How to reach Shillong

Shillong, popularly known as the 'Abode of Clouds', is a lovely hill station in Meghalaya. Peace lovers, vacationers and nature enthusiasts throng this place in large numbers to enjoy its rich natural beauty. As it is a popular tourist destination, how to go Shillong is a question asked quite often. However, reaching here from anywhere in the country is not a difficult task. The place is well linked with several Indian cities and towns via air, rail and road. The Shillong Airport in Umroi is about 35 km from the city and Guwahati Railway Station (135 km away) is the nearest railhead. Travellers can also reach here from nearby cities and towns courtesy Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) buses.

By air: How to reach Shillong by air is one of the prime questions travellers ask mostly. Shillong Airport, located 35 km away at Umroi, is a domestic airport that links the hill station with Kolkata via Air India regional flights. Another bigger and convenient airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Guwahati, which is approximately 130 km away from Shillong. There are regular flight options being offered by most of the major carriers such as AirAsia India, GoAir, Air India and Jet Airways from here for Delhi, Bagdogra, Imphal, Bangalore, Agartala, Kolkata, Silchar and Mumbai, to name a few destinations. After landing at the airport, visitors can avail of state bus services or hire taxis to reach various destinations. Besides, one can also opt for cabs as Guwahati to Shillong taxi fare is not that much.

By road:
A number of Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) buses operate from Guwahati to Shillong. Depending upon their budget and requirement, travellers can choose from sleeper, air conditioned, luxury and Volvo buses. Travellers can also drive to Shillong from Guwahati via NH 40, a journey that takes around 3 to 4 hours to cover a distance of 135 km.
By rail:
Guwahati Railway Station is the nearest railhead to Shillong, which is about 135 km away. The Guwahati Railway Station is well connected to major cities in India via an extensive rail network. Premium trains such as Rajdhani Express takes about 34 hours to reach Guwahati from New Delhi. From outside the station, travellers can hire a taxi or cab or take a bus to reach Shillong.