Fair
Cherrapunji (Sohra) in January
Meghalaya, India
January Cherrapunji is its driest — a shock given its rainfall reputation. 5-15°C, clear skies, and the living root bridges are safest to trek.
The January story
January offers the best trekking conditions for the famous double-decker root bridge at Nongriat (3,500 steps). The 335m Nohkalikai Falls has reduced flow but still impresses. Mawsmai Cave is comfortable without crowds.
Why January scores 3/5
Weather
Dry season. 5-15°C. Clear views of Bangladesh plains. Root bridge treks safe.
Roads & Access
self drive: Doable — parking available at viewpoints.. road condition: Good road from Shillong. Last stretch winding but paved.. public transport: Shared taxis from Shillong. Very limited local transport.. from nearest city: Shillong — 54km, 2hr. Guwahati — 150km, 4.5hr.. last km difficulty: easy to Sohra, moderate for Nongriat trek
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. rescue: SDMA Meghalaya — for trekking emergencies, alert local guides first. helpline: 100, 108. ambulance: 108 — response time 45min+. police station: Sohra PS — Sohra Bazaar. nearest hospital: PHC Sohra — very basic. Civil Hospital Shillong 54km for serious cases
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Airtel and BSNL work in Sohra town. NO signal at Nongriat root bridges or most trek routes. Download offline maps.
Kids
Kid-friendly (2/5) — Educational — living root bridges are unique, Waterfalls are spectacular, Nature immersion
Elevation
1,484m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Families with children
Who should think twice
- ✗Anyone needing constant connectivity
- ✗Cold, waterfalls at low flow
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 3/5 | Dry season. 5-15°C. Clear views of Bangladesh plains. Root bridge treks safe. |
| February | 4/5 | Dry. 6-17°C. Warming up. Excellent trekking. Clear canyon views. |
| March | 4/5 | Warming 8-20°C. Pre-monsoon. Good trekking. Light showers possible late March. |
| April | 3/5 | Warming 10-22°C. Pre-monsoon showers increasing. Waterfalls building. Tourist season. |
| May | 2/5 | Monsoon building. 12-22°C. Heavy showers. Treks becoming risky. Waterfalls spectacular. |
| June | 1/5 | Full monsoon. 14-20°C. 2000mm+ this month alone. Treks dangerous. |
| July | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Wettest month. 14-20°C. Record rainfall. Everything risky. |
| August | 1/5 | Heavy monsoon continues. 14-20°C. Slightly less than July but still extreme. |
| September | 2/5 | Monsoon retreating. 12-22°C. Rain decreasing. Landscape peak green. |
| October | 5/5 | Post-monsoon. 10-22°C. Dry, clear, waterfalls still flowing. Perfect. |
| November | 5/5 | Dry. 8-20°C. Clear views. Waterfalls still flowing. Root bridge treks optimal. |
| December | 4/5 | Dry. 5-18°C. Clear but cold. Waterfalls reducing. Good trekking. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Shillong — 54km, 2hr. Guwahati — 150km, 4.5hr.. Roads: Good road from Shillong. Last stretch winding but paved.. Self-drive: Doable — parking available at viewpoints.. Public transport: Shared taxis from Shillong. Very limited local transport.. Last stretch: easy to Sohra, moderate for Nongriat trek
Elevation
1,484m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Meghalaya scoring high in January
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