Table of Contents
Meghalaya means abode of clouds; it is a land of ancient traditions and modern discoveries, with fascinating history and culture. People from all over the country flock to the holy sites to worship and participate in religious festivals and ceremonies in Meghalaya.
Meghalaya has a rich history and mythological stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses that carry a century-old heritage. Here is a list of the top pilgrimage sites in Meghalaya.
One of the world’s most devout pilgrimage sites, Mawsynram, located in Mawsynram village on the Khasi hills, draws thousands of people every year during the monsoons or the time of ‘Sravan’ who pay their homage to the naturally formed ‘shiva linga’ in the cave.
Mawsynram is around 60 km by road from Shillong, and it is one of the wettest places on the earth due to the unexpected rains throughout the year.
Nartiang Durga Temple is a 500-year-old temple of Maa Durga located on West Jaintia Hills, around 65 km from Shillong. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths distributed across the country.
Since this Shakti Peeth is located in the Jaintia hills, Goddess Durga is also known as Jainteshwari.
Religious ceremonies and pujas are performed as per Khasi and Hindu traditions. Pilgrims come here in large numbers during Durga puja to celebrate the occasion with utmost devotion.
Mahadev Khola Dham is a 150-years-old temple of Lord Shiva located in Shillong. A huge shivling was found at the place during an excavation, and since then, this temple has been dedicated to Lord Shiva. This place is decorated and visited by devotees during Maha Shivratri, and a huge Mela (fair) is organised every year with three days of celebrations.
Matri Mandir, a 1000-years-old shrine located on the hillocks of Shillong, has a unique architecture with old charm and exquisiteness of artistic carvings. It is also known as Ramna Kalibari.
This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and looks beautiful every night when a grand puja is performed for Goddess Kali. A huge crowd of devotees visit this temple during Diwali, when it is lit and decorated with lights and flowers.
If you travel by road on National Highway 6, you can easily visit this temple dedicated to Sai Baba. It is situated in Byrnihat, which is around 76 km from Shillong. It’s a location near the lake, which gives it a tranquil and beautiful view.
Meghalaya is also home to beautiful churches and cathedrals. Meghalaya has Christians as majority accounting for around 75% of the entire population. Although these churches carry religious reasons to visit, their architecture makes them the favourite tourist attractions. Mosques and Dargahs also attract tourists and followers for religious purposes and for their incredible architecture.
It is one of the most beautiful and the biggest church in Meghalaya, located on a hilltop in Shillong. The cathedral is named after Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. It has high arches and windows made of stained glass. The church holds daily prayer and mass services, making it the most favoured place for worshipers.
This shrine is situated 30 km off Jowai in a village named Ralian. It is an octagonal triple-storied structure with one huge hall and an altar. The Statue of Our Lady of Good Health is made with white marble, and the same is standing on a globe. The entire shrine has Roman architecture; the structure is a copy of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health in Turin, Italy. It is a famous missionary church.
It is located in Shillong, and the entire church is built in colonial-style architecture. The beauty of this church lies in the stained-glass paintings and wooden structures.
This Dargah is also known as Pristhan, and its history goes back to 700 years ago. It is located 80 km from Tura. Mela is held every year in April or May, when all devotees and followers and believers visit the Dargah for their prayers.
This mosque is located in Shillong and attracts followers who visit the Masjid to offer their prayers and have a look at the largest mosque made of glass. It’s beautiful at night, with lights and reflections all around. One can sit in the serene atmosphere and also enjoy the beautiful view.
The Northeast part of India, especially Meghalaya, is well-connected with other main cities of India by air, train and road.
The main airport of Meghalaya is in its capital Shillong, located at Umroi. It is around 30 km from the main city. Another major airport near Meghalaya is in Guwahati, although it is in the state of Assam. This is also well-connected to international cities and the main cities of India.
From Guwahati, you can travel to Shillong by air, road, or train. It takes around 2 hours 45 minutes to reach Shillong by road from Guwahati.
The nearest railway station connected with the rest of the cities in India is the Guwahati railway station in Assam. It is around 96 km from Shillong, and there are plenty of buses and cabs available from Guwahati railway station to reach Shillong.
Meghalaya is well-connected through the road to all the major cities of India via national Highway NH 27, whereas NH40 connects Guwahati to Shillong. The Meghalaya Transport Corporation runs its bus services to the neighbouring states and other cities. One can easily travel by bus or can hire a cab to enjoy the scenic beauty with halts as per your choice.
While you are looking for pilgrimage sites in Meghalaya, it does call for visiting other attractions to explore its incredible biodiversity, tropical dense rainforests, caves, waterfalls, bamboo forests, high-altitude grasslands, and majestic mountains.
Some of the other attractions in Meghalaya are listed below:
The best time to visit Meghalaya is from October till April, when the temperature is pleasant, from 4 °C – to 16 °C. Avoid monsoon season from July to September, when there is excessive rainfall that may hinder travelling within the state.
While this should be the first exercise when you plan a pilgrimage trip, it is advisable to follow a few tips in advance to have a safe, clean, and nice place to stay:
It is always better to be prepared in advance to enjoy your trip and stay. You can visit a site where you can explore all the modes of travel and stay easily. Cleartrip offers all the details and tips you require for the same to any part of the country or world.
The Government of Meghalaya does not ask for any special permission if you are within the city. However, if you wish to visit the places near the border, you need to check with your hotel or travel agent about the latest guidelines. In any case, carry your government-issued photo identification card with you.
It is mandatory for all to get RT-PCR testing at Entry Points. If not fully vaccinated (both doses) or not carrying an RT-PCR negative report issued by a recognised laboratory 72 hours before your arrival at the entry point, you may face issues with entry.
Your travel itinerary of seven days should be enough for you to enjoy the scenic beauty of Meghalaya.
The best time to visit Meghalaya is October to November when it’s cool and humid with a temperature range of 22 to 29 °C or December to February when it is cold with a temperature range of 4-16 °C.
As per Government regulations, a valid Photo ID is a must for check-ins or even while travelling.
