taxi and reach Shillong by road. The other villages nearby Shillong can be visited by road.

Shillong - Final Call

Shillong at its Best

Shillong not only kindled my love for the mountains, which was lying hidden in some corner of my heart, but it also broke through all the prejudices I had for travelling during monsoons. After Shillong, I have mostly preferred onset of the monsoon or the end of the monsoon as my best travel time. However, if rains are a botheration for you, then the second best  time to visit according to me is from October to March as the weather is mostly cool and dry.

The final call lies with you, and regardless of whichever time turns out to be "the best time" for you, you are going to be enchanted by the beauty of Shillong.