Fair
Shillong in January
Meghalaya, India
January Shillong is crisp and clear — 4-15°C with blue skies over pine-covered hills. The cafe culture on Police Bazar Road runs year-round. Ward's Lake is peaceful without crowds.
The January story
Shillong's January rewards with its best weather clarity. The Don Bosco Museum (7 floors of NE India culture) deserves half a day. Cafe culture thrives — try Dylan's Cafe or Cloud 9. Live music at clubs on weekends. Budget stays from ₹500/night.
Why January scores 3/5
Weather
Cool 4-15°C. Clear skies, low tourists. Cherry Blossom afterglow. Live music scene year-round.
Roads & Access
self drive: Doable from Guwahati. City parking limited.. road condition: NH6 from Guwahati well-maintained. City roads good.. public transport: Shared taxis from Guwahati. City autos and taxis available.. from nearest city: Guwahati — 104km, 3hr by road. Shillong Airport (Umroi) 30km — limited flights.. last km difficulty: easy
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 4/5. rescue: SDMA Meghalaya. helpline: 100 (police), 108 (ambulance), 1077 (disaster). ambulance: 108 service active in Meghalaya. police station: Sadar PS — Jail Road, near Police Bazar. nearest hospital: Civil Hospital Shillong — Laitumkhrah. NEIGRIHMS (major hospital) 12km
Network
VI: No, JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Good 4G in Shillong city. Patchy signal towards Cherrapunji and Dawki. BSNL most reliable in rural Meghalaya.
Kids
Kid-friendly (4/5) — Pleasant weather year-round, Ward's Lake has boating and gardens, Don Bosco Museum is interactive and educational, Safe pedestrian areas, Good food options
Elevation
1,496m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Families with children
Who should think twice
- ✗Cold mornings, short days
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 3/5 | Cool 4-15°C. Clear skies, low tourists. Cherry Blossom afterglow. Live music scene year-round. |
| February | 3/5 | Cool 5-16°C. Pre-spring. Clear views of hills. Quiet month. |
| March | 4/5 | Warming 8-20°C. Spring flowers begin. Pleasant weather. Good trekking month. |
| April | 4/5 | Pleasant 10-22°C. Peak spring. Best weather. Tourist season begins. |
| May | 3/5 | Warm 12-24°C. Pre-monsoon showers begin late May. Still good. |
| June | 1/5 | Monsoon arrives. 15-22°C. Heavy rain. Waterfalls spectacular but roads risky. |
| July | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. 16-22°C. Very heavy rain. Landslide risk. |
| August | 1/5 | Monsoon continues. 16-22°C. Heavy rain but slightly less than July. |
| September | 2/5 | Monsoon retreating. 14-22°C. Rain decreasing. Green everywhere. |
| October | 5/5 | Post-monsoon perfection. 10-22°C. Clear skies, green hills, minimal rain. |
| November | 5/5 | Cherry Blossom Festival! 8-20°C. Clear weather. Cultural peak. |
| December | 4/5 | Cool 5-18°C. Clear weather. Holiday season. Christmas celebrations big here. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Guwahati — 104km, 3hr by road. Shillong Airport (Umroi) 30km — limited flights.. Roads: NH6 from Guwahati well-maintained. City roads good.. Self-drive: Doable from Guwahati. City parking limited.. Public transport: Shared taxis from Guwahati. City autos and taxis available.. Last stretch: easy
Elevation
1,496m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Meghalaya scoring high in January
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