Mawsmai Cave is a lit limestone cave about 4 km south of Sohra and 56 km (2 hours) from Shillong, in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills. The tourist section is roughly 150 m, with stalactites, tight squeezes and wet floors, taking 20 to 30 minutes. Entry is a small ticket; hours are usually 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Meghalaya has some of the longest cave systems in India, most of them only for trained cavers. Mawsmai is the easy one: a short limestone cave near Mawsmai village, south of Sohra, with electric lighting, a one-way route and staff at the entrance.
Inside, the cave narrows and widens in turn. You walk through chambers with stalactites and flowstone, then duck under low ceilings and turn sideways through a couple of tight gaps before stepping out into daylight on the other side. The whole tourist section is about 150 m and most people are through in 20 to 30 minutes, depending on queues.
It is a fun stop for families, and a sensible introduction for anyone curious about Meghalaya's caves. It is not for people who panic in tight spaces. We send visitors in early on weekends, because a slow-moving line in the narrow sections makes the walk longer and warmer.
What makes it worth the trip
Lit passage
Electric lights along the route show the limestone formations without a headlamp.
Stalactites and flowstone
Formations built up over a very long time hang from the ceiling and coat the walls.
Squeeze sections
A couple of low, narrow gaps give a small taste of real caving.
Close to Seven Sisters Falls
The Nohsngithiang falls viewpoint is a few minutes away near Mawsmai village.
Sujan Bandyopadhyay · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wann Majaw · Commons · CC0
Dhruva Punde · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Things to do
- Walk the lit route through the cave, about 150 m end to end
- Photograph the formations in the larger chambers where there is room to stop
- Visit early on weekends to avoid queues in the narrow sections
- Combine with Seven Sisters Falls viewpoint near Mawsmai village
- Stop at the stalls outside for tea and Khasi snacks
- Continue to Nohkalikai Falls or Eco Park on the same Sohra circuit
Getting there
Mawsmai Cave is about 4 km south of Sohra market, 10 minutes by car, and about 56 km from Shillong, roughly 2 hours by road. It is on the standard Sohra sightseeing circuit with Nohkalikai Falls and Seven Sisters Falls, so any Shillong or Sohra taxi driver will know it. There is parking near the entrance and a short walk through a small forest to the cave mouth. There is no dependable public transport to the cave, so keep your cab for the day.
Where to stay
The nearest large property is Polo Cherrapunjee Resort beside the Seven Sisters falls, a few minutes from the cave. Homestays in Mawsmai village and around Sohra market suit budget travellers and put you close to Nohkalikai as well. Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort at Laitkynsew is about 30 minutes away and closer to the root bridge trails. If you are staying in Shillong, the cave fits into a long day trip to Sohra; leave by 7.30 am to cover it with the other sights.
Local tips
- Wear shoes with grip and clothes you do not mind getting muddy
- Leave big bags in the car; some gaps are narrow
- Skip it if you are claustrophobic or have back or knee problems that make crouching hard
- Keep phones in zipped pockets; dripping water is constant
- Go early on weekends, when queues build in the tight sections
- The cave may close after very heavy rain; check current status before you travel
Rain and weather
Source: IMD 1991–2020 normals
October to April, when the floor is drier and the passages are easier to walk.
