Shillong is the state capital of
Meghalaya, one of India's smallest
states and home to the Khasi people. Being a hilly area, Shillong
reminded the British of Scotland and they called it "Scotland of the
East". Shillong sits at an altitude of 4,908 feet and is the head
quarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong Peak at a height of
6,449 feet, is the highest peak in Shillong.
For its resemblance to the civilization established in the rolling hills
of Scotland, the place at 1,966 m altitude is often referred to as
'Scotland of India'. Shillong holidays would only emphasize this
comparison. The Shillong plateau on which the city is located is
surrounded by hills, main of which are Lum Sohpetbneng, Lum Diengiei and
Lum Shillong- an object of worship for the locals.
How to Reach Shillong
Shillong is a beautiful little city tucked away in the hills and is a
popular tourist attraction, popular for its scenic beauty and unique and
colourful culture.
By Train
Shillong does not have rail service and the closest railway station is
at Guwahati in Assam, which is located at a distance of 104 km from
Shillong and is well connected to all major cities of India.
The Meghalaya Transport Corporation has bus services which coordinate
with train arrivals at Guwahati. The buses leave Guwahati from 6am to 5
pm and services from Shillong to Guwahati leave at the same time. Taxis
are also available at the Guwahati railway station.
By Road
Shillong is connected to Guwahati by National Highway 40. The Meghalaya
Road Transport Corporation and private bus operators have regular bus
services to various places in Meghalaya and neighbouring states.
Apart from buses tourist taxis and Tata Sumo taxis are also available
for journeys between Shillong and Guwahati and vice versa.
By Air
The closest airport to Shillong is at Umroi which is 35 km from
Shillong. Only Air India operates on this route. Buses and taxi services
are available from Umroi to Shillong.
The other convenient option is the Gopinath Borduloi Airport in Guwahati
which is 128 km from Shillong and is connected to the rest of the
country by regular flights.
Shared cabs are available from the airport onwards to Shillong. These
cabs stop midway at Nongpoh for a short rest and refreshments.
Helicopter services are also available from Guwahati to Tura Tura and
Shillong on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The helicopter
journey from Guwahati to Shillong is 20 minutes and is quite economical
and convenient. Helicopter journeys can be booked from various travel
agents in Shillong.
Things to do
If someone wants to experience the drizzle turning to showers that
again turning to heavy downpour, no hill town can come to stand equal to
Shillong. Travel from one corner to other on bike or on foot, the
enveloping ambience of the place would accompany everywhere. Sports
complex in Umiam Lake presents itself as an excellent opportunity for
families to bond and have fun. Golfing as English did is something an
enthusiast of the sport cannot shrug off. Sacred Forest is another place
fitting to suit the taste of trekkers and hikers who love to venture in
unknown territory.
Places to Visit in Shillong
Very easily people find themselves lost counting the ways Nature on
hills can surprise them. The same theory applies in Shillong as well,
especially during monsoons. Briskly walking locals, enthusiastically
searching tourists, shyly honeymooning couples and the people engrossed
in routine life, together with pleasant climate present an admirable
picture. Shillong has long been a favoured popular tourist destination given its
natural beauty and pleasant weather and there are many places of
interest here. Here is a list of popular tourist attractions in Shillong
Elephant Falls
Situated on the outer reaches of the main city of Shillong, the Elephant
Falls is a two-tier waterfall. The two falls that enhance its beauty
are known as the Wir Phang Falls and the Wei Iaplam Falls.
It was named
'Elephant Falls' because a stone near the falls looked like an elephant.
The stone was torn down by an earthquake in 1897, but the name has
stuck.
Shillong Peak
The Shillong peak is the highest point in Meghalaya. It is located 5 km
to the south of Shillong and is 6,433 feet in altitude.
From here, one
can enjoy the spectacular bird's-eye-view of the city and the
countryside.
Cathedral of Mary help of Christians
With Christianity being a dominant religion in the city, there are many
beautiful churches in Shillong. Among them the most popular is the
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, which is the cathedral of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong.
The cathedral is earthquake
resistant and on a clear day one can see the River Brahmaputra and the
peaks of the Himalaya Mountains from here.
Butterfly Museum
The Entomological Museum, established in the 1930s, is more popularly
known as the Butterfly Museum. It is a private property owned by M/s
Wankhar, Riatsamthiah, Shillong. It is the sole museum in India which is
dedicated to preserving the species of butterflies and moths.
This
colourful museum, with 1,600 species of butterflies, insects and moths,
is a veritable treat for visitors. The museum remains open from 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
Saturday.
Lady Hydari Park
The Lady Hydari Park, a children's themed park, derives its name from
the wife of the first Governor of Assam, Lady Hydari. Established and
maintained by the Forest Department, this park incorporates a mini zoo, a
deer park, and an open area for children to play.
The vast stretches of
rose-beds make it strikingly beautiful. The park has been designed in a
Japanese style, as there are several elements like rhododendron plants,
small ponds and willow trees which remind one of the garden style of
Japan.
Golf Course
The Shillong Golf Course located at an altitude of 52000 feet, this is
India's first 18 hole golf course.
Owing to its beautiful location, this
golf course is sometimes compared to the Glen Eagle Golf Course in the
United States.
Umiam Lake
The Umiam Lake, located in the north of Shillong, combines beauty and
adventure facilities. It is also famous as Barapani or Big Water. It is
an admired tourist destination for water cycling, kayaking and boating.
The lake also provides a number of ecosystem services, like storing water for electricity generation and downstream irrigation.
Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture
This museum displays a vast and very impressive collection of tribal
artifacts along with a gallery on work done by Christian Missionaries in
the area.
Compulsory tours last for an hour and depart every half hour.
Places around Shillong
Adding following villages / towns to Shillong tour package is going to be all the more rewarding, if time in hand is plenty.
Cherapunji
The place is known for receiving rains throughout
the year.
The original name of the place is Sohra which later got
impacted by British pronunciation. The old name is now restored.
Mawphlang
Separated by only 25 Km from Shillong, one
can come here for the lookout of Sacred Groves and the admirable
enchanting environment would swipe tourists off their feet.
Shopping in Shillong
There are many interesting options for shoppers in Shillong, including vibrant markets like Bara Bazaar and Police Bazaar.
Bara Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in Shillong and is a good place
to buy local handicrafts crafted out of bamboo and wood. One can also
purchase honey, Khasi clothes and Tibetan artifacts from here as well.
Police Bazaar is another important market in Shillong and one can
purchase bamboo and cane products here. If you are looking for local
handicrafts and gifts to take back home then head to Purbashree, an
emporium run by the Government of Meghalaya. Over here one can find
orange honey, hand woven shawls and black mushrooms, among other
interesting products.
Apart from traditional items, Shillong also has many stores selling top Indian brands in clothes, shoes and accessories.
Eating Out in Shillong
When it comes to eating out, there aren’t too many choices of
cuisine, though Chinese food is widely available. The best option is to
stick to the hotel you are staying in. The south Indian "dosa" and
"idli", north Indian "chola" and "bhatura" and Indian snacks are
available in small restaurants in the Police Bazaar area.
For authentic
local cuisine, venture out to Mawkhar Main Road and eat at the
small-unnamed shacks.
Bars are attached to the hotels. Entertainment is limited in Shillong
with literally everyone going indoors at dusk. Safety is an issue with
insurgency an unavoidable fact of life in the state and it is suggested
you refrain from staying out beyond 2000 hours.
Hotels in Shillong
The place would seem slightly different with no fans in the room but not
those who are in habit of sitting in accommodation with air
conditioners only. Nevertheless the place is an exquisite amazement in
all the months of the year, which is why booking rooms of the Shillong
hotels and resorts in advance would seen as a thoughtful act to go along
with.
3 Star Hotels
- Hotel Alpine Continental
Address : Police Bazar, Thana/Quinton Road
City : Shillong
State : Meghalaya
Pin Code : 793001
Phone No. : 0364-2220991-5, 2223617
Fax No. : 0364-2220996
Email ID : alpineshillong@hotmail.com
Website : www.alpinecontinental.com
Type : 3 Star
Rooms in Hotel : 24
Maximum Room Rate : INR 4600
Minimum Room Rate : INR 2300
|
- Hotel Centre Point
Address : Police Bazar,(Khyndailad)
City : Shillong
State : Meghalaya
Pin Code : 793001
Phone No. : 0364-2220480, 2220272, 2225210, 2229839, 2504006
Fax No. : 0364-2220100
Email ID : bookings@shillongcentrepoint.com
Website : www.shillongcentrepoint.com
Type : 3 Star
Rooms in Hotel : 32
Maximum Room Rate : INR 7000
Minimum Room Rate : INR 2400
|
- Hotel Pegasus Crown
Address : Ward's Lake Road, Police Bazar
City : Shillong
State : Meghalaya
Pin Code : 793001
Phone No. : 0364-2220667, 9436304984
Email ID : pegasuscrown@yahoo.com
Website : www.pegasuscrown.com
Type : 3 Star
Rooms in Hotel : 24
Maximum Room Rate : INR 4500
Minimum Room Rate : INR 3000
|
4 Star Hotels
- Hotel Polo Towers
Address : Polo Grounds
City : Shillong
State : Meghalaya
Pin Code : 793001
Phone No. : 0364-2222341, 2220002, 2222863
Fax No. : 0364-22220089
Email ID : enquiries@hotelpolotowers.com
Website : www.hotelpolotowers.com
Type : 4 Star
Rooms in Hotel : 50
Maximum Room Rate : INR 14000
Minimum Room Rate : INR 4000
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Tourist map of Shillong
