About Mawlynnong

Meghalaya

Overview

Mawlynnong is a small Khasi village in the East Khasi Hills, widely known for its spotless lanes, bamboo dustbins and carefully tended gardens. Travellers walk quiet paths lined with betel and flowering plants, climb a tall bamboo sky walk for views toward the Bangladesh plains, and stroll about 15 minutes to the single-decker living root bridge at nearby Riwai. Homestays serve simple Khasi meals and make overnight stays easy. Mawlynnong sits on the same road corridor as Dawki, so most visitors see both in one loop from Shillong.

Best Time to Visit Mawlynnong

Plan your trip around the right season

Oct-AprBest Window

Why visit

Dry paths, clear sky-walk views and comfortable village walks. Easy to pair with a Dawki boat ride the same day.

Keep in mind

Weekends fill homestays and the sky walk queue. Book rooms ahead for holidays.

May-Sep

Why visit

Lush gardens and fuller streams around the root bridge. Fewer crowds on weekdays.

Keep in mind

Heavy rain makes bamboo walkways slippery. Clouds often block the plains view from the sky walk.

How to Reach Mawlynnong

Intercity connectivity and travel options

About 80 to 90 km from Shillong via Pynursla (roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by cab). Most travelers combine Mawlynnong with Dawki on a single hired vehicle. Shared local transport to the village gate is limited.

Getting Around Mawlynnong

Local transport and practical tips

Local transport

The village is walkable once you park. The Riwai living root bridge is a short downhill walk from the main path. Autos and shared jeeps within the cluster of villages are irregular.

Best Areas to Stay in Mawlynnong

Pick the right neighbourhood for your trip

Mawlynnong village homestays

Quiet overnight in the cleanest lanes

Family-run rooms put you inside the village so you can walk early before day-trip crowds arrive.

Riwai approaches

Root bridge focus

Stays closer to the living root bridge trail if that is your main stop before continuing to Dawki.

Shnongpdeng / Dawki camps

River night after a Mawlynnong afternoon

Camp by the Umngot after visiting the village, then boat at dawn.