Road Trip from Guwahati to Shillong

Beside the mighty Brahmaputra river lies the biggest city in Assam – Guwahati. It is often regarded as the gateway to all of North-East India. The plains of Guwahati are not without their own charms – like the magnificent Kamakhya Temple, sunset by the Brahmaputra, and other city attractions like its many cafes and food outlets. What makes it even more exciting is a serene road trip from Guwahati to.. well, anywhere in the North East of India – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and also Meghalaya – the capital of which, is Shillong.

Also known as the ‘Scotland of the East, Shillong’s sheer beauty, authentic food, and warmth make it a well-loved destination. This teeming city boasts of lush hills, stunning waterfalls, languid lakes, and a melting pot of cultures within it. Not just that, the rolling hills, breathtaking landscapes, and some of the best sceneries of Meghalaya only add to making your drive from Guwahati a memorable experience.

Road trip from Guwahati to Shillong

I’ve explored India quite extensively by road, and this July, I took my maiden trip to the North East from Goa. Having done dozens of road trips in the past, I have the car-booking process down to the T, but this time, I had a curveball thrown my way. I had initially booked a Zoomcar in Guwahati weeks before my trip (the earlier you book, the better the rates are, and the more car options you have) but 24 hours before I was to fly, they emailed me with a cancellation, giving no concrete reason why.

I’ve had bad experiences with Zoomcar in the past, too, and as annoyed as I was, I had to begin the hunt for a rental car in the middle of a workday, with only a day to spare for my trip. On a side note, Zoomcar has been permanently kicked out of any future travel plans I make.

So there I was, mentally preparing myself to have to spend up to 10,000 INR more for a last-minute car rental booking, when I came across a brand called FuFu Gadi. To my surprise, I found options for brand-new cars (barely 6 months old) at a significantly lower cost than the Zoomcar I booked weeks ago, even though I was booking at the eleventh hour.

The next day, I boarded my first flight of the day from Goa to Delhi – a journey of 2.5 hours.  A 2-hour stopover in Delhi ensued, followed by another 3-hour flight to Guwahati. To put that into perspective, I left home in Goa at 11 AM and walked out of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati at 8 PM on the dot.

Our rental car from FuFu Gaadi was outside the airport, and we were in it and on our way, less than 10 minutes later. The car was in immaculate condition, clean as a whistle, and the handover procedure was extremely swift. I’ve booked several cars with Zoomcar and MyChoize over the years, and not once was the process as seamless as it was with FuFu Gaadi. I’d highly recommend the brand if you’re traveling in the North East!

How to get from Guwahati to Shillong?

After having spent the entire day in a plane, we did not want to drive another 20km to Guwahati city center for dinner and to find a place to crash for the night. So we drove around the vicinity of the airport looking for a place to stop for a quick meal and a comfortable hotel. We stopped at Grill Republica (Azara) to eat, and after finding 2-3 hotels at full occupancy, we settled for a decent hotel called Hotel Pamil Residency for Rs. 1600 a night. A clean bed and a good washroom were the only necessities for the night, which Hotel Pamil Residency had.

At 9 AM the next morning, after catching up with work, we set out to Shillong. At a distance of 120 km from Guwahati, the drive to Shillong takes 2-3 hours on average – child’s play! Wide roads in great condition will see you through most of the journey, until you begin the uphill, winding climb to Shillong. With narrow and steep highways carved through the hills, this meandering road is an adventure in itself! The National Highway 6 connects Guwahati to Shillong and the road comes with a scenic view of the sky-kissing pines and hills of northern Meghalaya.

There’s no real need for taking a break on this 3-hour drive, but it’s always a good idea. We stopped at a place called Highway Dhaba Two, which had extremely clean washrooms, average food, and bad tea. You can grab a hot meal and buy packaged snacks to tide you through the rest of the journey.

It takes a skilled driver to drive through the hills that merge with the clouds, especially if you’re travelling during the monsoons. While the plains of Assam are known for their heat, Shillong is much cooler. If you pull your windows down on your drive, you’ll experience a subtle transition in the temperatures outside.

What places can you visit on your drive from Guwahati to Shillong?

Your drive from Guwahati to Shillong covers many aesthetic and renowned spots where you can stop for a quick photoshoot or a meal. Here are three places you can consider visiting on your Guwahati-Shillong road trip:

The Breathtaking Barapani 

Also known as Barapani, the famous Umiam Lake of Shillong will charm you. It spreads over 200 sq km and boasts an unforgettable rich blue hue. Wrapped by green all along its banks, the magnificent lake in all its grandeur really brings out Meghalaya’s natural beauty. If you do not have the time to enter the lake premises, make a quick stop on the highway on your way to Shillong. Y

You can bask in the majestic view that this spot provides and pair it with a cup of hot tea. Its popularity makes it home to plenty of make-shift stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and local pickles. A stop at this lake really sets the mood for the rest of your adventure from Guwahati to Shillong.

Boating at Umiam Lake

Umiam Lake is an artificial waterbody on the way to Shillong. If you can spare the time to do it, consider a pit stop at this picturesque spot. Its gorgeous landscape dotted with tree-covered hills that merge with the clear Meghalaya sky will have you mesmerized. Consider taking a small snack break here or indulge in boating if you have more time on your hands. There are boating and speed-boating provisions available at the lake, along with a small restaurant if you wish to grab a bite. 

Pickle-Pineapple-Squash shopping at Nongpoh

Nongpoh is a dreamy little village on your way from Guwahati to Shillong. Apart from its quaint beauty, it is also well-known for its impressive collection of locally made pickles, and home-grown pineapples and squashes.

A lot of local commuters, including myself, can vouch for the sweetness of Meghalaya’s pineapples and squashes, especially the ones found in Nongpoh, for they are one of the finest in the region. Apart from that, if you are a fan of pickles – do consider buying a jar. In Nongpoh, you will find a variety of pickles made from vegetables, chilies, pork, and beef at stalls on either side of the highway. These flavourful preparations will have you coming back for more.

Your drive serves as an exciting trailer for the adventures that will follow. You get a peek into the natural beauty of Meghalaya, the traffic-choked streets of Shillong, the succulent food that awaits you, and the vibrant cultural diversity of North East India. Once you are in Shillong, that’s where your adventure begins. Depending on your preferences, you can just explore the city or visit other destinations nearby.

Within Shillong, you can shop at the Police Bazaar, spend a day at the stunning Ward’s Lake, pack a lunch and a book to spend a day at the Lady Hydari Park, or indulge in a sumptuous meal at the City Hut Dhaba. If you want to explore more of Meghalaya, Shillong makes places like Cherrapunjee, Dawki, and Laitlum really accessible. So no matter what you like doing on your adventures in the northeast, it all starts with a memorable road trip from Guwahati to Shillong.

Stay tuned for my next blog post on things to do in Shillong and Cherrapunji. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more adventures!