Search
» »Shillong Travel Guide: Best Places to See

Shillong Travel Guide: Best Places to See

By Rupkamal

Have you been to the Scotland of the East yet? An ideal place to escape from the rigours of the summer, Shillong is the perfect place to unwind from your business trip to the Northeast. Cosmopolitan in nature and arguably the fashion capital of the Northeast, there is lots to see and do in the capital of Meghalaya. Rolling hills, benign lakes, lissome rivers and orchids and formidable pines that stand sentinels over the hills all add to make the beauty of Shillong. Here are the places that you should visit on your trip to this beauty of the hills.

How to reach

How to reach

Buses and taxis are readily available in hordes to reach Shillong, which also means that road to Shillong nowadays witnesses horrible traffic jams. Starting early in the morning from Guwahati is advised. Taxis are available for hire from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi international airport. Share taxis are available from the market hub of Paltan Bazaar within a range of Rs 160 to Rs 400 per head. Buses run by the Assam State Transport Corporation as well as Meghalaya Transport Corporation are also available every 2-3 hours. Private buses are also readily available.

 

Umiam Lake
 

Umiam Lake

If you are coming in from Guwahati, the first stop along the way will be the spellbinding Umiam lake, also known as Barapani. 15 km away from Shillong, this is built on the reservoir of the Umiam Hydro Electric Project and on a sunny day, the surface of the lake will be sky blue.

Shillong Golf Course

Shillong Golf Course

You can start your Shillong tour by going to the Shillong Golf Course. Shillong was the capital of British Assam till the early part of the 20th century and the traces of colonial rule are manifested in places like the Shillong Golf Course and Ward's lake. This golf course was developed in 1898 and has the distinction of being the third-oldest golf course in India.

Photo Courtesy: Ajit Thapa

Shillong Cathedral

Shillong Cathedral

Next stop can be the Shillong Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in the Northeast and all blue in color.

Photo Courtesy: Javed Rahman

Shillong Peak

Shillong Peak

From there move on to the Shillong Peak, the highest point in the city from where you can view the whole of Shillong. Get a small feeling of how it would feel like to be god, as you take a look at the city from amidst the clouds on top of the peak. From here, you can move on to Police and Bara Bazaar to indulge the shopaholic in you.

Photo Courtesy: Masrur Ashraf

Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls

After shopping and eating, you can indulge your senses with a visit to the Elephant Falls. A three-layered waterfall with 165 stairs leading to the bottom of the fall. Tourists can get themselves photographed in traditional Khasi attire for a neat Rs 100.

Photo Courtesy: Ashwin Kumar

Lakes

Lakes

Walking distance from Police bazaar is the lady Hydari park and also Wards Lake. Ward's lake is a five minute from the city circle of Bara bazaar. It is an artificial lake with a large botanical garden around it and it has facilities for boating. You can also choose to sit on a bench on the banks and just enjoy the sights.

Don Bosco Museum of Indigeneous Northeast Culture

Don Bosco Museum of Indigeneous Northeast Culture

 A ten minute ride from Police Bazaar in the heart of the city, will lead you to the Don Bosco Museum of Indigenous Northeast Culture which has an amazing collection of attire, weapons, ornamentation and rare photographs.

Photo Courtesy: Ashwin Kumar

Waterfalls

Waterfalls

Seven Sister Falls, Sweet falls, Nohkhalikai falls, Bishop Falls and Beadon Falls are some of the waterfalls that you should definitely include in your trip to Shillong. You will get a package tour by taxi to visit all these sights including Cherrapunji.

 

Cherrapunji

Cherrapunji

No visit to Shillong can be complete without going to Cherrapunji or Sohra, once the wettest place in the world. Visit the living root bridge, stalagamite caves of Maswmai on the way and explore the mysteries they contain. 

Photo Courtesy: Ashwin Kumar

Read more about: meghalaya shillong cherrapunji
-->