Dawki and the Umngot River
A border town on the Umngot River, known for its clear water, boating and a 1932 suspension bridge, about 70 km from Shillong.
Overview
Dawki and the Umngot River are the main river sights among the places to visit near Shillong. This guide covers the bridge, boating and how to get there.
Dawki is a town in West Jaintia Hills on the India–Bangladesh border, where the Umngot River flows towards Bangladesh. Wikipedia says a suspension bridge over the Umngot was built by the British in 1932 and is now a landmark, and that the Dawki Integrated Check Post is the main land crossing here, with heavy coal truck traffic.
Boating on the river is the main draw; search summaries describe the water as clear enough that boats seem to float, and October to April as the best season, though these figures come from search snippets only. Wikipedia gives the journey from Shillong as about 70 km, with buses leaving from Iewduh. Roads are steep and winding, so allow a full day, often combined with Mawlynnong.
Boat rates, hours and any entry or parking charges were not found in a source that could be loaded, so none are stored. Border-area rules apply, so carry photo ID.
Entry fees
Boating
Amount needs verification
No fee information found.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
Public river and bridge; boat operators set their own timings, not found.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to April for clear water (search summary, unconfirmed).
- Best time of day
- Morning
- How long to spend
- Half day
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Carry photo ID near the border
- Do not litter in the river
Location
Photos
Dawki Bridge and the Umngot River. Photo: ANKAN / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Clear water of the Umngot. Photo: ANKAN / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Boating on the Umngot. Photo: Jyotishkardey / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Boathouse on the river. Photo: ANKAN / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Dawki river boating. Photo: Arindambasu2 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
How far is Dawki from Shillong?
Wikipedia gives about 70 km.
What is Dawki famous for?
The clear Umngot River with boating, the 1932 suspension bridge and the nearby India–Bangladesh border crossing.
When is the best time to visit Dawki?
Search summaries suggest October to April for the clearest water; this was not confirmed on an official page.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- Best season (search summary only)
- Coordinates are an OpenStreetMap point
Not available yet
- boat rates
- hours
- official tourism page
- Wikipedia – Dawki · Encyclopedia
- OpenStreetMap (Nominatim search) · Map
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