Mawlynnong earned the label of Asia's cleanest village and has kept it - bamboo dustbins on every lane, swept paths, flower gardens outside each house, and a community that rotates the cleaning between families. It is about 78 km from Shillong on the Dawki road, roughly two and a half hours, and it pairs naturally with the living root bridge at Riwai, five minutes away.
Because Mawlynnong, Riwai and Dawki all sit on the same corridor, almost everyone runs them as one full day with a car that waits. The village itself is small and best walked slowly - an hour or two, a climb up the bamboo sky-view tower, and lunch at one of the family-run kitchens.
On the way
Pynursla
Halfway ridge town on the Dawki road
Living Root Bridge, Riwai
A footbridge grown from fig roots, five minutes from Mawlynnong
Mawlynnong village
Bamboo lanes, flower gardens and the sky-view tower
Umngot River, Dawki
Usually added to the same day - 30 minutes further on
Route map
Shillong to Mawlynnong in driving order, ~78 km via Shillong-Dawki road via Pynursla, then the Riwai turn.
Open this route in Google MapsIncluded in the quote
- ✓Private car - no shared seats, no other passengers
- ✓Experienced local driver who knows the route
- ✓Fuel, parking, tolls and driver charges
- ✓Pickup from your hotel, airport or station
- ✓Flexible photo and tea stops along the way
Paid separately
- -Entry tickets, boating and activity fees at each spot
- -Meals and refreshments
- -Hotel stays - you book your own; we suggest good night halts on request
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Boats that float on glass, Asia's cleanest village and a living root bridge - one unforgettable border-road day.
Shillong to Mawlynnong taxi - FAQ
Updated August 2026
How far is Mawlynnong from Shillong?+
About 78 km, roughly 2.5 hours each way on the Shillong-Dawki road. The last stretch after Pynursla is narrow but well surfaced.
Is Mawlynnong worth a full day?+
The village itself takes an hour or two. That is why almost everyone combines it with the Riwai root bridge next door and Umngot boating at Dawki, half an hour on - together they make a full, unhurried day.
Is the Riwai root bridge the double-decker one?+
No. Riwai is a single-span living root bridge and an easy five-minute walk from the road - anyone can do it. The famous double-decker bridge is at Nongriat near Cherrapunji and needs a demanding 3,000-step descent and climb back, which is a separate, much harder day.
Are there entry fees?+
Yes - the village and the root bridge each charge a small community entry fee, paid on the spot. These are not part of the taxi quote and go directly to the villages that maintain the sites.
Can elderly parents manage it?+
Yes. Mawlynnong's lanes are flat and paved, and the Riwai bridge is a short level walk. It is one of the gentlest days in Meghalaya - unlike Nongriat, which is not.