Nohkalikai Falls travel guide: India’s tallest plunge fall

This Nohkalikai Falls travel guide is for travellers heading into the wet hills around Cherrapunji (Sohra) in Meghalaya, and it keeps to what official sources actually state. Nohkalikai is a single-drop plunge waterfall that pours off the edge of the Khasi plateau into a green pool far below. You watch it from a built viewpoint and plaza, not from the base, and how much water you see depends almost entirely on the season. This page covers the falls, the best time to go, how to reach it from Shillong via Sohra, nearby caves and waterfalls, where to stay, safety at the rim, and the local legend behind the name.

Nohkalikai Falls is a single-drop plunge waterfall near Cherrapunji (Sohra) in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, widely cited as India’s tallest plunge fall at about 340 metres. You view it from a cliff-top plaza, its flow is heavy in the monsoon and thin by winter, and the best window pairs good flow with clearer skies.

Nohkalikai Falls travel guide: quick facts

Nohkalikai sits in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, a short drive from the town of Sohra, long known to outsiders as Cherrapunji. The water drops in a single uninterrupted plunge from the rim of the plateau into a pool that often shows an unusual green colour.

The Meghalaya Tourism department lists the height as 340 metres. The World Waterfall Database, cited by Wikipedia, describes it as the tallest plunge waterfall in India; treat that superlative as an attributed claim rather than an official measurement.

What makes the fall unusual is its source. It is fed mainly by rainwater collected on a small plateau above the cliff, so there is no large river behind it. That is why the volume swings so sharply with the rains, and why a visit in the wrong month can show only a slender ribbon.

Best time to visit: flow versus fog

Planning the month is the single most important decision for this fall, because flow and visibility rarely peak together. Cherrapunji is one of the wettest places on Earth, so the monsoon brings huge volume but also cloud that can hide the drop for hours.

In the monsoon, from June to September, the fall is at full force, but mist and rain often sit in the gorge and blank out the view. Meghalaya Tourism recommends October to December, when the rains ease, the air clears, and the fall still carries good water. By the dry months of December to February the flow drops sharply, as Wikipedia notes, and in a lean spring it can thin to a trickle.

If you want both a strong fall and a reasonable chance of seeing it, aim for the weeks just after the monsoon. Go early in the morning before the valley clouds build, and keep your dates flexible if you can.

How to reach Nohkalikai Falls

Almost everyone reaches the falls through Shillong and then Sohra. There is no direct public transport to the viewpoint itself, so you travel to Sohra first and cover the last stretch by taxi.

By air. Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport is the practical gateway, about 167 km away per Meghalaya Tourism, with the widest choice of flights. Shillong’s own airport is closer, about 79 km, but has far fewer services; check live schedules before relying on it.

By rail. There is no railway line into the Khasi Hills, so Guwahati is the nearest major railhead. From there you continue by road to Shillong and on to Sohra. Because train services change, confirm current options on IRCTC rather than assuming a fixed timetable.

By road. Sohra lies roughly 53–54 km south of Shillong on a well-used hill road, generally a 1.5 to 2 hour drive. Shared Sumos and taxis run through the morning from Shillong’s Bara Bazar (Mawlong Haat) area; fares are modest but vary, so treat any quoted figure as indicative and reconfirm on the day. From Sohra, hire a local taxi for the remaining 7.5 km to the Nohkalikai plaza, usually as part of a half-day sightseeing circuit that also takes in the caves and other falls.

Things to see and do at the falls

The experience here is a viewpoint experience, not a trek to the base from the main plaza. A paved area with railings, steps, and a few stalls sits on the cliff opposite the fall, giving a face-on view across the gorge.

Give yourself time to watch the light change. Clouds move fast over the plateau, and a view that is blank one minute can open up the next. Several vantage points along the plaza, as Meghalaya Tourism notes, give slightly different angles on the drop and the green plunge pool below.

• The main viewpoint: the face-on platform with railings; the safest and clearest angle on the plunge.
• Photography: mornings are usually clearer; a wide lens captures both the fall and the gorge. A nominal camera or parking charge may apply at the plaza; treat any amount as indicative and reconfirm.
• The plunge pool: visible from above as a green basin far below; swimming is not a realistic or safe plan from the viewpoint.
• Stalls and rest: tea and snacks are usually available near the parking area in season.

A suggested two-day plan

Sohra works well as an overnight base rather than a rushed day trip from Shillong. Two days lets you reach Nohkalikai early, when the view is most likely to be clear, and still cover the caves and other falls.

• Day 1: Drive from Shillong to Sohra in the morning. Settle into your stay, then visit Mawsmai Cave and the Seven Sisters (Nohsngithiang) viewpoint in the afternoon. Watch the evening light over the plateau.
• Day 2: Reach Nohkalikai Falls early for the clearest view. Afterwards, add Arwah Cave or Dainthlen Falls depending on time, then drive back to Shillong by evening.

If you only have a single day, go straight to Nohkalikai first thing and accept that you may need to wait out the cloud. Keep the rest of the circuit light.

Where to stay near Sohra

There are no hotels at the Nohkalikai viewpoint itself, so most travellers stay in or around Sohra town, which has the widest choice within a short drive of the falls. Shillong, about 53–54 km away, is the fallback if Sohra is full.

Options range from simple guesthouses and Khasi homestays to a handful of mid-range resorts on the plateau. Homestays are a good way to eat local food and get current road and weather advice from hosts who know the hills.

• Budget: guesthouses and homestays, roughly ₹1,000–₹2,500 a night; indicative planning estimate, reconfirm.
• Mid-range: resorts and larger guesthouses near Sohra, roughly ₹3,000–₹6,000; indicative, reconfirm.
• Higher-end: a few plateau-edge resorts, roughly ₹7,000 and up; indicative, reconfirm.

Book ahead for weekends and the October to December peak, when Sohra fills quickly. Rooms can be limited, so lock in your stay before you travel rather than arriving on spec.

Food to try

Sohra is a good place to try Khasi home cooking, usually built around rice, pork, and local greens. Portions are simple and filling, and homestays often serve the best of it.

• Jadoh (rice cooked with meat, often pork, and spices) — the signature Khasi rice dish.
• Dohneiiong (pork cooked with black sesame seeds) — rich and nutty, usually eaten with rice.
• Tungrymbai (fermented soybean preparation) — strongly flavoured, a local staple.
• Pumaloi (steamed powdered rice) — a soft, mild accompaniment.
• Kyat or sha (local rice beer, and tea) — tea stalls near the viewpoints are reliable; ask before assuming alcohol is served.

Vegetarians will find rice, dal, potatoes, and seasonal greens, though the strongest local specialities are meat-based. Carry a few snacks for the drive, as options thin out between towns.

Budget breakdown

The figures below are planning estimates for one person on a two-day Sohra trip based out of Shillong, in the mid-range. They are indicative and should be reconfirmed before you travel, as transport and room rates move with the season.

Safety at the viewpoint and practical tips

The single most important safety point at Nohkalikai is simple: stay behind the railings. This is a sheer cliff with a drop of hundreds of metres, and the rock near the edge is often wet and slippery. Do not climb over barriers for a photo, and keep a firm hold on children.

Weather here changes fast. Fog can roll in within minutes, cutting visibility near the edge, and heavy rain makes paths slick. In the monsoon, leeches are common on damp ground, so wear closed shoes and long trousers.

• Mobile network: patchy on the plateau. Download offline maps and tell your stay your plans.
• Cash and UPI: carry enough cash for taxis, entries, and stalls; ATMs and reliable UPI coverage are limited outside Sohra town.
• Medical: for anything serious, Shillong has the nearest large hospitals; Sohra has only basic facilities. Carry a small first-aid kit.
• Solo and women travellers: the main viewpoint is open and usually has other visitors in season; prefer daytime, stay with the crowd, and use a known taxi or homestay driver.
• Packing by season: a strong rain jacket and dry bag for the monsoon; a warm layer for winter mornings; grippy footwear year-round.
• Eco-rules: carry your waste out and avoid single-use plastic; the Khasi Hills have strong local anti-littering sentiment, so respect it.

No special permit such as an Inner Line Permit is required for Indian visitors to travel in Meghalaya, but rules can change, so foreign travellers in particular should reconfirm current requirements before the trip.

The legend of Ka Likai

According to local tradition recorded by Wikipedia, the fall is named for Ka Likai, a woman from the village of Rangjyrteh. The story is told as folklore, not history, and it is a grim one, so it is worth knowing before you read the signboards.

As the legend goes, Likai was widowed and remarried, but her new husband grew jealous of the attention she gave her young daughter. In the telling, he killed the child and cooked the flesh; when Likai understood what had happened, she ran to the cliff and threw herself off the edge. The fall took her name. Local people share this story at the viewpoint, and it explains the meaning behind a name you will see everywhere in Sohra.

Nearby places

Nohkalikai is best paired with the caves and other waterfalls clustered around Sohra, most within a short drive. If you are building a wider trip, see our Meghalaya travel guides for the region beyond the falls.

Distances to the caves and Dainthlen are from Meghalaya Tourism. The Seven Sisters viewpoint sits close to Mawsmai and is easy to add to the same circuit; its many strands are at their fullest in the monsoon.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Nohkalikai Falls?

Nohkalikai Falls is listed at about 340 metres by Meghalaya Tourism, falling in a single plunge off the Khasi plateau. The World Waterfall Database, as cited by Wikipedia, describes it as India’s tallest plunge waterfall. Treat that superlative as an attributed claim rather than an official state measurement.

What is the best time to visit Nohkalikai Falls?

The post-monsoon weeks of October and November usually give the best balance, with strong flow and clearer skies, according to Meghalaya Tourism. The monsoon brings peak volume but heavy fog, while winter is clear but the flow drops. Go early in the morning for the best chance of an unobstructed view.

How do I get to Nohkalikai Falls from Shillong?

Drive from Shillong to Sohra (Cherrapunji), about 53–54 km and 1.5 to 2 hours, then continue about 7.5 km to the viewpoint. Shared Sumos and taxis run from Shillong’s Bara Bazar area to Sohra; from there, hire a local taxi, usually as part of a sightseeing circuit covering the caves and falls.

Is there an entry fee at the Nohkalikai viewpoint?

Meghalaya Tourism lists viewing hours of 8 am to 5 pm but does not publish an entry fee online. A nominal parking or camera charge may apply at the plaza in practice. Treat any amount as indicative, carry small cash, and reconfirm on arrival, as local charges can change.

Is Nohkalikai Falls safe to visit?

The viewpoint is safe if you stay behind the railings, which is essential given the sheer cliff and a drop of hundreds of metres. Do not cross barriers for photos. Wet rock, fast-moving fog, and monsoon leeches are the main hazards, so wear grippy closed shoes and keep children close to you.

Can you go to the base of Nohkalikai Falls?

The main plaza is a cliff-top viewpoint facing the fall, not a route to the base. There is no easy, signposted public trail down from it, and the plunge pool is only safe to see from above. Do not attempt to descend the cliff; admire the fall and the green pool from the railed platform.

Last updated and sources

Go if you want one of India’s great plunge waterfalls and the wet, cliff-edge scenery of the Khasi Hills around it. The weeks just after the monsoon, in October and November, give you the best chance of strong flow with a clear view.

Last updated: 4 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Meghalaya Tourism — Nohkalikai; Meghalaya Tourism — Mawsmai Cave; Meghalaya Tourism — Arwah Cave; Meghalaya Tourism — Sohra; Wikipedia — Nohkalikai Falls (for height, coordinates, dry-season flow, the World Waterfall Database superlative, and the Ka Likai legend). Accessed October 2026.