Shillong

Shillong sits at about 1,500 metres on the Khasi plateau, pine-covered and rolling, which produced the Scotland of the East comparison in the colonial period when it served as the capital of Assam. It is a Khasi city, matrilineal in social structure, with a large Christian population and a musical culture unusual in India: rock and blues have deep roots here, choirs are widespread, and the city produces a steady stream of bands. Ward's Lake, Police Bazaar, the Don Bosco Museum of northeast cultures and Shillong Peak, the highest point, are the fixed stops. Elephant Falls lies just outside.

Background

Shillong serves as headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district and as a hill station, spread over 64.36 square kilometres at 1495-1965 m in the centre of the plateau, with hills all around. The 2011 census counted 143,229 residents. The town has grown steadily since 1864, when it was made civil station for the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. In 1874 it was picked as a headquarters because it sat conveniently between the Brahmaputra and Surma valleys and was much cooler than tropical India. An earthquake on 12 June 1897, with a moment magnitude of 8.1, wrecked much of the town and killed 27 of its people. It has been the capital of Meghalaya since 21 January 1972.

Source: Wikipedia, "Shillong"

Highlights

• The pine hills - rolling plateau country around the city.
• The music scene - a rock and choral culture unusual in India.
• Don Bosco Museum - a large collection on northeast Indian cultures.
• Ward's Lake and Police Bazaar - the central park and market area.

When to go

September to May; October and November are clearest. The monsoon is heavy though less extreme than Cherrapunji. The Cherry Blossom Festival in November is a fixture.

Before you go

Traffic congestion in the centre is severe. Shillong Peak is a military area with restricted access and identification checks. The road from Guwahati is slow and busy.

Nearby

Cherrapunji lies south; Umiam Lake is north.

Key facts