The rolling hills encompassing the city of Shillong reminded its British settlers of Scotland and hence they named it as the ‘Scotland of the East’. Shillong is the capital city of north eastern state of Meghalaya and also its most attractive hill station and tourist destination. So if you are looking out for a place that is calm, pleasant, mesmerizing and beautiful then Shillong is surely the perfect choice. Its enthralling waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, lush pine forests and captivating mountains will leave you completely spellbound.
Major Attractions in Shilong
- Elephant falls – Lying at a distance of about 12kms from the outskirts of main city of Shillong, this place is a combination of three rivers. It was named as the Elephant Falls by a British officer when he found a rock resembling an elephant near the falls. This rock was later destroyed by an earthquake in the year 1897. Khasi tribe has named it as Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew falls which means Three Steps Water Falls.
- Shillong Peak – This is the most picturesque and romantic place of Shillong. Shillong Peak, the most visited tourist and picnic spot of Shillong is a must visit place for all the couples coming here. One among the highest peaks of Himalayan Mountains, this peak is about 1965ft above the sea level. This place offers a bird’s eye view of the city. It is also believed that the city Shillong was named after the name of this peak.
- Butterfly Museum – The only museum in India which is set up to preserve varied species of butterflies and moths is surprisingly a private property of M/S Wankhar, Riatsamthiah, Shillong. It was established in the year 1930 and is formally known as The Entomological Museum. The 1600 species of butterflies and moths maintained by this museum is surely a visual delight for its visitors.
- Umiam Lake – Located at a distance of 15kms to the north of Shillong, this place offers a perfect combination of thrill and scenic beauty to its visitors. Also popularly known as Bara Pani or Big Water, the Umiam Lake has great options for adventure water sports such as kayaking, water cycling/scooting and boating. Meghalaya Tourism Department has also come up with an Orchid Tourist home which offers a great view of the lake.
Other place of tourist interest in and around Shillong are
- Mahadev Khola Dham
- Lady Hydari Park, Golf Course
- Cathedral of Mary help of Christians
- Spread Eagle Falls
- Sweet Falls
- Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture etc.
Other nearby cities that can also be stopped over at while on a trip to Shillong includes Cherrapunji, Guwahati, Jatinga and Haflong. Another must visit place near Shillong is the Mawlynnong Village which is considered to be the cleanest village of Asia.
Best time to visit
Shillong is lively and delightful tourist destination which can be visited at any time of the year. Every season in Shillong brings a new charm with itself. The months of March to June bring summers which are mild and pleasant. This is an ideal time to spend an adventurous vacation in Shillong. From the months of June to September is the time of monsoons and Shillong experiences moderate to heavy rainfall. From the month of October, it starts getting pleasurable again with the onset of winters in November. Winters here are quite cold and chilling. The beauty of this magnificent city gets further enhanced during these months and it becomes a perfect honeymoon destination.
How to reach
By air – The closest airport is Umroi at a distance of 35km from Shillong but this airport has flights plying to and from Kolkata only. Another convenient airport is Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati which is 128km away from the main city of Shillong and is connected with all the major airports of rest of the country by way of regular flights.
By train – Shillong does not have a railway station of its own. The nearest railway station is Guwahati which is at a distance of 100 km from Shillong.
By Road – Shillong is connected to Guwahati by NH-40, an all-weather road. Also state and private transport buses are available from all the neighboring states for reaching Shillong. Road journey from Guwahati to Shillong takes about 3-4 hours.
