The Umngot is the clear-water river you have seen on Instagram. Most people see it on a rushed day trip from Shillong: an hour at the Dawki bridge, a boat ride, back in the car. Do the opposite. Ride a shared Sumo down from Shillong, then sleep by the river at Shnongpdeng or Darrang, a few kilometres upstream, where there are tents, homestays, kayaks and cliff jumps. Mawlynnong, the 'cleanest village', is on the same road. Give it two nights, and come between November and March, when the water is clearest.
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When to go
Meghalaya Tourism lists October to May as the season. The water is clearest in the dry months, roughly November to March or April. In the monsoon the river runs brown and fast and water activities can stop. In late 2025 silt from the Shillong-Dawki road works clouded the river even after the rains; boats kept running, but check recent photos before you go.
Dawki right now and the next 7 days
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Dawki on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Dawki & Shnongpdeng · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 27 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Dawki & Shnongpdeng in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Canoe on the Umngot1 h · ₹1,000 each · Per boat, not per person. Shnongpdeng is calmer than the crowd under the Dawki bridge.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Kayaking at Shnongpdeng1 h · ₹500 each · Around ₹500-600 per person from local operators. Fine for first-timers.
- 15:00Cliff jumping1 h · ₹250 each · Guided jumps reported at ₹200-300. Only with a local guide who knows the depth that day.
- 08:00Scuba try-dive2 h · ₹3,500 each · Reported at ₹2,800-3,500. Only worth it when the water is clear; ask for that day's visibility.
- 10:30Mawlynnong village and the Riwai root bridgeHalf day · ₹50 each · Small fees for the Sky Walk (₹10-30 reported) and the Riwai bridge (about ₹20); parking about ₹200 a vehicle. Closed to visitors on Sundays since January 2026.
- 15:00Walk the Shnongpdeng suspension bridge30 m · free · The high footbridge over the river. Best view of the boats from above.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Day trip: Mawlynnong and RiwaiHalf day · price to check · Taxi, or shared Sumo to the junction (on the Shillong road, turn at Riwai junction)
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Dawki
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus Cheapest
₹200Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) and ASTC buses; MTC fares start around ₹200 on ticket sites. Shared taxis from Paltan Bazar cost much more (about ₹800-1,100 a seat).
Shared Sumo Last leg
₹200About ₹150-200 a seat. Leaves when full, roughly 6:30 am to 2 pm; after 2:30 pm departures dry up. The road is 80-85 km.
Private taxi
₹3,000About ₹2,500-3,500 per car one way, or ₹3,500-4,500 for a Mawlynnong-Dawki day loop. Price is for the whole car; split it. Self-drive rentals for tourists are banned in Meghalaya.
Auto or taxi drop Last leg
₹350About 8 km. Around ₹300-400 for the drop; share it.
Getting around once you're there
Country boat
₹1,000Hand-paddled canoes at Dawki and Shnongpdeng, commonly ₹800-1,500 per boat for 30-60 minutes. Agree the price and time with the boatman first.
Shared Sumo
₹200Back to Shillong, or to the Riwai junction for Mawlynnong. Go early.
On foot
FreeShnongpdeng village, the suspension bridge and the pebble beaches are all walkable from the camps.
Where to stay in Dawki
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Riverside tent, half board
₹2,400/nightOne operator lists ₹1,200 per person sharing with breakfast, dinner and bonfire (₹1,700 with boating). Washroom quality varies a lot between camps; look before you pay.
Homestay
₹1,000/nightRoughly ₹500-1,500 a night. Darrang, 5 km upstream, is the quietest.
Homestay, booked online
₹3,500/nightOnline listings run higher, around ₹3,500 a room. Your host must register you on the state tourism app; carry photo ID.
Organised camp, all in
₹7,800/nightListed on the Meghalaya Tourism site at ₹3,900 per head (₹2,900 in a regular tent), with meals, barbecue, bonfire and boating. Book through the Meghalaya Tourism helpline.
What to eat, and what it costs
Camp meal: rice, dal, pork or fish
₹250Most camps cook for guests. Order dinner when you arrive.
Local Khasi meal at a riverside stall
₹300Reported at ₹200-400 a meal. Try jadoh (rice cooked with pork) if you eat meat.
Doh khlieh (pork salad) in Shillong
₹150About ₹120-170 in Shillong. Eat well there before the drive down.
Things to do in Dawki
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Canoe on the Umngot
₹1,000Per boat, not per person. Shnongpdeng is calmer than the crowd under the Dawki bridge.
Kayaking at Shnongpdeng
₹500Around ₹500-600 per person from local operators. Fine for first-timers.
Cliff jumping
₹250Guided jumps reported at ₹200-300. Only with a local guide who knows the depth that day.
Scuba try-dive
₹3,500Reported at ₹2,800-3,500. Only worth it when the water is clear; ask for that day's visibility.
Mawlynnong village and the Riwai root bridge
₹50Small fees for the Sky Walk (₹10-30 reported) and the Riwai bridge (about ₹20); parking about ₹200 a vehicle. Closed to visitors on Sundays since January 2026.
Walk the Shnongpdeng suspension bridge
FreeThe high footbridge over the river. Best view of the boats from above.
Day trips and next stops
Mawlynnong and Riwai
Check fareTaxi, or shared Sumo to the junction
Darrang village
Check fareTaxi or walk
Jowai and the Jaintia Hills
Check fareShared taxi or cab
Sylhet, Bangladesh
Check fareOn foot across the land border, then road
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Dawki sits on the India-Bangladesh border. The UK FCDO notes skirmishes on that border and advises checking with local authorities; stay on the Indian side and follow BSF instructions at the river.
- Meghalaya requires every hotel, homestay and camp to register guests on the state tourism app, and has banned self-drive car rentals for tourists. Carry photo ID. An entry-registration system was proposed in July 2026; check whether it is in force.
- The 'glass river' depends on the season and on road works upstream. In the monsoon, and on some days in late 2025, the water was brown. Check recent photos before planning the trip around it.
Ways to spend less
- Sleep at Shnongpdeng or Darrang, not Shillong. You get the river at dawn, before the day-trip cars arrive.
- Take the shared Sumo from Shillong's Anjalee stand before 2 pm: ₹200 against ₹3,000 for a taxi.
- Visit Mawlynnong on a weekday on the way down. It closes to visitors on Sundays.
Before-you-go checklist
Dawki in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Dawki & Shnongpdeng?
Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec is the best time. Meghalaya Tourism lists October to May as the season. The water is clearest in the dry months, roughly November to March or April. In the monsoon the river runs brown and fast and water activities can stop. In late 2025 silt from the Shillong-Dawki road works clouded the river even after the rains; boats kept running, but check recent photos before you go.
How do I reach Dawki & Shnongpdeng?
Bus: Guwahati → Shillong, 3-3.5 h, about ₹200 one way. Private taxi: Shillong → Dawki, 3 h, about ₹3,000 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Dawki & Shnongpdeng cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹4,800 on a shoestring, ₹8,400 mid-range or ₹16,500 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Guwahati → Shillong) at about ₹200 each way.
How many days do you need in Dawki & Shnongpdeng?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Canoe on the Umngot, Kayaking at Shnongpdeng, Cliff jumping, Scuba try-dive without rushing.
Is Dawki & Shnongpdeng good for families or solo travellers?
Dawki & Shnongpdeng works best for solo, couples, groups. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Dawki & Shnongpdeng?
Khasi food is pork-heavy, but rice, dal and vegetables are always possible, and camps will cook vegetarian if you ask when you book. Vegan is workable on rice-dal-sabzi; do not expect variety.
Will my phone and cards work in Dawki & Shnongpdeng?
Indian SIMs work at Dawki town; signal is patchy down at the Shnongpdeng camps. Almost nowhere at the river. Some online-booked homestays take cards or UPI. Bring cash from Shillong. Boats, camps and Sumos are cash or UPI.
Sources and last check
Checked 25 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- meghalayatourism.in OfficialDawki in West Jaintia Hills on the Bangladesh border; gateway to Shnongpdeng and Darrang camps; ~80 km from Shillong via NH206, 55 km from Jowai via Amlarem; best time October-May; visiting hours 6 am-6 pm; activities
- meghalayatourism.in OfficialUmngot about 85 km / 3 h from Shillong, 196 km from Guwahati airport; snorkelling, scuba, kayaking, canoe; minimum 2 days recommended; local guide contacts
- meghalayatourism.in OfficialRiverside camp at Shnongpdeng listed at INR 3,900 per head (safari tent) and INR 2,900 (regular tent) with meals, barbecue, bonfire, boating (seen via search index; page is script-rendered)
- gov.uk OfficialSkirmishes on India-Bangladesh border, check with local authorities; Assam-Meghalaya border flare-ups; NE blockades. No advise-against area covers Meghalaya
- trekgo.inShared Sumo Shillong (Anjalee stand) to Dawki ₹150-200, 6:30 am-2 pm; private taxi ₹2,500-3,500 one way, ₹3,500-4,500 day loop; Dawki-Shnongpdeng 8 km, drop ₹300-400; Darrang 5 km upstream; Mawlynnong via Riwai junction (dated 15 Aug 2026)
- ixigo.comGuwahati-Shillong MTC bus fares from about ₹200
- trekgo.inGuwahati-Shillong shared taxi seat ₹800-1,100
- discoverwithdheeraj.comBoating ₹800-1,500 per boat (some 2025 reports ₹1,500-3,000); guest registration on state tourism app (18 Jun 2025 directive); self-drive rental ban; entry registration proposed Jul 2026 not in force; no ILP for Indians (updated 23 Oct 2026)
- outlooktraveller.comMandatory guest registration at all accommodations via state tourism app; self-drive rental ban (19 Jun 2025)
- nenow.inProposed tourist registration centres, first at Umling, Ri-Bhoi (12 Jul 2026)
- tribuneindia.comUmngot turned murky from Shillong-Dawki road silt; boating continued (27 Nov 2025)
- finestresullarte.infoMawlynnong closed to visitors on Sundays since January 2026; parking about ₹200 a vehicle (11 Mar 2026)
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 27 October 2026 · Photo: Prabhat114 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: ANKAN · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Arindambasu2 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Diablo0769 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: ANKAN · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
