Elephant Falls

The exquisitely beautiful waterfall is located at a distance of about 300 mts from the city, off on the Shillong-Mawphlang Road, and about ten kilometers off the city center. The elephant falls are the most frequently visited waterfalls and is a major tourist spot in and around Shillong. At a very short distance from the fall, there are two smaller falls Wei Iaplam Falls and the Wir Phang Falls which are equally beautiful and charismatic. All three fall are easily accessible by a well-paved footpath and a small wooden bridge. The three falls are surrounded by the lush greenery and the streams have thick moss, lichens, and ferns covering the stony banks. One of the most popular tourist attractions of Shillong, this waterfall is called ‘Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew’ by the Khasi locals or “Three Steps Waterfalls” since the falls actually consisted of three sections in succession. The successive falls, stream down from mountains on rocky steps, creating a foam effect. The clear water and the lush greenery form an amazing sight making the place all the more worth visiting. These waterfalls were renamed by the British, as Elephant Waterfalls, after a huge elephant-shaped rock near the falls. This rock was destroyed at the time of an earthquake in 1897 and the residual rock has been disintegrated since then due to the continuous barrage of water falling from a high altitude. While this tourist attraction is open throughout the year, one should really avoid planning a visit here during the monsoon season. During monsoons, the place becomes wet and is prone to occasional landslides which hamper the safety of the tourists. The summer season is a great time to enjoy its scenic beauty together with beating the heat.