Shillong Tourism, Shillong Travel Guide, Shillong Hill Station

Shillong is one of the largest town ans capital of the Indian state called Meghalaya. Shillong is the perfect place where you can have a perfect honeymoon with the clouds. This city has got a milder climate than the tropical India, as this place is located in surging pine covered hills. The city which is popularly known as abode of clouds, is1496 meters above the sea level; since Shillong is a home of many waterfalls, hence it is called the Scotland of East. One will find the a touch of British legacy still today, in the architecture and also in the food habits of the residing people of Shillong.

View of Shillong

The architecture of the houses of Shillong, is that of the Assam style; the roofs are slanting, large number of windows are present and the floors are made of wood, which looks like a piece of art. These Assam style houses is beneficial for Shillong as this place receives heavy rainfall, and are very much prone to earthquake. During the monsoon, Shillong receives heavy rainfall, this last for a longer period of time than rest of India. Therefore, an umbrella is very necessary, tourists who wishes to visit Shillong, must pack an umbrella in their bag. Although people avoid to visit Shillong during the monsoon, but this is the time, Shillong remains clean as all the garbage are cleared with rain water and at that the waterfalls are at full strength.

Climate

Shillong has got a pollution free summer, where the temperature remains 23 degree Celsius, the temperature of Shillong varies 4 degree Celsius during the winter months. Usually Shillong receives less perspiration, then rest of the country. Shillong and monsoon goes simultaneously, the monsoon arrives in the June and rains until, the end of August.

So, it is advisable, that the best time to visit Shillong is during October to November and March to April.

Places of interest

 There are many places in and around Shillong, which are tourist spots, here we will be discussing some of the well known tourist spots.

Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls, is in the upper Shillong area, it also houses the Eastern Air Command of Indian air Force. This picturesque waterfall is more of a collection of smaller falls, it is not a continuous falls.This scenic fall has got a footpath which leads to the bottom of the fall from where it reaches a small lake. The name of this Elephant Fall was given by the British, as there is a rock by the side of the fall, which resembles elephant, this rock was destroyed in earthquake.

Elephant Falls

 Shillong Peak

Shillong Peak is 1965 meters above sea level, is the highest point in Meghalaya. From this point, you can have bewildering view of Shillong, the city's beauty during the night is something worth to remember. It also has the radar station of Indian Air Force , the tourists are advised not to take snaps of the radar facilities there, they should once declare their camera, as soon as they reach the point.

Shillong Peak

 Entomological Museum (Butterfly Museum)

This museum has got a huge collection of different types of butterflies. This museum is very beneficial to the students of Zoology. This museum is not only attractive and beneficial for the children but also for the adults too as they will have an opportunity to enjoy and play with the different kinds of colorful butterflies. This Museum present some of the fine and rare species of butterflies and moths.

Shillong Golf Course

Shillong Golf Course is the first golf course in India which has 18 holes in it, it is almost at an altitude of 5200ft. This place is like a dreamland for the putters. This golf course is one of the beautiful and is located in such a unique place, that it is compared with the 'Glen Eagle Course' of the United States.

Shillong Golf Course

Bishop and Beadon Falls

These two very beautiful falls are located in the Suna valley. Suna is a home to many wild animals, like leopards, langurs, deer, wild cats and variety of bird species.

Beadon Falls

Bishop Falls

Sweet Falls

Sweet Falls is a very steep fall, and is located in the Happy Valley. It is advisable that extreme caution should be taken, as there are no barricades, the rocks are always very slippery due to rain or dew.

Sweet Falls

Lady Hydari Park

Lady Hydari Park is a place where variety of local flowering plants and orchids are found. There is a mini zoo and a deer park which is spread more than a kilometer. This place has got a beautiful picnic spot for the local crowd. This park is named after Lady Hydari, wife of the then Governor of Assam.

Lady Hydari Park

Flowering Plants at Lady Hydari Park

Wards Lake

Wards Lake is an artificial lake, has got a garden and a boating facilities. Wards Lake is locally known as Nan-Polok.

Wards Lake

Don Bosco Centre of Indigenous Culture

The Don Bosco Museum is actually part of DBCIC (Don Bosco Centre of Indigenous Culture). DBCIC comprised of research on cultures, publications, animation programmes, training. The museum which is a place of knowledge sharing about the culture of north east in particular and other cultures too. DBCIC is at Mawlai, Shillong.

Transport

Although Shillong is well connected by road. But Shillong has got no rail connection, air connection are not that of worth. Umroi airport is the only airport of Shillong , where limited flights ply.

Roadways

Shillong is well connected with the other northeastern states, two major national highways passes through Shillong, they are National Highway 40 is connected to Guwahati; National Highway 44 is connected to Tripura and Mizoram.
Private buses and state transport buses ply to and from Shillong daily. Sumo taxis are also available to the destination like Tripura, Guwahati and other cities and towns of north eastern states.