It is a reddish-brown snake with a white transverse bar running across the supralabial scales.
The dorsal scales are in 19 rows, rather strongly keeled, except for the smooth outer row. The ventrals number 150-154, the subcaudals 80–100. The anal plate is divided.
Adults are about 60 cm (23½ in.) total length, of which about 19 cm (7½ in.) is tail.
The Khasi Hills keelback's nutritional intake consists primarily of toads.