The Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong is finally happening – set to take place on November 14 and 15, 2025. The much-anticipated music festival is the largest of its kind in Northeast India, bringing together homegrown and international talent on the same stage. And with the festival beginning today, it is important to know how to reach Shillong. Here is a helpful guide to understand how you can reach Shillong for the Cherry Blossom Festival 2025!
How To Reach Shillong For Cherry Blossom Festival: By Air, Rail, And Road
Air Travel
The Umroi Airport is the closest airport to Shillong, located about 32 km away from the city. From the airport, you can get buses and taxis to reach Shillong. However, this airport has limited connectivity, with limited flights available from Kolkata and Guwahati only.
If you’re traveling from other parts of the country, your best bet is to fly to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.
This airport is well-connected to other major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai. From this airport, Shillong is located at a distance of about 120 km. You can get a bus or a taxi from the airport to reach Shillong.
Rail Travel
Guwahati not only has a major international airport in the city but also an important railway station connecting the Northeast to many major regions of India. Guwahati Railway Station is well-connected to major cities like Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and others.
From the railway station, you can get buses to Shillong (the bus station is right behind the railway station). Alternatively, you can also hire taxis to drop you off to Shillong. This journey takes approximately 2 hours 40 minutes, covering about 98 km by road.
Road Travel
Shillong being a major urban center in Meghalaya enjoys excellent connectivity to other major cities in the Northeast. These include Guwahati (98 km), Tura (302 km), Agartala (443 km).
You can get public transportation from most of the major cities nearby, however, this mode of transport is quite slow and sometimes inefficient.
You can choose to self-drive from Guwahati, renting a car for the duration of your stay in Shillong. Renting a self-drive car or even a personal driver can make your stay in Shillong more convenient.
This will allow you to explore Shillong and nearby places at your own pace and make the journey quite comfortable.
Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong Venue: Location And Nearby Attractions
The 2025 edition of the Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Polo Grounds. The venue is conveniently located near one of the most bustling centers of Shillong, Police Bazaar. In fact, if you’re staying in Shillong, we recommend booking a stay in this area.
This area has plenty of hotels, hostels, and budget homestays. It also has a bustling market where you can try local street food, shop for souvenirs, and explore Shillong’s cafes.
The music festival venue is also located quite close to other attractions in Shillong such as Ward’s Lake (2.5 km), Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians (2.6 km), Rhino Heritage Museum (4.6 km), and Lady Hydari Park (3.2 km).
Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong: Festival Headliners
The much-awaited music festival will see not one, not two, but six major headlining acts – three on each day!
On Day 1, Jason Derulo, The Script, and Nora Fatehi will perform at the Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong. Expect a rollercoaster ride of Jason Derulo’s groovy beats, Nora Fatehi’s exceptional dance moves, and The Script’s rocking performance.
Day 2 will see international artists Tyga, Diplo, and Aqua turn Shillong into an electrifying canvas of catchy music, fiery dance moves, and breathtaking visuals. Japanese band Drum Tao will also perform on Day 2 as they bring their drum beats and in-sync dance moves, ready to take your breath away.
Fun Activities At Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025
- Hooks Chugging Contest: Got what it takes to chug down delicious brews the fastest? Then this contest is for you! We’re talking about a brew-tiful atmosphere, good vibes, and exciting prizes – only for those who chug their brews before anyone else!
- Food Eating Contest: Does your gut instinct (pun intended) tell you to participate in a food-eating contest? Join this contest, show up hungry, and eat like no one’s watching! The fastest person to leave no crumbs takes home exciting prizes!
- Dancing Star Championship Final: If drinking beer and eating burgers ravenously might not be your thing, you can witness an epic dance battle at this music festival! The Dancing Star Championship Final will see some of the best dancers out there battling it out on the dance floor to win the ultimate champion title – and we’re already hooked!
Besides these contests, the Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong 2025 will also have other fun contests like Arm Wrestling Showdown, Karaoke Battles, and even a Cosplay Competition! Test your strength, sing like you own the stage, or show up in your best cosplay outfits!
Summing Up
Now you know how to reach Shillong for the Cherry Blossom Festival 2025! With the right route planning, you can easily reach Shillong for one of the most anticipated music festivals in India. Hurry up, the festival has begun!
Grab your tickets, show up in your slickest outfits, and enjoy two days of groovy music, mouthwatering delicacies, and endless entertainment!
