A Guide to Shillong, Meghalaya

The capital city of Meghalaya, Shillong is a paradise for tourists who wish to travel to the majestic northeast of India. It is often called as the Scotland of the east. Not only tourists, even people of the region sneak into the hilly town to enjoy a short weekend break. Just a couple of hours drive from Guwahati, Assam’s capital, it is a respite from the sweltering heat during the summers. Waterfalls, lakes, hills, caves, British architecture and lot more, it has plenty to offer to the visitor. You will feel like visiting the place time and again with never a dull moment during your stay here.

There is nothing like taking a tour of Shillong in a local cab where you can cover the whole of the city in a day. Cabs are mostly the quaint red and black Maruti 800 cars. However, be sure to bargain and get a fair idea about the car rental prices in advance. But cabbies are generally good and chances are very slim that you will be taken for a ride, I mean the other way, and not in the literal sense.

How To Reach

By road: Buses ply from Guwahati to Shillong at regular intervals. There are also shared cabs, pre-booked cabs running from Guwahati and other nearby places.

By Train: There are no train services in the state.

By Air: The nearest airport is the Guwahati airport also known as Gopinath Bordoloi Airport. From there you can take a bus or a cab to Shillong.

Itinerary

Day 1

Umiam Lake

Go around this lake, take pictures and share them with friends telling them that you had been to Scotland last month. You will be surprised that they won’t disbelieve you; rather they would ask you all about Scotland. Such is the beauty of the place.

Don Bosco Museum

Never miss the Don Bosco Museum of Indigenous North East Culture. It is a must-visit attraction in Shillong. If you are a museum lover, there is another one you would rejoice with a visit. It is the Butterfly Museum.

Elephant Falls Rd

Located in upper Shillong, this captivating waterfall is also an amalgamation of other smaller waterfalls adding to the pristine beauty of the surroundings.

Day 2

Shillong Peak

This is the most popular tourist spot in Shillong. Guides swear by this spot and almost 99% of the time, it features first on their list. It offers a panoramic view of this mesmerizing hilly town.

Shillong Golf Course

With an uncanny resemblance to the Glen Eagle Course in the United States, this golf course captivates tourists from all over the world.

Cafe Shillong

Check out Café Shillong, a bustling hangout of local revelers. Join the fun with live music, delicious steak, a cool drink and the electrifying atmosphere.

The Majestic Hotel

Shillong has upscale, mid-range and budget hotels for tourists. Check in to a hotel of your choice that fits your bill and enjoy the hospitality of the place. Budget travelers can try Lake View Inn, Rohit Guest House, Hotel Rainbow Shillong and the Majestic Hotel. Mid-range hotels include the Hotel Center Point, Hotel Alpine Continental or the Hotel Polo Towers.

Day 3

Cherrapunji‎

If you have the time and luxury of spending another couple of days in and around Shillong, there are a whole lot of tourist attractions to be visited. Cherrapunji is a major attraction. Imagine you are wading through a cloud and tiny droplets tickling from it, all from close quarters-definitely an out of this world experience. It takes between two-three hours to reach Cherrapunji from Shillong. Reserve a day for this excursion and spend some time in the lap of the clouds at Cherrapunji.

Day 4

Jaintia Hills

The Jaintia Hills are also worth visiting that boasts a beautiful Lake and a 700 years old Durga Temple. It takes about 4 hours from Shillong to reach this place, so you will need a whole day to travel back and forth between the Jaintia Hills and the Meghalaya capital.