How to Reach Cherrapunji | Get the Best Ways to Travel here!

In this Cherrapunji Travel Guide, we are going to tell you the best ways to reach Cherrapunji by airways, railways, and roadways so that you can explore the best places to visit in Cherrapunji. Based on this information, you can then choose what modes of travel you want to use as per your preference and budget for a perfect trip!

How to Reach Cherrapunji by Air?

The nearest airport to Cherrapunji is the Shillong Airport located in the Umroi region. Now you must be wondering how to reach Cherrapunji from Shillong airport. Here’s how – The distance between Shillong Airport and Cherrapunji is approximately 80 km and it takes around 3 hours to complete the journey. 

However, Shillong has direct flights from Imphal, Aizawl and Kolkata only. Therefore many travellers choose to reach Guwahati airport as it has better flight connectivity from major Indian cities as compared to Shillong Airport. Another advantage of flying to Cherrapunji nearest airport – Guwahati is that it is cost-effective.

There are direct flights to Guwahati airport from Indian cities like – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Silchar, Imphal, Dibrugarh, Aizawl, and Dimapur. It takes approximately 4.5-5 hours to cover a distance of 167 km to Cherrapunji from Guwahati airport.

Shared cabs and taxis are easily available from both Guwahati and Shillong airports for you to travel to Cherrapunji by road. The route is very scenic and passes by some of the most popular tourist places in Meghalaya like Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Mawkdok Dympep Viewpoint, and many more. 

Now you have your answer on Cherrapunji nearest airport and the best way to reach there from the major Indian cities.

Also Checkout – Meghalaya With Kaziranga Road Trip

How to Reach Cherrapunji by Train?

If you are a backpacker or a budget traveler, then traveling by train is one of the best ways to reach Cherrapunji. Since there are no train stations in Meghalaya, travelers take a train to Guwahati Railway station, which is the nearest major train station to Cherrapunji. The distance between the same is just 145 km and can be easily covered in 4.5 to 5 hours.

One of the most important travel tips for Cherrapunji holiday is to first arrive in Shillong, enjoy a stay, and then figure out how to reach Cherrapuniji from Shillong. It is one of the best ways to reach Cherrapunji without tiring yourself and enjoy the simple pleasures of slow traveling.

After exploring the best places to visit in Shillong you can easily find private cabs, buses and public transport to Cherrapunij, which is a great way to live like the locals.

Here is a list of some of the major trains that connect Guwahati with other major cities in India as follows:

• Train from Delhi to Guwahati: Almost 5 trains are running from Delhi to Guwahati and their average journey time is 27 to 48 hours. These trains are Avadh Assam Expres (15910), North East Express (12506), Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (20504), Brahmaputra Mail (15657), Tripura Sundari Express (14620).
• Train from Mumbai to Guwahati: Almost 4 trains are running from Mumbai to Guwahati and their average travel time is 45 hours. Train like Karmabhoomi SF Express (22511), Agartala AC SF Express (12519), and Mumbai LTT Dibrugarh Express (15945).

• Train from Bangalore to Guwahati: There are 4 weekly trains from Bangalore to Guwahati whose average travel time is 49 hours. Some of the trains are Newtinsukia Express (22501), Humsafar Express (12503), and SMVT Bengaluru Guwahati Express (12509).

• Train from Chennai to Guwahati: There are only 2 trains from Chennai to Guwahati departing on Mondays and taking approximately 47-51 hours to reach. These trains are Silchar Express (12515), and Nagaon Express (15629).
• Train from Kolkata to Guwahati: There are several trains to travel to Guwahati from Kolkata. The average time for this train journey is around 18 hours. Some of these trains are Sabroom Kanchenjunga Express (13173), Saraighat Express (12345), Kamrup Express (15959), and Guwahati Garib Rath Express (12517).

You can explore more trains from the city you wish to travel from the IRCTC App. Hope this helps with your answer on how to reach Cherrapunji by train. 

How to Reach Cherrapunji by Road?

To travel to Cherrapunji from Guwahati, you can start from Guwahati Airport or Guwahati Railway Station. From there, head to the Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) or Paltan Bazaar to catch buses or shared taxis to Shillong. Shared taxis (Sumos) cost around ₹500 per person, while larger shared vehicles charge about ₹200 per person. The journey from Guwahati to Shillong takes 3-4 hours.  

Wondering how to reach Cherrapunji from Shillong? The most popular options include buses and shared taxis. From Shillong’s Police Bazaar or Mawlonghat, shared Sumos charge approximately ₹70 per person to Sohra (Cherrapunji). From Cherrapunji Market, you can hire a private taxi for ₹400 to reach nearby resorts or attractions.  

For a faster and more comfortable trip, tourist taxis are available from Shillong’s Police Bazaar Taxi Stand. The drive from Shillong to Cherrapunji typically takes 2-3 hours.  

Whether you use public transport to Cherrapunji or hire private cabs, the smooth roads on NH 6 make the journey one of the best ways to reach Cherrapunji.  

Cherrapunji is also very well connected to other parts of the country by an extensive network of National Highways. Here are some of the popular routes along with their distance and journey duration for a Road trip to Cherrapunji:

• Guwahati to Cherrapunji – 147 km (4 hours)
• Siliguri to Cherrapunji – 585 km (15 hours)
• Shillong to Cherrapuniji – 55 km (2 hours)
• Agartala to Cherrapunji – 477 km (14 hours)
• Kaziranga to Cherrapunji – 280 km (7 hours)
• Tura to Cherrapunji – 326 km (8 hours)

Travel tips for Cherrapunji: Plan your journey during daylight hours to enjoy the scenic views, and book transportation early, especially during peak tourist seasons.