Shillong

Shillong

Location: Meghalaya

Distance From:

  • Guwahati Airport: Approx 119 km
  • Shillong Airport: Approx 31 km
  • Guwahati Railway Station: Approx. 100 km

Shillong became the capital of Assam in 1874 after Assam was made a separate province in 1866. In 1874, Shillong started to see more urbanization and in the year 1878, the town got its first recorded Municipal Board that helped set up water supply to homes and streets paving etc.

The British invited educated Indians from other provinces to settle in Shillong so as to run the administration effectively. In order to get this easy life, many people accepted it happily under all conditions but they also brought with them their languages, culture and dress which mixed with local cultures giving rise to a new type of culture called Anglo-Indian Culture.

explore shillong

We can still find some houses bearing English architecture in old colonies where retired ICS officers lived. One of the earliest places where this culture had taken roots is Polo Bazar which was later known as Laitumkhrah. Here, some English people who settled in Shillong built their station (the place where someone stays while travelling) and spent most of their time outside on work but when they used to return home for lunch or sometimes stay, they built bungalow like houses with all amenities of that era right from water-supply, electricity etc. Today some of these houses can still be found with English names written over them (ex: “The Elgin”) while others are occupied by localities.

After partition in 1947, people from Bangladesh started migrating to Shillong especially Sutnga Saipung and Sonapur areas. Since then, the city has seen an unprecedented rise in population that doubled many times over making Shillong one of the densely populated cities of India today.

Shillong's cosmopolitan character is evident in the city's distinctive culture, which is a blend of India's myriad traditions. Every celebration is celebrated with enthusiasm in Shillong, where travellers will encounter cuisines from across India and the world.

Rightly named as the "Rock Capital of India," Shillong has earned a well-deserved reputation due to its passion for music and has been the home of many legendary musicians. Shillong is home to a wide range of characteristics, from quiet residential lanes to bustling downtown areas to serene lakes, and swaying pines.

The Shillong hangout scene is gaining popularity. The beautiful, tree-lined Ward's Lake and the sprawling Golf Links — a popular outdoor recreational area for residents - are two of the attractions on offer. Shillong has a variety of hotels, guesthouses, and homestays located throughout the region, especially in the Middle of the Police Bazaar, also known as "Khyndai Lad," which translates to "Nine lanes."

If you want to learn more about the history of Shillong, we recommend taking the Shillong Heritage Walk, which provides you with information about Shillong's history.

Best Time To visit Shillong

Shillong is a year-round destination, being in close proximity to the Himalayan Mountains makes this place an attractive tourist hotspot. It has pleasant weather conditions throughout the year with summers being warm and winters being chilly with fog making it damp.