Avoid
Shnongpdeng in September
Meghalaya, India
September Shnongpdeng is the river calming down but not yet trustworthy. The water is brown, the currents are unpredictable, and the operators are still closed.
The September story
Late September might see the first kayak operators testing conditions. Do not be the test kayak.
Why September scores 1/5
Weather
Late monsoon
Roads & Access
note: From Dawki â 3km. From Shillong â 80km, 3 hrs. Near Bangladesh border.. from nearest city: Shillong 80km, 3 hrs
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. note: No hospital in village. Dawki PHC 3km. Shillong 80km for serious cases.. rescue: BSF + district admin. ambulance: 108 to Dawki. nearest hospital: PHC Dawki (3km)
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. BSNL works. Airtel patchy. Near border so signals fluctuate.
Kids
Kid-friendly (3/5) â River activities available, Camping experience
Elevation
285m â Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- âFirst-time travelers
- âSenior citizens
- âpatient travelers scouting for October
Who should think twice
- âeveryone looking for water activities
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5/5 | January Shnongpdeng is the glass river at its clearest â boats float on water so transparent they look airborne. |
| February | 5/5 | February Shnongpdeng is January without the New Year rush. |
| March | 4/5 | March Shnongpdeng adds heat to clarity. The river is still transparent and now warm enough for long swims without the January chill. |
| April | 3/5 | April Shnongpdeng is hot river country. The clarity fades slightly as pre-monsoon rains upstream start adding sediment. |
| May | 3/5 | May Shnongpdeng is the last month you can reasonably camp by the Umngot. |
| June | 1/5 | Monsoon â dangerous |
| July | 1/5 | Peak monsoon â avoid |
| August | 1/5 | Monsoon continues |
| Septemberviewing | 1/5 | Late monsoon |
| October | 4/5 | October Shnongpdeng comes back to life. The Umngot is clearing day by day and by mid-month the glass-bottom effect returns. |
| November | 5/5 | November Shnongpdeng is the river reborn transparent. |
| December | 5/5 | December Shnongpdeng is the Umngot at its most impossibly clear. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Shillong 80km, 3 hrs
Elevation
285m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
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