Fair
Shnongpdeng in May
Meghalaya, India
May Shnongpdeng is the last month you can reasonably camp by the Umngot. Afternoon thunderstorms are spectacular from the riverbank — if your tent holds.
The May story
Bring a rain-proof tent. May evenings deliver sudden downpours that test every zipper and seam you own.
Why May scores 3/5
Weather
May Shnongpdeng is the last month you can reasonably camp by the Umngot.
Roads & Access
note: From Dawki — 3km. From Shillong — 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) — River activities available, Camping experience
Elevation
285m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓storm-loving campers
- ✓adventure travelers
Who should think twice
- ✗families
- ✗fair-weather campers
- ✗clarity seekers
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5/5 | January Shnongpdeng is the glass river at its clearest — 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. |
| Mayviewing | 3/5 | May Shnongpdeng is the last month you can reasonably camp by the Umngot. |
| June | 1/5 | Monsoon — dangerous |
| July | 1/5 | Peak monsoon — avoid |
| August | 1/5 | Monsoon continues |
| September | 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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