This month, you could be wandering a pink Meghalaya hillside, plate of jadoh in hand (here’s where to get it from), with a stage somewhere down the road, warming up for the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival. Established in 2016 as a celebration of the autumn blooms, the festival has since grown and gained widespread attention, having hosted legends from Boney M to Akon and Clean Bandit. This year, it returns on November 20 and 21 with Khalid, Swae Lee, and Boys Like Girls. This time it has a new permanent home at the New Shillong Highland Grounds in Mahmawdkuk, about 30 minutes from the city centre, so where you stay shapes your whole weekend.
From heritage getaways with cosy fireplaces and wood-panelled rooms to Assamese-style cottages on stone stilts, Shillong has a wide range of budget homestays and boutique hotels to choose from. Whether you want to stay in the thick of the action or a world away from it, here’s our roundup of nine places to call home during the fest:
Clover House Homestay, Nongrim Hills
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Nestled in Nongrim Hills is Clover House, a haven for those looking for an intimate yet luxurious stay. Managed by a professional private host and staff, the property is tucked into a residential neighborhood, complete with spacious, rustic interiors and a sprawling front lawn. If you’re looking to punctuate your stay with some delicious Italian food and cocktails, the eatery Roma is a four-minute drive away. Up past midnight looking for a late-night grub? Try the New Embassy Food Corner, a local Khasi food favourite that’s 15 minutes from home.
Established in 1898, Pinewood Hotel in European Ward is a name synonymous with old-school grandeur. Spread out over eight cottages, rooms here come with a view—the hotel is flanked by lofty pine trees and is only a stone’s throw from Ward’s Lake. Looking for a good stroll and yummy street food? At nearby Lady Hydari Park, vendors serve classics from pani puri to alu muri with their own unique flavour. This heritage hotel also comes complete with a heritage restaurant (aptly named Pinecone) and a bar.
Set in the heart of Police Bazaar, Hotel Centre Point puts Shillong’s busiest streets, shops, and cafes right outside your door. The city is within easy reach, but the hotel is just as appealing from the inside, decked with modern art and colourful interiors that lend it a cosy yet contemporary feel. If you’re looking to explore, the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures is a short drive away, a good stop for an introduction to the traditions, clothing, and crafts of northeast India. Iewduh (Bara Bazaar), one of the region’s oldest markets, is also close by, and its stalls of Khasi produce, ingredients, and clothing show you everyday city life.
Overlooking Umiam Lake, Ri Kynjai is a good fit if you like waking up to idyllic water views. It sits on the lake in Umiam, about 45 minutes from Shillong, so a trip to the city is a full day out. Several rooms have private sit-outs facing the lake, a dreamy spot for a slow morning with a cup of tea. At Sao Aiom, the resort’s restaurant, you can order Indian, Chinese, and continental dishes alongside Khasi specialities like Cherrapunji chicken and smoked pork with bamboo shoot. The spa offers traditional Khasi-style massages and treatments, and the trekking trails and waterfalls nearby make it easy to fill a day. It’s a great place to retreat to after the festival crowds.
Price: ₹20,000 onwards a night November 22 onwards
This list’s palatial entry is The Heritage Club - Tripura Castle Hotel and Spa. Perched on a pine-covered hillock, Tripura Castle was once the summer retreat of the region’s royal family. Quaint, wood-panelled interiors with cosy fireplaces and open gardens set the scene, and the rooms are among the largest in Shillong. At Rice Court, the restaurant, you can tuck into Indian and Chinese dishes alongside a few Khasi specialities, while the cafe serves a Shillong-style fried rice indoors or alfresco. When you’re ready to venture out, Rynsan’s award-winning contemporary take on Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo food is just 15 minutes away.
Set in a quiet, old corner of Shillong, Aerodene Cottage is a family-run boutique guest house dating back to the 1950s. It has been carefully restored to retain its traditional Assamese-style structure, with stone stilts and wooden panels framing bamboo walls coated in sand and lime. Each of the five bedrooms has its own style and an ensuite bathroom, and wide windows open onto the gardens. Mornings begin with birdsong, afternoons call for tea under the fruit trees, and the hosts also run yoga and meditation sessions for guests who want a more easy-going stay. Meals are homely and served in the cottage’s dining room. Police Bazaar and Kyrsoi are a short drive away when you’re ready to head into the city.
Price: ₹6,500 onwards per night, including breakfast
Located in Lachumiere, one of Shillong’s prime neighbourhoods, Cafe Shillong Bed & Breakfast is a boutique bungalow about 70 years old. It retains much of the character of old Shillong architecture, with rustic furniture and knick-knacks that give each room its own personality. Go for a Classic or Luxury room on the ground floor if you’d like a garden view and more space, as the Standard rooms are on the compact side. Breakfast is homely and served in the dining room, the in-house chef can cook other meals on request, and tea in the garden is a good way to wind down.
Ri Shat Sngi is the practical pick on Umiam Lake for travellers who want to be close to the water without paying resort prices. It sits near the Dyke Bridge in Mawlyngkhung, so it’s an easy first or last stop if you’re driving into Shillong for the festival. The rooms are modern and well furnished, and the lake’s boating point is close by, which makes a morning on the water simple to plan. Afterwards, Zafferano Restro Lounge, the resort’s restaurant, serves great Chinese and Indian fare. Shillong is about 45 minutes away, so you can dip into the festival and come back to a calmer evening.
Windermere is made for those who want a hillside stay, with fresh air, gorgeous panoramic views, and a break from the city’s noise. Especially popular with families, the hotel is known for its cosy stays and well-maintained rooms. The peaceful surroundings leave plenty of room for outdoor activities, whether you’re in for a hike or a buggy tour of the hotel campus or would prefer to simply sit back and soak in the view. With easy access to Shillong’s main attractions, it works as a handy base for travelling into the city during the Cherry Blossom Festival and then retreating somewhere quieter at the end of the day.
