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If you’re near Barapani, you’re in a region surrounded by scenic hill views, forest routes, and quiet lakeside stretches. Among the places to visit near Barapani, you’ll come across age-old sacred groves, trekking paths through the hills, clear river streams, and locally known waterfalls tucked into green valleys. Within a two-hour radius, you can explore remote Khasi villages, hike on British-era routes, and spend time at tranquil hill viewpoints. Most places are easy day trips, and each one offers something distinct. Whether you’re drawn to nature, history, or adventure, there’s no shortage of discovery here.
10 Best Places To Visit Near Barapani
You don’t have to go far from Barapani to find places worth the drive. These places to visit near Barapani offer a mix of short hikes, scenic spots, and peaceful corners tucked into the hills.
1. Shillong
Photo: Prodeepta Bera / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and one of the most beautiful places to visit near Barapani by road. As you leave the lake area, the road climbs gently through pine forests before you reach the city’s lively centre. It’s a hill station where old churches, colonial houses, and government buildings sit alongside cafes and shops. Ward’s Lake is a good place to start your day; it has paddle boats, neat flower beds, and a wooden bridge that curves over the water. Shillong Peak offers a far-reaching view across the hills and valleys, making it one of the highest natural viewpoints in the region.
Distance From Barapani: 16.4 km
Major Attractions: Ward’s Lake, Shillong Peak, Police Bazaar, Don Bosco Museum
2. Laitlum Canyons
Photo: Ankan / Wikimedia Commons
Laitlum is one of the places to see near Barapani, known for its deep gorges, sloping meadows, and cloud-kissed cliffs. The area sits quietly on the edge of a high ridge, about an hour’s drive from the lake, and the final stretch passes through winding roads with barely any traffic. Once you arrive, the landscape opens up, and standing at the edge gives you a view that stretches across layered hills, scattered settlements, and valleys too steep to see down. Most people walk along the side paths, which take you down to smaller plateaus with open views.
Distance From Barapani: 38.5 km
Major Attractions: Panoramic cliffs, rocky trails, local snack stalls
3. Mawphlang Sacred Grove
Photo: Ritika74 / Wikimedia Commons
Mawphlang is one of the places where nature and belief are tied together. The forest is considered sacred by the Khasi people, and for generations, no one has been allowed to take anything from it, not even a fallen twig. People here believe that taking anything from the forest, no matter how small, can bring bad luck, which is why the entire grove has stayed undisturbed. The path moves through thick, damp trees covered in moss and leads to open patches where ceremonies once took place. You’ll see ancient stone altars placed between roots and ferns that have grown over centuries.
Distance From Barapani: 37.9 km
Major Attractions: Sacred forest, monoliths, stone altars, local legends
4. Mawlynnong
Photo: Ankan / Wikimedia Commons
Mawlynnong, often referred to as the cleanest village in Asia. The village is around three hours away by car, and the roads wind through thick hills before opening into neatly maintained lanes lined with bamboo huts, flower beds, and stone pathways. Residents sweep the streets each morning, and you’ll spot bamboo bins tied to trees at every turn. A bamboo skywalk on the edge of the village gives a wide view of the Bangladesh plains on a clear day. Just a short walk away is the living root bridge of Riwai, formed naturally over time by guiding tree roots across a stream.
Distance From Barapani: 89.5 km
Major Attractions: Cleanest village, bamboo watchtower, gardens, balancing rock
5. Dawki & Umngot River
Photo: Ankan / Wikimedia Commons
Dawki is one of the most visually striking destinations, mainly for the Umngot River, which runs so clear that the boats floating on it seem suspended in mid-air. The drive to Dawki takes around three and a half hours, cutting through valleys and narrow hill roads that open into a flat stretch near the India-Bangladesh border. Once you reach the riverbank, wooden boats wait by the shore for short rides into the wider part of the river. The water stays shallow and transparent, with polished stones visible at the bottom.
Distance From Barapani: 85 km
Major Attractions: Transparent river boating, Dawki bridge, Bangladesh border view
6. Krang Suri Waterfalls
Photo: Ankan / Wikimedia Commons
Krang Suri is one of the tourist attractions near Barapani, especially if you prefer places that feel a little removed from busy tourist routes. It lies deep within the Jaintia Hills and takes about three and a half hours to reach by road. You’ll be driving through stretches of open forest and hilly terrain, with plenty of quiet clearings along the way. Once you arrive, a short cemented walkway leads you to a set of rough-cut stone steps that descend toward the falls. At the base, a wide, blue-green pool forms under a steady curtain of water falling from a rocky ledge.
Distance From Barapani: 46.7 km
Major Attractions: Blue natural pool, forest walk, small food stalls
7. David Scott Trail
Photo: Camera-man / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
The David Scott Trail was once used as a travel route by the British, and it still follows the same path between Mawphlang and Lad Mawphlang. The route was once used by British administrators in the 19th century, and much of the original stone path remains. As you walk, the landscape keeps shifting with open grassy slopes turning into forested patches, and gentle streams appear every few kilometres. You’ll pass wooden bridges, scattered granite boulders, and small resting spots used by locals who still carry goods through these routes.
Distance From Barapani: 37.9
Major Attractions: Colonial trail, streams, pine groves, valley views
8. Lum Sohpetbneng Peak
Photo: Sujan Bandyopadhyay / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Lum Sohpetbneng is deeply respected by the Khasi community and linked to an origin story where a golden ladder once connected humans to the heavens. Each year, a sacred gathering is held here to honour that belief, and the site continues to be visited quietly throughout the year for reflection and solitude. Outside of the annual event, the peak remains quiet and open to all. The ridge at the top opens into a wide clearing where the tree line drops away, and you get a full view of the surrounding hills and valleys.
Distance From Barapani: 8.9 km
Major Attractions: Sacred Khasi site, trek trail, hilltop views
9. Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Nongkhyllem isn’t crowded or polished like some other sites. The forest stretches across uneven ground, with thick bamboo groves, damp clearings, and narrow ridges where forest staff sometimes track movement. If you arrive early, you’ve got a fair chance of spotting larger animals from a distance, often just a glimpse through the trees before they disappear deeper inside. Though the area is protected, parts of it are accessible on foot along narrow tracks used by forest staff and locals. The bird population here is especially rich, with hornbills, pheasants, and several rare species often seen around water bodies and fruiting trees.
Distance From Barapani: 59.1 km
Major Attractions: Elephants, clouded leopards, birdwatching trails
10. Elephant Falls
Photo: Arindambasu2 / Wikimedia Commons
Elephant Falls is one of the places to visit if you want to include a short nature stop without going too far out of the way. The site is structured into three levels, each with a separate cascade, and they’re connected by a concrete staircase that descends slowly through the forest. The first level is partly hidden by trees, but the second and third sections open up into wider drops, especially during or just after the monsoon. The name comes from a rock formation near the falls that used to resemble an elephant’s head, though it broke off in an earthquake decades ago, the name has stayed.
Distance From Barapani: 23.7 km
Major Attractions: Three-tier falls, stone stair pathway, shaded viewpoints
Planning a trip around Barapani gives you easy access to some of Meghalaya’s most rewarding experiences without long travel hours or crowds. The places to visit near Barapani include sacred forests, glass-clear rivers, orchid-lined trails, and quiet mountain paths, each offering a different glimpse of the region. Whether you’re staying for a few days or just passing through, explore at your own pace. Book your journey today with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Chirnzb / Wikimedia Commons
