Night Walks, Live Music & Wine: The Cherry Blossom Festival In Shillong Is Where You Need To Be

India is set to host its second Cherry Blossoms Festival in Shillong this November and the events sound awesome – and it’s free for all.

You’ve probably heard of the Cherry blossoms in Japan and USA and India has them too. Cherry blossoms are gorgeous delicate soft white, pink and red of indigenous Himalayan trees that grow wild in Meghalaya and now there’s an entire festival to celebrate them. After the success of the first Indian Cherry Blossom Festival last year, Shillong is all set to do it again pulling out all stops on the fun and festivities.

Organised by the state government with the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, over 3,000 saplings were planted in Shillong in 2015 to make sure that there are plenty of trees, and even more photo opportunities!

Anyone and everyone. The festival is open to all and completely free. You don’t have to pay for tickets or entrance fees. The festival will be held in multiple venues in Shillong so just make sure you book tickets to get there right away. Figure out acco and you’re all set.

The India International Cherry Blossom Festival will run from November 8 to 11, and there are tons of reasons why you should go. Night walks under illuminated cherry blossoms, rock concerts and live music, gigs by Jaintia, Khasi and Garo folk musicians, unplugged western music and dance performances from all over North East India, The Aroha choir will sing and narrate folktales from around the world, bicycle rallies and stunt bikes, archery contests, storytelling sessions of local {and world} folktales and even an amateur golf tournament – there will be so many things to do!

You can’t miss sampling the local fruit wines {made from plums and blackberries}, smoked pork and fish delicacies, and browsing local handicrafts in bamboo, wood and silk that will be in the stalls around the carnival.

Plus, the trees are gorgeous – you’ll never run out of Insta-opportunities!

Check the schedule and updates on the festival on their website and Facebook page. Plan your trip for an experience of a lifetime! Here’s where you can eat and stay in Meghalaya.

When: November 8-11.

Where: Shillong.