Getting Around Shillong
Shillong is a compact hill city, and much of it is best experienced on foot. The city itself is small and can be easily covered walking and exploring the hills and people. That said, a mix of shared taxis, city buses, and hired cabs will help you cover the places that sit outside the central core.
Rail, Metro and Tram
There is no rail network in Meghalaya, so Shillong has no train station, metro, or tram service. The nearest railway station is in Guwahati, which is well connected with all major cities of India. If you plan to arrive by train, you will need to complete the final leg of the journey by road, taxi, or another mode from Guwahati.
Buses and Public Transport
For travel within the city limits, city buses are a good option. Two kinds of buses pass through Shillong: the City bus and the Bazar bus. The maroon city buses operated by the Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) are ideal for commuting within the city.
- On SPTS city buses, the conductor carries an electronic ticketing machine, and passengers buy their tickets from him as soon as they board.
- For longer journeys, interstate buses connect Shillong with Guwahati. The main interstate bus stand sits right next to Guwahati railway station.
- Buses run by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) ply between Guwahati and Shillong. Fares vary by bus class — ordinary, semi-deluxe, and deluxe — and many of the buses are quite old.
- Private buses also run between the two cities, leaving from the Paltan Bazar area of Guwahati. They may be better built but are occasionally crowded and make more stops en route.
- Buses from Silchar typically depart twice daily, in the morning and the evening, and the road passes through mountainous terrain that can make for a long, bumpy ride.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Within the city, black and yellow unmetered shared taxis ply the roads. They are faster than buses and are always shared, with fares varying depending on the trip. Because they are shared, drivers often pick up additional passengers heading the same way in order to make a better fare.
- If you negotiate the "hire" of a taxi instead, the driver will not pick up other passengers or stop roadside to find more — but the fare will be significantly higher than simply hailing a passing shared taxi.
- For sightseeing, it is a good idea to hire a taxi for the full day, and the fare should be fixed before you set off.
- Shared taxis are also the main way to reach Shillong from Guwahati. They are readily available from the Paltan Bazar area, adjacent to the railway station, and are generally SUV-sized vehicles shared between passengers.
- On arrival from Guwahati, cabs drop you at Police Bazaar, from which you can get a ride to almost any part of Shillong.
Although the city has a high ratio of vehicles to population, traffic is slow and disciplined compared with most of India. Roads within the city are generally in good shape, though many roads outside the city are in bad condition due to heavy rains and poor maintenance.
Walking
Walking is the best way to get around Shillong. The city is small and easily covered on foot, and exploring the hills and neighbourhoods on foot is part of the experience. Given the pleasant, pollution-free climate, walking is a comfortable option for most of the year, though the monsoon rains from June through October can make it worth planning around the weather.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Shillong Airport (SHL) at Umroi is a small airport with flights from Kolkata on certain days of the week. A bus operated by the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTDC) runs from the airport to Shillong market, making it a straightforward option for reaching the city.
Guwahati Airport (GAU) is the nearest international airport, with flights from Bangkok, and is a common gateway for visitors heading to Shillong. From Guwahati, you can reach Shillong by road via shared taxi or bus, or by helicopter.
- By helicopter: The government of Meghalaya operates a helicopter service to and from Guwahati Airport, as well as to and from Tura. It flies to the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Shillong, an Air Force heliport located away from the city centre. Tickets are modestly priced and can be booked from the Meghalaya Helicopter Service counter at Guwahati airport and from Meghalaya Transport Corporation counters in Shillong. Note that the service has been subject to suspension for maintenance, so it is worth confirming it is running before you rely on it.
- By shared taxi: Shared taxis from the Paltan Bazar area of Guwahati are a popular way to reach Shillong. These are generally SUV-sized vehicles shared between passengers, and the journey takes around three hours. Sleeker cars are also available for private hire at higher prices.
- By bus: ASTC and MTC buses ply from Guwahati to Shillong, with fares varying by class. The trip usually includes a mid-way stop at Nongpoh to freshen up and get refreshments — also a good place to pick up bamboo pickles and other condiments.