Shillong, the heart of the abode of clouds and impregnated
by picturesque innate beauty is my favorite city. Shillong is the capital of
the state of Meghalaya. Among the masses it is also known as Scotland of the
East. It is home to several waterfalls and is blessed by heavy rainfall.
Guwahati, the gateway of North-Eastern India is 100 Kms away from Shillong and
is well connected by a four lane highway with plenty of vehicles available
round the clock.
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| An evening view of Police Bazar, Shillong (picture courtesy - www.tripadvisor.in) |
Shillong is connected to the rest of the country most
conveniently through Guwahati. Although Shillong has an airport and there are
weekly flights to Kolkata, yet connectivity through Guwahati is better. It has
no railways because of difficult terrain and so the nearest railway station is
Guwahati. There are many state owned as well as privately owned large and small
public vehicles plying on to Shillong from Guwahati and vice-versa. The drive through
from Shillong to Guwahati will be through a four lane highway passing alongside
hilly curves making the drive exciting. Apart from the fun of driving, the
scenic beauty alongside the driveway makes the travelling exciting. Umiam Lake
at Borapani, which falls on the way to Shillong is another stop-by for tourists.
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| A view of Lewduh Market, Shillong (picture courtesy - www.holidayiq.com) |
Shillong is one of the cleanest cities of the country; and this
is all because of the cleanliness addictive nature of the natives. The city has
several waterfalls in its vicinity and a visit of each one of them is an unique
experience. Numerous caves are present around the city and a walk through them
reminds people of the days of history. There are also several lakes in the
city. Christmas, Easter, Good Friday and New Year are celebrated by the locals
with full joy and excitement. Since most residents are Khasi, the Khasi
festivals Ka Pomblang Nongkrem and Shad Sukmynsiem are also celebrated.
Behdiengkhlam, the festival of the Jaintia’s and Wangala, the festival of the
Garo’s is celebrated by the few local Jaintia and Garo population.
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| A view of Mawsynram village (picture courtesy - www.theatlantic.com) |
For
people who like strolling around and window shopping, the best way to get
around the city is by walking. There are also lots of city cabs plying around
the city. For gentlemen who drink sober, it is a great place too. The city has
got several pubs and lounges that serve spirits in exotic ambience. Mawsynram
and Cherrapunjee, which is very near to Shillong faces heavy rainfall throughout
the year and gives a wonderful experience to the visitors. The drive through
from Shillong to Cherrapunjee gives an experience of driving amidst clouds,
with clouds saturated on both sides of the road until noon.
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| A view of coud-9 bar, Shillong (picture courtesy - www.tripadvisor.in) |
Shillong is also known for its fasion. The residents have an
amazing dressing sense and buying apparels is a must if you visit Shillong.
There are plenty of fashion outfit shops in and around Police Bazar. Although
most eating places close early, the experience of food in Shillong is also
amazing. Khasi dishes are served in most restaurants and it is mouthwatering. Apart
from Khasi food, the restaurants expertise in Chinese, Indian and Tibetan
foods. Shillong also has several hotels
and guest houses for night halt and all of them remain fully booked from
December mid till New Year. Spending the yuletide in Shillong is obviously an
wise decision.
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| Dohneiiong, a Khasi dish (www.thenortheasttoday.com) |
