Here’s your guide to essential items you must carry on your trip to Shillong.
Shillong also known as “Scotland of the East”, is an arresting hill station nestled in Meghalaya. Rich in flora and fauna, mist-clad hills and blessed with a rich cultural heritage, Shillong offers both nature lovers as well as adventurers the perfect destination. Of course, to get the best out of this beautiful location you need to pack appropriately! No matter if it’s hiking through the hills or strolling through bazaars, we will provide valuable tips for an amazing trip!
Best Time to Visit Shillong
The most recommended time to visit Shillong is between September to May. The best part of the year for travelling to these places is during the months of March, April and May as the weather is predominantly good for sightseeing, trekking and other tourist activities. If you like the really wet season then June – August are good months to come but please, carry your raincoats!
How to Reach Shillong
The easiest way of getting to Shillong is by flying into Guwahati and covering the remaining distance of about 100km in a car ride. Shillong is about 3-4 hours from Guwahati by taxi or shared cabs are also available easily. The scenery is very beautiful and the drive through the hills is really interesting! There are also bus services that you can take and for adventurers, there are self-drive options.
What to Wear and Pack for Your Shillong Trip
To properly capture the scenery of Shillong, great packing etiquette is crucial. Here is a checklist of items you should bring for the trip so that it becomes an amiable, enjoyable, and smooth journey:
1. Basics
Due to the varying climates in Shillong, travelling with casual wear with additional gear depending on the season is advisable.
- Light Jackets and Warm Layers: Ironically, the evening in Shillong, especially during summer is cool regardless of the heat that is experienced in the rest of the country. Carry suitable clothes for the evening such as lighter jackets, hoodies and sweaters. Heavier woollen jackets, thermals and scarves are important during winter due to the severe cold weather.
- Comfortable Walking Shoes: Touring through Shillong city also implies trekking thus you should wear sneakers or trekking shoes. You are going to need them for hiking, sightseeing or to visit various markets.
- Rain Gear: If you intend to be there during the monsoons then kindly carry a raincoat and flashlight. The rains in Shillong are lovely but inconsistent and also having an umbrella will enable you to just enjoy the adventure.
- Sunglasses and Hats: Make sure that you protect your head and eyes from the high altitude sun with a hat and sunglasses respectively. It is good for outdoor activities, even on a cloudy day, some UV rays may be strong.
2. Essential Travel Accessories
Everything you are carrying during your travel should help in making your experience in Shillong a much better one.
- Backpack: For the day trip, hiking, and even getting around markets, the traveller needs a sound and lightweight backpack. Get a backpack that’s comfy to wear and large enough to accommodate both water bottle, camera and other necessary items.
- Water Bottle: Self-coring of water bottles is highly encouraged. Not only that it is good for your health since it will make you drink more water but it will also make you cut the expenses on bottled water while in a remote area.
- Power Bank and Chargers: Finally, if you are to explore the beauty of Shillong, you will be taking numerous pictures, constantly. Remember your power bank and your phone chargers so as not to run out of charge during those beautiful walks.
- Toiletries: Carry small-sized travelling bottles of soap, shampoo, face wash and sunscreen. Another practical thing coming from the travel experts about Shillong is that while the sun is high up there due to the high altitude, it also hurts the skin and therefore a good SPF Sunscreen is imperative.
3. Health and Safety Essentials
A ticket to any place like the Shillong should be secured with your health as a primary consideration, as access to adequate medical attention might be slightly hard, especially in certain parts of the hill station.
- Medicines and First Aid Kit: Essentials to pack include simple drugs to treat headaches, colds, allergies, and upset stomachs. Additionally, take the following few items, a spare dress, a small first-aid box that includes a bandage, anti-septic cream and any medication that may be necessary for the individual.
- Insect Repellent: If you intend to go hiking in the forests, near the lakes or the many waterfalls, don’t forget your insect repellent. Insects such as mosquitoes and other disease-carrying bugs could be easily found in some regions all the more during the monsoon season.
- Hand Sanitizer and Wet Wipes: Sanitation is paramount especially when travelling in remote regions. Carry a hand sanitiser and wet wipes with you at all times for cleaning in a snap.
Food Items: What to Try in Shillong
A visit to Shillong is not complete unless you taste the local cuisine! Here are some dishes you absolutely must try:
- Jadoh: This is a rice dish that is prepared by the Khasi people and prepared from pork normally cooked with local spices.
- Dohneiiong: Earthy in flavour, this preparation of pork is done with black sesame seeds.
- Tungrymbai: Soybean curd cooked with pork fat and mixed spices.
- Pumaloi: Cooked rice flour that is one of the side dishes consumed throughout the country.
Additionally, take a walk through the streets of Shillong for a tasty treat of Momos, Chowmein and a lot more delicacies!
Things to Shop in Shillong
Shillong offers a range of unique local products that you can take home as souvenirs:
Khasi and Naga Shawls
Men’s and women’s handwoven Khasi and Naga shawls are exquisite presentations of heirloom craftsmanship and must be bought. Consider a set of seven vibrant, warm shawls that are perfect gifts or could be a nostalgic reminder of your Shillong trip. Its golden sunshine will definitely catch your attention.
Bamboo Handicrafts
This area is also famous for its precision in bamboo food Hampers, household and decorative items, furniture etc. These make for perfect souvenirs to take home.
Local Spices
These markets in Shillong have local spices as their specialty and these spices are native to the region. These spices are available so you can take home a taste of Shillong with you!
Police Bazaar is quite a popular marketplace; visitors may find here shawls together with spicy snacks.
Relating to the climatic conditions, people packing for a trip to Shillong must expect anything that the unpredictable weather of this beautiful place can bring. In addition, Shillong’s rough terrains might urge you to carry some of the accessories that we suggested above. If you follow this Shillong packing guide, you will be ready to fully appreciate mother nature’s wonders, cultural richness, and gourmet treats in Shillong. Check out this packing list that covers everything you might need on your trip – and that means you don’t have to worry about a thing.
To get tentative updates about the weather in Shillong, you can use our dedicated weather forecast tool.