Meghalaya is a state located in the North East of India and is very popular among tourists. It encompasses many quaint yet captivating villages, marvellous hills, and beautiful waterfalls in Meghalaya that are incredible to look at. The state is also known as the Abode of Clouds. Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and is also a famous tourist destination. Meghalaya is also a state that is the wettest region in the world. The village of Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is the Rain Capital of the World. Unlike many Indian states, Meghalaya has followed a system of matrilineal society where the lineage and inheritance are through women.

Touring in Meghalaya would be a fulfilment and satisfaction of the soul without a doubt. There are many Meghalaya tour packages available for you to choose from, which promise a complete tour around the state.

Of all the things Meghalaya is famous for, the waterfalls present there is a mesmerising wonder. There are so many waterfalls in Meghalaya, all of which would be something to see at least once. While many are known and identified, there are so many more hidden and are yet to be discovered. A few of them are below so don’t skip going through them.

Top 10 Waterfalls in Meghalaya:

• The Seven Sisters Falls
• Nohkalikai Waterfalls
• Krang Suri Waterfall
• Kynrem Falls
• Elephant Falls
• Rainbow Falls
• Dainthlen Waterfall
• Wei Sawdong Falls
• Bishop And Beadon Falls
• Sweet Falls

1. The Seven Sisters Falls

The Seven Sister Falls, also known as Nohsngithiang Falls, in Meghalaya, is after the collection of seven Northeast states of India, namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya. It is situated in the East Khasi Hills district, about 1 kilometre south of Mawsmai village, and hence is also called the Mawsmai Falls. It is as tall as 1,033 ft (315 m) and has a width of about 230 ft (70 m). The falls are best visited during monsoon when the force of the rain amplifies the rush of water in the falls and you’ll be able to see the Seven Sisters Falls in its grandeur. As the falls flow they fall in seven different streams, and so the name arrived.

• Location: Mawsmai, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 315 meters
• Best Time to Visit: June to September (monsoon season)
• Notable Features: A seven-segmented waterfall, often shrouded in mist, offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding valley.

2. Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Among the tallest waterfalls in India is the Nohkalikai Falls, which is also situated in Cherrapunji. It is also named to be the 5th highest waterfall in the whole world. The altitude of the falls is about 335 metres, and the water plunges down the cliff to form a pool at the bottom. It is a great picnic spot too. The name Nohkalikai comes from the story and the tragedy of Ka Likai. The story goes that a woman named Ka Likai had lived in a village upstream of the falls, and she had a daughter whom she looked after alone post the death of her husband. She remarried to take care of the child, and the second husband, due to jealousy of his wife caring very much for her daughter, murdered and cooked the child in Ka Likai’s absence.

After reaching home famished, Ka Likai ate the meal unknowingly and only later realised the truth. In complete anger and grief that she had cannibalised her murdered daughter, Ka Likai ran off the cliff and killed herself. And so the falls were named after her, which means ‘Jump of Ka Likai’.

• Location: Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
• Height: 340 meters
• Best Time to Visit: October to December (post-monsoon)
• Notable Features: One of the tallest plunge waterfalls in India, with a dramatic drop into a turquoise pool.

3. Krang Suri Waterfall

Located in Jaintia Hills, this waterfall is said to be extremely beautiful. The water has a very clear blue hue with the falls backgrounded by a thicket of greenery. A pool is formed below the falls which is astonishingly blue. To reach these falls one has to trek a while through a trail near the mountain. It is considerably an easy trail and exciting. The locals hold this fall in high sacred significance. Visitors can also take a dip in the pool if they wish, also there are opportunities for cliff jumping near the falls, but one must always have caution. This is a never-miss fall if one is visiting Meghalaya.

• Location: Jowai, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 20 meters
• Best Time to Visit: October to April
• Notable Features: A picturesque waterfall with crystal-clear blue waters, surrounded by lush greenery, perfect for swimming.

4. Kynrem Falls

With a height of about 305 metres, this is also one of the highest waterfalls in Meghalaya. It is also said to be the 7th highest waterfall in India. This fall is better when visited in monsoon as you’ll find very little flow or even no flow during other seasons. There is a lookout deck within the Thangkharang Park which is a popular viewpoint for this falls.

• Location: Thangkharang Park, Meghalaya, India
• Height: 305 meters
• Best Time to Visit: June to September (monsoon season)
• Notable Features: A three-tiered waterfall, cascading down rugged cliffs amidst dense forests.

5. Elephant Falls

This fall is located in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. It is famous for its pristine water and the way the water flows down the slope of the rocks and falls into the pool below. This fall is referred to as ‘Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khoh Siew’ by the local people and it means a three-step waterfall. Folklore amongst the locals is that a herd of elephants once frequented the area and bathed and played in the crystal-clear waters of the falls, and so the locals, in awe of the creatures, named the falls after them.

• Location: Shillong, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 40 meters
• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Notable Features: A multi-tiered waterfall named after an elephant-shaped rock near its base (now destroyed), easy access with steps leading down to each tier.

6. Rainbow Falls

The falls got its name because one might be able to see a rainbow forming under the falls where a pool is present because of the rays of the sun. The Rainbow Falls is situated near the Double Decker Root Bridge, in Cherrapunji, and is present secluded deep inside a forest. To reach this destination, one has to pass the Double Decker Root Bridge and so it requires a trek of almost 5 to 6 hours in total. But it is better to start early and finish before 5 pm because it gets dark soon in Meghalaya and returning becomes difficult once the sky darkens. This fall is also called the Seven Colours Falls.

• Location: Nongriat, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 100 meters
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Notable Features: Known for the rainbow formed by sunlight hitting the mist, requiring a trek through lush forests to reach.

7. Dainthlen Waterfall

This is another famous tourist attraction situated in Cherrapunji. This waterfall flows from a height of about 90 metres. Dain-Thlen was named after a battle between the villagers and a greedy and corrupted python named Thlen. In the end, the snake was defeated and destroyed by the villagers with a huge stone, beating it with it. One can explore the carvings of the snake on the huge rocks there near the falls. A careful trek over rocks is required to reach the viewpoint for the falls. And the best part is, you’ll be witnessing the falls, the water gushing forth, from the above, not from below. You’ll also be able to witness a rainbow sometimes.

• Location: Sohra, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 80 meters
• Best Time to Visit: July to October
• Notable Features: Known for its unique rock formations and the legend of the evil serpent “Thlen” associated with it.

8. Wei Sawdong Falls

The Wei Sawdong waterfall is one of the famous waterfalls in Meghalaya, something that will pop into many people’s heads when talking about waterfalls. The water is sparkling and has an undeniable emerald hue to it. It is located in Cherrapunji, otherwise known as Sohra. It is another of the three-tier waterfalls in Meghalaya. This fall is located in proximity to the Dain-Thlen Waterfalls. The name Wei Sawdong is derived from the language spoken locally by the Khasi people, the Khasi language; it means square-shaped, which resembles the pool of the falls.

• Location: Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 30 meters
• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Notable Features: A three-tiered waterfall with crystal-clear water and a unique circular plunge pool.

9. Bishop And Beadon Falls

The Bishop and Beadon Falls is located in Shillong in the Suna Valley. The Beadon Falls is called the twin brother of the Bishop Falls as they flow from the same steep but at a little distance from each other. One can view both the falls at a viewpoint across a deep ravine at Mawlai. Unlike many other falls, the Beadon Falls is long and narrow and falls into the Umiam River, and the falls look like a long white ribbon flowing from the hills. As the morning weather might be hazy, one can avoid visiting it then.

• Location: Shillong, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Bishop Falls – 135 meters, Beadon Falls – 100 meters
• Best Time to Visit: June to October
• Notable Features: Twin waterfalls set amidst a dense forest, offering a scenic escape within city limits.

10. Sweet Falls

This fall is not as popular as the other falls but is a cascading beauty. It is situated in Happy Valley and is present amid the Khasi Hills and its pine forests and is considered a relaxing spot best suited for family picnics where one could enjoy the serenity. Although, it is also named one of the most dangerous falls in the state of Meghalaya. The rocks surrounding it are slippery and many accidents have been reported there, so the Meghalaya tourist department has made the place prohibited for tourist visits.

• Location: Shillong, Meghalaya, India
• Height: Approximately 96 meters
• Best Time to Visit: June to September

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Meghalaya is a wondrous place, especially for the waterfalls present there. Its climatic conditions have made the place naturally beautiful and an amazing tourist destination. So one must visit the waterfalls present there without fail. Pack up your bags and get ready for a watery adventure!