VANAMCOVE 
Dawki
Crystal-clear Umngot river
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Boat ride morning
- Border stop
- Banks' walk
- Shnongpdeng swim
- Return
Geography & terrain
Dawki lies on the Umngot river at the state's Bangladesh border in the West Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, 95 km from Shillong and 65 km from Cherrapunji — the crystal-water river town where the clearest of India's rivers crosses to Bangladesh.
History & culture
The border town of the Pnar country has long served the region's trans-border trade — the river's crossing and the market town's bazaar carrying the road's exchange; its modern fame is the Umngot's glass-clear water — the boat rides over the visible riverbed making Dawki the wonder-stop of the Meghalaya tour.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings to do
Crystal water
Boat-bottom views
Border bridge
Country boats
Hill ring
Eat & drink
- Jadoh (rice with pork)
- Dohneihong (minced meat)
- Tungrymbai (fermented soya)
- Pumaloi (steamed rice cake)
Getting there
- Fly
- Shillong (SHL) / Guwahati (GAU) nearest major
- Train
- Guwahati for long-distance rail
- Road from Guwahati
- 100 km / 3 hr to Shillong
- Getting around
- Shared taxis and autos
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹3,000–8,000 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Khasi / Garo; English common (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–May
- Connectivity: Patchy in villages — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The water's clarity peaks in the dry season (Oct–May) — the riverbed's show
- The border area keeps the identity-paper rule nearby — the usual documents
- The boat rides run the fixed lanes — the morning trips hold the calm water
Frequently asked questions
The crystal-water town of the Umngot at the Bangladesh border — India's clearest river.
The clear-bottomed boat rides, the border stop and the upstream swim.
A full day from Shillong — often paired with the root bridges.
Crystal-clear Umngot river
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Dawki plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.