Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, is a piece of paradise that has been blessed upon us. Every traveller who has been to this charming city has come back with the fondest of memories. This is simply because of its sheer simplicity, rich cultural heritage, divine food preparations, and breathtaking scenery. There are several things to do in Shillong with your friends and family but it is also important to choose a season that suits you well. For some folks, the best time for a Shillong tour is during the winter while others prefer the summer. If you’re unsure about the type of vacation you would like to have in this Meghayalan treasure, we’ve got you covered. Here is the best time to visit Shillong based on its seasons: -
Autumn (September to October)
The best time to go in and around Shillong begins in Autumn. This is the most awaited time of the year when you can feel the wind changing. After facing heavy rainfall, the locals get a short period to enjoy the chilly winds without feeling too cold. The sheer anticipation of the winter season makes September and October the best time to book tour packages to Shillong. You can see the looks on the faces of the locals. They’re happy, hopeful, and delighted by the weather in their city! If you truly want to make the most of your trip, it is recommended to have a local buddy with you.
The Autumn Festival
The Autumn Festival is organised in the month of October every year. One of the most celebrated festivities in Meghalaya where the rich culture of the Khasis, Garos, and Jaintias is in full display, making the best time to visit Shillong. Be it the food, the local wine, the handicrafts or the amalgamation of tribal culture, everything about the Autumn Festival is enigmatic. If you are interested in learning more about the Meghalayan traditions, then plan your visit to Shillong to make the best of this season.
Winter (November to February)
When it comes to the best time to travel to Shillong, there is a unanimous win for the winter season among travellers across the globe. Why, you ask? Let us enlighten you! The months between November and February see shorter days with the temperatures dipping as low as 2-3 degree Celsius. Shillong tour packages are always sold out during this time of the year because travellers from India and abroad love to experience the cosy winter weather with their friends and family. It is also the best time for booking a Shillong tour package because you can experience a number of festivals. The locals are pretty packed in the winter season with the following events taking place: -
Cherry Blossom Festival
If beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, then Shillong would be every traveller’s memorable tourist destination, especially during the season of the cherry blossom. Wherever you turn, you will these beautiful pink flowers following you in all their glory. In the month of November, the city is a floral delight with several events organised for the locals and tourists. This is the time to visit Shillong for the best cherry blossom shows and give yourself a memory that will stay with you for a lifetime!
Nongkrem Dance Festival
The Khasi tribe in Meghalaya is very proud of their heritage and rightly so! To celebrate the magnificence of their culture, the Nongkrem Dance Festival is celebrated every year in November. Since it is a dance festival, you can expect men and women performing in their traditional attire! This is a five-day event involving an array of activities that you can enjoy. It is organised at Smit, which is only 15 km from the city centre.
Wangala Festival
Colloquially known as the 100 Drums Festival, Wangala is a celebration of a good harvest by the Garo community. It is generally celebrated in the middle of November with hundreds of drums echoing to commence the celebrations in the city. With colours all around and the drums beating synchronously, there is pure joy in the air!
Winter Tales
December is among the best times to go to Shillong’s Winter Tales festival. It is a carnival depicting the workmanship of the artisans. The setup is done near Ward’s Lake, which is one of the most beautiful places to see in Shillong. Musicians, craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and everyone else are invited to set up shop and showcase their talent at Winter Tales every year. If this celebration of art is right up your alley, then this is the best time to visit Shillong for you!
Christmas
Santa is a childhood favourite for a lot of us but the excitement you get to see in Shillong around Christmas time is something else. As a huge part of the population follows Christianity, the dedication to ace this festival is simply mind-blowing. And who doesn’t like celebrating Christmas in the mountains? It’s a dream come true for folks who like to get their Christmastide feels right. You will find local markets, cafes, churches, and tourist attractions creating a fairytale display of this December festival. So, planning a trip to Shillong in the last week of December can turn out to be very rewarding for you!
Summer (March to July)
Summer babies who like to have some fun in the hills will fall in love with Shillong for sure! It's one of the most sought-after places to vacation in the country because the temperatures do not rise above 22 degrees Celsius so you can relax and unwind without feeling too hot. Whether you wish to take a boat ride at the Umiam Lake, marvel at the magnificent Elephant Falls, explore the treasure of the Don Bosco Museum or trek along the David Scott Trail, this is the best time to go and explore Shillong just like the locals do. Besides this, you can also enjoy the following festivities in this city:
Shad Suk Mynsiem
Did you know that the people of Shillong have their version of Thanksgiving? That’s right! Shad Suk Mynsiem is a dance festival, literally meaning “the dance of people's hearts”, in which men and women come together every year at the end of April and dress up in their traditional costumes to dance to the tunes of drums and flutes. So, if you plan to travel to Shillong in the summer, this is the best time to book your tickets with a reputed travel company.
Monsoon (July to September)
The god of rains blesses Shillong with their showers every year between July and September. Clouds, mist, and rain are a combination that makes even the most prudent person feel a little something in their heart. Since the city’s name translates as the “abode of clouds”, it is apparent that the best time to visit Shillong is during the monsoon season. With temperatures generally lying between 12 to 16 degrees Celsius, travellers are suggested to carry a raincoat, a jacket, and a pair of gumboots while touring in and around this city. If your timing is right, you can also get a glimpse of the monsoon festival mentioned below:
Behdienkhlam
The best time for a Shillong tour during the rainy season is in the month of July when the festival of Behdienkhlam is in full swing. Celebrated by the Jaintias, this festival came into existence to keep away the Cholera outbreak in July. A tradition that began annually, after sowing seeds in the farms, has been carried on by the locals to acknowledge community love at its finest. It is heartwarming to see the locals come together to keep Behdienkhlam a blast even today. Picking the best month to visit Shillong is solely your personal preference. For us, this city is the perfect tourist destination all year round! So, what are you waiting for? Choose a season and plan your vacation right away.
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