One of the wettest places on earth, Cherrapunjee or Cherrapunji lies at an elevation of 4,500 ft. This stunning location is set amidst misty valleys, foaming rivers and swirling clouds. Its pristine beauty and perpetual mists make it one of the top tourist stopovers in the city. The name 'Cherrapunjee' means land of oranges, and it was first used by tourists visiting from other parts of the country. 

This place has only one season - monsoon. The rainfall varies from light to medium to heavy but it rains all year round. Interestingly, it rains mostly at night and day activities are not disrupted by the weather.

It lies at a distance of nearly 64 km from the city of Shillong and is the administrative headquarters of Jaintia hills as well as the commercial centre. It is situated near the Myntdu river and offers spectacular views of the ambient landscape. Among the major attractions of this town are the buzzing market of La Musiang and the oldest Jowai Presbyterian Church. Tourists can also pay a visit to the Tryshi Falls, which is often compared with the beautiful Elephant Falls. A bridge connects the waterfalls with expansive paddy fields and one can get panoramic views of the Pynthor Nein from here. Adventure seekers can set on a trek to the bottom of the falls. A four-day festival, called Behdeinkhlam, is held in the monsoon month of July and is quite popular.

Laitlum Canyons is the perfect place to get wide, sweeping and picturesque views of the state of Meghalaya. The name 'Laitlum Canyons' literally means end of the world or end of hills. It is located about 45 km from the city of Shillong. Trekkers, adventure lovers and thrill seekers can have a grand time as the place offers long, rocky and lush green treks. The terrain, though a little difficult to navigate, offers the best views. A long stairway on the side of the mountain with about 3,000 steps is the only route between the village and the nearest market. The best time to visit the place is in the afternoon hours as mornings are usually foggy and the view cannot be enjoyed properly.

Buckle up and set off on a splendid drive of 95 km from the city of Shillong to the International trade route border town of Dawki. Located in the Jaintia Hills, this town is sandwiched between the countries of India and Bangladesh and is a major trading centre. Deep gorges and ravines greet one on the way to Dawki and on approaching Dawki, is the Umngot river, the venue of the annual boat race held during the spring months of March - April at Umsyiem. Visitors come here to experience boat rides on the river and enjoy the scenic surroundings. The suspension bridge over the Umngot river, built by the British in 1932, is a beautiful sight and is worth a visit.

Umlawan Cave is located about 60 km east of Jowai and is an exciting stopover for adventure lovers and backpackers. It is believed to be one of the longest cave systems in the Indian sub-continent and is joined by two caves, namely, Umskor and Kot-Sati, which make up its length to about 21 km. This unspoilt and unexplored cave system boasts stalactite and stalagmite formations. It has 24 horizontal and vertical entrances so no part of the cave is more than one hour from the nearest entrance. However, during monsoons, the entrance to the cave is submerged and one has to swim to enter it.

Umiam Lake is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Meghalaya that is situated about 15 km from Shillong. It is more easily recognised as Bara Pani, and covers an area of about 220 sq km. The surrounding Sylvan Hills and green Khasi pines add to the majesty of this vast lake, which was created when the Umiam river was dammed to store water for hydroelectric power generation. Though it was initially established as a dam or a reservoir, it is now a popular tourist attraction. It is also known for water sports and adventure facilities such as kayaking, water cycling, scooting and boating.

Since the lake boasts picturesque and panoramic surroundings, it is often compared with the beautiful lakes of Scotland. There is a lovely garden near its shores called the Lum Nehru Park, which is a must-visit point for birdwatchers. Apart from being a popular picnic spot, the park is also known for its orchid house, aviary and sprawling lawns. It is dotted with huge pine trees on either side and has a lot of space where children can play.