Trip to Shillong and Cherrapunji

Hi everybody. This is my first post after a long time. I'm planning to visit Shillong and Cherrapunji this October. Could anyone help me with the planning and provide information like Where should I stay? What places to visit? What is the expenses? It would be basically a family tour with 6-7 persons. Please share your experiences. That would be very helpful for me. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks everybody.

A few questions for you:

1) Your time in hand?

2) Your budget?

3) Any elders in the group? If yes, their health status?

You will find many hotels near Police bazar in reasonable price.Last year we went there on 2nd October.We stayed at Hotel Ashutosh Inn(cost 1500 per day).
If you want good bengali food then go to BABA HOTEL.Its very good.
I would like to suggest not to go mousinram.You will enjoy the road from Shillong to Cherrapunji.Try to book MTDC bus package from Shillong to Cherrapunji because the guide is very good.The guy will entertain you a lot.

Thanks for your reply. It's a young group. Everyone is in good health condition. No elder is in the group. It'll be a 5-6 day tour. I didn't set any budget yet. It's flexible.

Would like to know if there is any specific reason for this.

PS - I am also considering for a trip to Meghalaya.

Ok. You can refer to http://http://www.indiamike.com/india/other-areas-f42/khublei-khasi-hills-shillong-trip-report-oct-t121039/]This for a general idea. However if your budget is flexible and you really want to get absorbed in nature, try to stay at Orchid lake resort at Umiam while at Shillong (Website Here). Or if you wana go for a budget hotel within the city of Shillong then go for Hotel Broadway. While in Shillong, try and visit the Golf course and the polo grounds along with other places.
You shall however need a dedicated vehicle for your entire trip as covering the places of interest in these areas is only possible on a vehcle. A family of 6-7 should fit in a Sumo or similar vehicle.The approx charges for a dedicated vehicle including fuel should not cost you more then 2500 per day. And accomodation is available from a range of 800 to 3000 per day for 2 persons. So it's totally your call as to how you wana go about it.
One important point is that while in Meghalaya, most of the site seeing requires a entry fees for a) Vehicle, b) Cameras, c) Persons seperately. Although it's not much say around Rs. 20 for a camera, 10 for a vehicle and 10 for a person but still by the end of the day you realize that a small hole in your pocket has been drilled by many small payments that you made at various points.
I hope you have got some idea by now. If any specific query then you can post it here and I shall try to answer it in detail.

Hi Biman,
Actually we went to mousinram.But there was not a single point to enjoy.We visited two or three spots...like natural cave and Sivling ..we found it meaningless to travel so many kilometers for seeing those spot....

Thank you for the info.

last dec ,we visited guahati and shilong.from guahati you can book a sumo.it will take 1000-1100 to drop to shilong.police bazar is the main area in shilong.but most of the sumo will drop you near 'anjali cinema',from there you have to hire taxi.we had suffered this.so before booking a sumo ,you should talk to them ,so that they will drop you at police bazar.'suruchi 'is the best bengali hotel for food at shilong.

one more thing.we visited mousinram also.but there are only 2 spot to watch.1-a shiv linga in a cave.2-a hot spring.but i think there is no meaning to travel so much just for this 2 places.

Thanks for your information..What else should we visit then apart from Shillong?

Could anyone give me any contact number for hiring cab/private vehicle from Guwahati to Shillong? That would be very helpful.

I don't have a contact number but I've never had any trouble with any of the sumos available from Guwahati airport.

If you are coming by flight, go for a pre paid taxi from LGB airport for Shillong directly. If by train, go towards the back side of the Railway station (Paltan bazar side) and there you shall find many cabs ready to depart for Shillong. Negotiate hard with them and make sure they drop you at Police Bazar at Shillong. Although there's no need to pre book, but in case you wana go for that, then there many travel agents at Guwahati whom you can contact in advance. If you feel so, i'll mention the names and contact nos. of a few for your convenience.

Thanks style_guru for your information. Please mention the contact numbers and names. Moreover if you could recommend few hotels in shillong, That would be really helpful.