Kaziranga National Park welcomes you to the City of Shillong ~ the State Capital of Meghalaya!
Shillong aka the Scotland of the East and the Rock Capital of India is a place where you see a blend of the cultural world and modern civilization. Shillong is the capital of the State of Meghalaya and is also the District Headquarters of East Khasi Hills District. Shillong city is situated at an altitude of 1,496 metres above sea level and the Shillong Peak is the highest point in the East Khasi Hills district. And it is because of this altitude that the city of Shillong enjoys a bracing climate throughout the year. The city of Shillong has been the seat of Government since the consolidation of the British administration in this part of India more than a century ago. Earlier the North Eastern States were undivided and the entire region functioned as one State under the Indian Administration with Shillong as the regional capital. Today, the entire region of the East Khasi Hills District is mostly hilly with deep gorges and ravines on the southern portion and Shillong serves as the point with the highest elevation and the Shillong peak which lies at a distance of 10 km from the Shillong city, offer a panoramic view of the scenic countryside.
Shillong is well connected with motorable roads to other places of Meghalaya, has its own charm, different from other hill stations, and presents a natural scenic beauty with waterfalls, brooks, pine groves and gardens. The place, the people, the flora and fauna and the climate all combine to make Shillong an ideal retreat throughout the year. Shillong offers amenities for tourists with good hotel accommodations, facilities for sports, angling, trekking and hiking.
If you are from the North East the name Shillong would mean a perfect weekend getaway for you. The pleasant weather, the spectacular drive along NH 40, the Barapani lake, the numerous waterfalls, cheap booze (this one to lift you damp spirits), mouth watering dumplings and an hours to Cherrapunji are sure motives to get you hit the road and drive to Shillong.
Once you enter the city of Shillong from the drive after crossing the Umiam lake, you can get a feel of the rich colonial past of Shillong and a different feel starts to fill you with excitement of visiting Shillong. The various shops and buildings cover each side of the roads on a hilly backdrop and the landscapes reminded the Britishers of the landscapes of Scotland and hence Shillong is often referred to as the ‘Scotland of the East’ . The numerous pine trees surrounding the hill and mountains makes you feel it Christmas already along with the pleasant weather that is always a part of the charm of Shillong city. Shillong has a blend of a modern city with acceptable vehicular traffic along with vast natural beauty surrounding it. The simple and laid back life of this beautiful hill station would make you want to extend your stay at Shillong.
What makes Shillong an attractive tourist city is that it ha everything a traveller looks out for. Shillong has natural beauty with rolling hills and meandering plateaus, numerous waterfalls, a hike that takes you across a vast expanse of rhododendron trees, a beautiful canyon area, numerous museums that highlight its rich culture and heritage, beautiful cathedrals, Asia’s largest and finest golf course, lakes, modern malls, luxurious hotels, multicuisine restaurants, a matrilineal society, delectable local cuisine, numerous pubs and bars, cafes that play live rock music, local markets, modern markets, etc. A travellers day in Shillong can never be an idle one as there is always something or the other to explore. If you are done sightseeing with the various places of tourist interest in Shillong, then take a day to explore the Barabazar – the largest market area in North East India. Take short hikes for ex. from Police Bazar to the Ward’ lake area in Shillong and taste local cuisine of the Khasi people of Shillong.
Travel to a local Khasi home in Shillong and witness the matrilineal culture in person. In Shillong and across the East Khasi hills district in Meghalaya people follow the matrilineal system where the head of the family is a lady and the family ancestry and lineage is taken from the Mother’s side. Stay with the local people of Shillong in one of their homestays and get to experience Khasi culture at its best. In the evenings, take a stroll along the famous police bazar of Shillong and get to see how locals bring in their fresh produce from the nearby gardens and sell it in this market area of Shillong. While at police bazar in Shillong also witness the ancient gambling game of Shillong where people bet on a game of archery. Everyday in the morning and afternoon a group of local archers gather at the polo grounds in Shillong. These archers then target on a board from a distance that has specific numbers mentioned on it. The number that gets hit with the maximum arrows is the winning number and people who place their bet on that number are the winners and they take home a prize money which is 8 times the bet amount they place. This is one of the oldest traditional games of Shillong and it is legal to place a bet on this game at Shillong. Various shops are present here at police bazar area of Shillong that allows you to play this game.
If this gambling game of Shillong doesn’t interest you and you want to enjoy the music scene of Shillong then take time to visit the various local cafes in the market area of Shillong where live local bands play in the evenings. Shillong is often referred to as the ‘Rock Capital of India’ because of the local people’ love for this music genre. It is said that across every third household of Shillong you are bound to meet a person who plays some kind of a musical instrument and this is what make the music scene of Shillong incredible!
If you are a passionate photographer, then Shillong is the place to be visited to get captures at amazing nature, culture, food people, etc. Take a stroll along the narrow lanes of Shillong and experience culture at its best here. Go for the Rhododendron trek to capture amazing natural scenes. Visit the Shillong peak to capture an aerial view of Shillong city along with the backdrop of the Himalayas and the plains of Bangladesh. Visit the numerous waterfalls of Shillong like elephant falls, sweet falls, abbey fall, spread eagle falls to capture magnificent views. Go to the Laitlum canyons near Shillong to capture the majestic view of the canyon here. Simply visit the market and capture pictures of the various local produce of vegetables and fruits along with the always smiling Khasi people of Shillong. Also do not miss out the opportunity to visit the majestic cathedrals of Shillong. If you happen to be at Shillong on a sunday take a day to attend a service at one of these beautiful Cathedrals of Shillong city. Shillong has a pleasant climate around the year however monsoons play a pivotal role in the climate of the city and hence it is always advisable to carry an umbrella along with you when you are out exploring Shillong. Also the sun sets in early and by 5 PM in the evening it is pitch dark during the winters. So the city shuts down as early as 8 PM so its advised to complete exploring priorly to this.
Shillong is located at a distance of 110 km from Guwahati city in Assam. The distance from Shillong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park is 295 km. Shillong is the State capital of Meghalaya and is the most visited tourist destination in North East India. Shillong is located at a height of 4990 feet from the mean sea level and the entire city stretches for over 7 km on an elevation. Shillong is located on a plateau that is surrounded by the Umiam gorge to its north, north west by Diengiei hills and the Assam valley to its northeast. The majestic river Umiam and its tributaries Umshyrpi and Umkhra act as a water source for the city of Shillong.
Until the year 1864, Shillong was only a small village and only after 1864 Shillong became a civil station for the Khasi and Jaintia hills. And in the year 1874, upon the formation of Assam comprising of the entire North East India’s states, Shillong was chosen to be the capital under the British administration. In the year 1897, a devastating earthquake rocked the region of Assam (entire North East) and the city of Shillong was destroyed. A reconstruction of the city was initiated and in the year 1972, after creation of the separate state of Meghalaya, Shillong was declared as the capital of Meghalaya.
To Plan your visit to Shillong with Kaziranga National Park please fill the form below:
Places of Tourist Interest in Shillong ~
1| Ward’s Lake Shillong, Meghalaya ~
This beautiful man made lake is located in the heart of the Shillong city near the Police Bazar area. Ward’s lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Shillong city and hundreds of visitors come here everyday to admire the beauty of the Ward’s lake. Ward’s lake in Shillong is a clear water artificial pool area surrounded by beautiful gardens and trees and having a serene ambience that allows visitors to take a walk around the lake and also enjoying boating on its water right in the heart of Shillong city. A monumental white suspension bridge is located in the middle of the lake that allows visitors to cross the lake and also feed fishes that are present in the waters here. This bridge at the Ward’s lake in Shillong offer great views of the lake and is an ideal place to click pictures too. One can also spot geese and ducks swimming on this lake in Shillong city. Ward’s lake is an ideal place for all the local fitness enthusiasts of Shillong who come here for a morning and evening walks. The park area is covered with stoned paths that run around the lake with proper seating arrangements around. The entire view from the Ward’s lake in Shillong reminds a traveller about the rich colonial british era here.
Ward’s lake is over 100 years old and it was commissioned by the then Chief Commissioner of Assam – Sir William Ward. This lake in Shillong was designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollock in the shape of a horse’s shoe as this brings good luck. Erstwhile prisoners of Central Jail of Shillong contributed towards the contribution of this lake. It is often referred to as the Pollock’s lake after its design.
Inside the complex of the Ward’s lake there is a gift shop as well as a cafe where hot refreshments are available. Police bazaar area of Shillong is just a short walk away from the Ward’s lake and the lake also overlooks the Governor’s residence of Shillong and the Anglican Church of Shillong as well.
2| Don Bosco Museum Shillong, Meghalaya ~
The Don Bosco Museum in Shillong is one of the best cultural museums in India that aims at preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of North East India. In addition to being a museum, it is also a research and publication center of Shillong. The Don Bosco Museum of Shillong is built in a hexagonal shape spread across a total area of 56,000 sq ft and spreading across 7 floors with an additional sky view that provides a beautiful view of the city of Shillong. Frequented by tourists from across India and abroad who come to visit Shillong, the Don Bosco Museum has 17 seperate galleries that display the entire heritage of the people of North East India in the form of cultural artefacts and paintings.
The various galleries present inside the Don Bosco Museum of Shillong are Agriculture Gallery, Arts Gallery, Basketry Gallery, Ornaments and Costume Gallery, Fishing and Hunting Gallery, Food Gallery, Housing Gallery, Introductory and Prehistory Gallery, Land and People’s Gallery, Musical Instruments Gallery, Language Museum, Our Neighbours Gallery, Mission and Culture, Culture and Religion, Alcove Gallery.
3| Shillong Peak Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Located at about 10 km from Shillong city in Upper Shillong area is the Shillong Peak. One of the very popular tourist destinations of Shillong, Shillong Peak provides a panoramic bird’s eye view of the city of Shillong. The Shillong Peak is the highest point in the East Khasi Hills district located at a height of 1965 m from the mean sea level. The area of the Shillong Peak is located within the premises of the base of the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force has its radar station here in Shillong and so this area is heavily protected and guarded. Visitors to Shillong Peak need to go through a security gate before they can proceed while their luggage is scanned and also they have to deposit their cameras in the safe box.
4| Elephant Falls Shillong, Meghalaya ~
The Elephant Falls is another very popular destination near Shillong City. Generally the ideal stop-over after the visit to the Shillong Peak on your way to Cherrapunji. The Elephant Falls was the British name of what the local Khasi people once referred to as Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew (or “Three Steps Waterfalls”) since the falls actually consisted of three sections in succession. One of the most beautiful waterfalls of Meghalaya located in the Upper Shillong area, the Elephant Falls is named after a rock that was present here and it resembled the shape of an Elephant – the Britishers named it as the Elephant Falls. This rock was however destroyed in the earthquake of 1897. The Elephant falls is a cascading waterfall that is a 3 step waterfall. One waterfall is on the top followed by 2 others one in the middle and the other at the bottom. Of the three waterfalls (all of which were easily reached by the same short and easy walking path), the bottom tier was the most impressive. The walking path gently descended from the entrance, and it is practically almost completely paved with lots of stairs and a bridge traversing the stream between the 2nd and 3rd falls.
The first waterfall is smaller in size as compared to the other two falls. The entire area is well connected by steps so that you can take a short hike here as well. Once you go down the stairway you can see various huge sized rocks along the way. There is a bridge in the middle that allows you to cross this waterfall in Shillong. At the end you can reach below to get a spectacular view of the waterfall. Near the entrance of the Elephant falls there are many shops that sell eatables and stationery gifts as well. There is also a place that rents out traditional Khasi attires and visitors can get a chance to get themselves clicked wearing this attire.
5| Lady Hydari Park Shillong, Meghalaya ~
The Lady Hydari Park is one of the well-known tourist attractions in the heart of Shillong city. This park is another major tourist attraction of Shillong city. The Lady Hydari park covers an area of a stretch of over a kilometer and houses a deer park and a mini zoo as well in addition to beautiful gardens and a special rose garden. This park is named after the first lady of the State, Lady Hydari wife of the then Governor of Assam. The rose park here has a variety of rose plants.
6| Police Bazaar Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Your visit to Shillong doesn’t end with a tour of the Police Bazar. One of the busiest markets across North East India, the Police Bazar is the main Shopping Center of Shillong. Located at the heart of Shillong City, Police Bazaar is frequented by visitors from across India and the World. With the primary Hotels of Shillong being located in and around Police Bazar it is an easy access from your night halt. The attractions of Police Bazar are the numerous malls, the local Handicraft Shops, the Archery Betting Stalls and the Cafes of Shillong.
Police Bazar is the main market area of Shillong city that is always bustling with people both vendors and buyers. The Police Bazar area is the main tourist spot of Shillong city that has the various hotels, malls, eateries and pubs of Shillong. Hotel Center Point located here is one of the luxurious hotels of Shillong. Various eateries and local restaurants are present at the police bazar in Shillong. Special Bengali restaurants like Suruchi are also present here. The various government offices of Shillong are also present here. The Reliance Trendz mall is located here along with KFC and Dominoz Pizza. The City Hut Dhaba present here is one of the most popular restaurants of Shillong.
7| Polo Grounds Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Located at the Oakland road in Shillong, the Shillong Polo grounds is one of the oldest polo grounds in the World. Today, the Polo grounds serves as a sports complex and helps train the various sportsmen of Meghalaya. The famous Archery game of Shillong, which is also a gambling game where people place their bets on in also held at the Polo grounds in Shillong.
8| Umiam Lake Shillong, Meghalaya ~
The Umiam Lake is located 9 km before arriving at Shillong. It is a very beautiful man made artificial water reservoir which was formed as a result of a hydroelectric dam was built across the Umiam River. The pristine clear waters here are very soothing to the eyes of any visitor. Umiam near Shillong serves as a perfect breakpoint on your drive from Guwahati to Shillong before you start to approach the Shillong traffic. There is also a resort complex here at the Umiam lake that provides boating facility on the lake. This place called as the Umiam Lake Resort also offers deluxe rooms and a restaurant so that you can enjoy a comfortable night stay here as well. The Umiam Lake near Shillong was designed by the famous architect Charles Correa. The entire view from here is beautiful overlooking the Umiam lake and the pinewood trees.
9| Laitlum Canyons Shillong, Meghalaya ~
A canyon spot near Shillong, the Laitlum canyon shot to prominence after the bollywood movie Rock on 2 was shot here. This spot provides a magnificent view of the beautiful green hills, bamboo orchards and the orchids of Meghalaya. Laitlum canyons near Shillong is the best place to spend a serene and calm time away from the city hustle and bustle. It is a long walk to the top of the canyon and the adventure hikers love this place and also the nature lovers too. People from across the World come to visit the Laitlum canyons near Shillong. The best time to visit the area is during the afternoon when the fog clears up and the canyons and gorges are clearly visible.
10| Spread Eagle Falls Shillong, Meghalaya ~
The Spread Eagle Fall in Shillong is located about 2 km away from the Polo grounds in Shillong and is a famous picnic spot in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. With crystal clear waters and beautiful surroundings, the Spread Eagle Falls is one of the widest falls of Shillong and it is a cascading type waterfall. Locally it is also called as the Sati falls. From a distance, the waterfalls looks like an eagle bird with its wings spread out and hence it is referred to as the Spread Eagle Falls. A must visit place during your visit to Shillong to enjoy nature and click memorable pictures of the Spread Eagle Falls.
11| Sweet Falls Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Another beautiful waterfall near Shillong is the Sweet Falls that lies close to the Happy Valley area of Shillong. It is also the most dangerous waterfall in Meghalaya as numerous cases of deaths and suicide have been reported from here. The locals even say that this place is haunted and it seems when people go in odd number group here they return back in even number group. The Sweet Falls has a height of around 96 meters and is accessible by road. However visitors are not allowed to go close by the waterfall due to poor route and the slippery rocks here. The sweet falls is one of the steepest fall of Meghalaya and the water gushes down with force as there are no big rocks here to stop its flow. Due to this force of the water of the Sweet Falls, bathing or standing under the waters here becomes impossible.
Although the area is surrounded by railings it is still not advisable to go very near the Sweet Falls directly. Many bird visit this waterfall and the sound of their chirping along with the gushing sound of this waterfall is a treat to the ears. The distance from Police Bazar to the Sweet Falls is around 12 km and the entire drive is very beautiful. There is a butterfly museum and a mini zoo nearby. Do wind up your visit here before 4.30 pm as numerous local boys come to this place in the evening and it’s better to avoid any altercations with them.
12| The Grand Madina Masjid Shillong, Meghalaya ~
The grand Madina Masjid is located in the Laban area of Shillong and is 15 minutes away from the main Shillong city at Police Bazar. It is interesting to find this amazing place of worship of the Muslims in an area dominated by a Christian population which speaks highly about the religious and cultural harmony among the people of Shillong. The grand Madina Masjid in Shillong is the largest mosque in North East India and the only Glass Mosque in India. Built very elegantly in an all glass design, the Madina Masjid looks very spectacular in the evenings when it is all lit up and prayers are being offered here. Do pay a visit here during your evenings in Shillong to admire the grand architectural marvel.
13| Bishop and Beadon Falls Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Both these majestic waterfalls are another important tourist attractions near Shillong city located at Mawprem near Mawlai. Although these two waterfalls are separate but they tumble down together into a gorge. Both the Bishop and Beadon falls can be viewed together from a viewpoint near Mawprem. The Bishop falls is a very tall waterfall having a height of 315 meter and is the 22nd tallest waterfall in India. Both these waterfalls are best to view in the month of July when the monsoons have arrived in Shillong and these waterfalls are having a good flow of water. The Bishop and Beadon falls of Shillong are best viewed in the afternoon time.
14| Butterfly Museum Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Located in the Riatsamthiah Jiam area in Shillong, the Butterfly Museum is another important destination of Shillong. Various species of butterflies, insects, spiders, moths, etc. from across the country are present here in this Museum. It is basically a Butterfly cum entomological museum. The owner of this museum is Mr. Wankhar as this is a privately owned museum. This museum interests people from all walks of life especially children and it is a good place to show these little children about the varied species of butterflies which cannot be seen in bigger cities. Inside the museum many programs for conservation are also held along with cultivation of butterflies to maintain the ecological balance in the World. Indeed an must visit place during your stay in Shillong.
15| Golf Course Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Located near the Polo Grounds area, the Shillong Golf Course is the finest golf course in India with 18 holes. The golf course is located at an elevation of 5200 feet and is one of the finest golf courses in India. the entire area looks green and very beautiful. What makes the Shillong Golf course unique is its location across the valleys of Meghalaya. The beauty of the Shillong Golf course is what makes it comparable with the Gleneagle Golf Course of United States.
16| Ever Living Museum Shillong, Meghalaya ~
Located near the Mawshbint village in Shillong, the Ever Living Museum is a privately owned museum by Mr. Kynthew War. It is basically housed in a private residence which looks like a bungalow and illustrates the rich heritage of the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia people of Meghalaya. A must visit museum in Shillong, it contains various artefacts from across Meghalaya like utensils, baskets, rocks, coins, etc. This were individually collected by mr. war and have been preserved here in the museum. Mr. War personally guides tourists across this musuem and it is amazing to see how one man single handedly collected and built this musuem in Shillong.
17| Churches and Cathedrals of Shillong, Meghalaya ~
As a majority of the population of Shillong practice Christianity as their faith it is very evident that there would be numerous churches and cathedrals in Shillong. Two of the most popular churches for tourists in Shillong are the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians and the All Saints Church. The very beautifully constructed Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians is a very popular tourist attraction in Shillong. The beautiful blue color Cathedral was built in 1913. It was however destroyed in a fire in 1936 and was rebuilt again to its original look today. Sundays here see many people coming for prayers. Do visit this Cathedral during your visit to Shillong.
The All Saints Church is another popular tourist attraction of Shillong. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 18977 and was rebuilt in 1902. The British influence can be seen in its construction here in Shillong city.
So why wait?! Plan your visit to the Scotland of the East ~ the City of Shillong, Meghalaya, Incredible India!
Sample Itinerary details for your visit to Shillong – Meghalaya
Day 1 ~ Guwahati and Cherrapunji
Arrive at Guwahati Airport and depart to Cherrapunji. On the way sight the Umiam Lake. At Cherrapunji, visit the Majestic Nohkalikai Falls (India’s tallest plunge waterfall) and spot the exotic view here. Also visit the Seven Sisters Falls and the Mawsmai Caves at Cherrapunji.
Night Stay: Resorts/Cottages at Cherrapunji
Meals Included: NA
Day 2 ~ Cherrapunji, Mawlynnong, Dawki and Shillong
After breakfast enroute to Dawki (Indo-Bangladesh) border and enjoy boating on the clear waters of the Umngot River at Dawki. Later visit to Mawlynnong (Asia’s cleanest Village). At Mawlynnong visit the Living Root Bridges, sight the balancing rocks and take a walk along the Cleanest Village of Asia. Experience the rich culture of the Khasi Tribes of Meghalaya at Mawlynnong. Later depart to Shillong for night halt. At Shillong, visit the Madina Masjid (India’s only Glass Mosque).
Night Stay: Homestay/Hotel at Shillong
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3 ~ Shillong – the Scotland of the East and Guwahati
Today we will spend the first half of the day sightseeing at Shillong City. Visit the Ward’s Lake, Shillong Peak, Elephant Falls and Don Bosco Museum. Depart to Guwahati.
Night Stay: Comfortable Hotel at Guwahati
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 4 ~ Kamakhya Temple and Guwahati Airport
Morning visit the Holy Maa Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. The Kamakhya Temple ‘the Temple of the Bleeding Goddess’ is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and is one of the holiest temple shrines in India. Offer your worship to Goddess Kamakhya. After breakfast, depart to Guwahati Airport for your onward destination. Tour Ends. Bid Adieu!
Meals Included: Breakfast
To Plan your visit to Shillong with Kaziranga National Park please fill the form below:
Places to visit near Shillong ~
1| Cherrapunji ~ 55 km from Shillong
Cherrapunji is located around 55 km from Shillong and is the land of beautiful waterfalls of Meghalaya, caves, valleys, gorges, beautiful mountains and the Living root bridges. The place that records the second highest rainfall in the World, Cherrapunji is the second most popular tourist destination of Meghalaya after Shillong. Cherrapunji has been blessed with pleasant cool weather across the year like Shillong itself and people visit Cherrapunji mostly topo admire the waterfalls, the caves and the Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat village. Cherrapunji is home to India’s tallest plunge waterfall – the Nohkalikai Falls and the fourth tallest waterfall in India – the Seven Sister Falls. The most visited caves in Cherrapunji is the Mawsmai cave and the Arwaah cave which is a true wonder to explore and is also gaining popularity among the tourists. Numerous hotels, resorts and homestays are present here like Shillong that plays host to the visitors at Cherrapunji.
Cherrapunji near Shillong offers many trekking routes for adrenaline lovers as well. The trek from Tyrna village to Nongriat village to sight the Double Decker Living Root Bridge – the only one in the World is the most popular trekking route here. Along with this is the trek from Nongriat village to the Nohkalikai falls across the Mawsaw living root bridge and the rainbow falls. Shella is another popular tourist spot near Cherrapunji that is gaining popularity among the offbeat travellers here that allows you to enjoy clearwater boating on the river here. Some of the other popular attractions at Cherrapunji near Shillong are the Wah Kaba falls, the Dainthlen Falls, the Eco Park and the Cherrapunji local market. A visit to Cherrapunji is a amist on your visit to Shillong in Meghalaya.
2| Mawlynnong ~ 80 km from Shillong
Located at around 80 km from Shillong is the Cleanest village in Asia – Mawlynnong. A beautiful and quaint countryside, Mawlynnong is also another popular destination near Shillong that has the most easily accessible living root bridge of Riwai. Visitors come to Mawlynnong especially to enjoy the clear atmosphere of the village and to stay in an environment that is far away from the deafening noise of the city life. This village near Shillong shot into prominence in the year 2008 when the discover India magazine listed it to be the cleanest village in Asia. The Honorable Prime Minister of India, mr. Narendra Modi also mentioned this village in his talks on the Swachh Bharat Campaign. Other popular places of interest at mawlynnong are the balancing rocks, the Nohwet village, Bamboo view point, bangladesh view point and the Holy cathedral at Mawlynnong.
Mawlynnong offers its visitors many options of homestays with the local Khasi people of Meghalaya. Here you can experience a complete traditional way of life and get a chance to interact with the local people of Mawlynnong. Also you can taste local delicious khasi cuisine and get an opportunity to even cook in one of their homestays. In the evening the village becomes so quiet and serene that you can take a stroll around the village and enjoy a day of quaint living. In the mornings you can get to see the various activities the villagers indulge in to keep the village clean. A visit to Mawlynnong is a must during your tour of Shillong to get a true taste of the rich Khasi lineage and culture.
3| Dawki ~ 82 km from Shillong
Yet another very popular tourist destination near Shillong located 82 km away is the town of Dawki or Tamabil. Dawki is the border of India and Bangladesh. This place is also famous for the Umngot river – a river whose waters are so crystal clear that the bottom is very clearly visible. Also when boats ply on the waters of this river it is seen as if the boat is floating in air because the water is so transparent. Most visitors to Dawki take the opportunity to cross the Indian border and go to the no man’s land at pillar 1275 and sight the border of Bangladesh and come back to India. This area is heavily guarded by the soldiers of the Border Security Force (BSF). Next up people go for a ride of boating on the clear waters of the Umngot river at Dawki. There is also a suspension bridge here that was built in 1932 by the British.
Another place close to Dawki is the village of Shnongpdeng. If you do not like the very touristy places then you must visit Shnongpdeng. At Shnongpdeng too you can enjoy the boat ride on the clear waters of Umngot river. Also, there are places where various adventure activities are conducted here like snorkelling, cliff jumping, kayaking, etc. There are also homestays here along with tented accommodations so that if you would want to enjoy the complete experience of Dawki and Shnongpdeng you can stay here too. Various local restaurants are present here at Shnongpdeng that allows visitors to get a real taste of Khasi cuisine like “Jadoh” which is a special pork and rice dish. Visit Dawki and Shnongpdeng near Shillong during your visit to Meghalaya to get a real experience of a lifetime.
4| Mawphlang ~ 30 km from Shillong
Mawphlang is another very close destination near Shillong that is gradually gaining importance in the tourist arena of Meghalaya. Mawphlang near Shillong is the site of the Khasi Hills Sacred Groves – a very rich biodiversity forest that is considered holy and revered by the Khasi people of Meghalaya. This forest has varied floral and faunal life including over 200 species of orchids too. Guided walks are conducted inside the forest groves of Mawphlang and people get to witness the various monoliths inside this forest where the Khasi ancestors used to pray to the Gods to seek a better year of harvest. Near to the sacred groves is a model Khasi Heritage Village that illustrates the rich culture of the Khasi people of Meghalaya. There are traditional Khasi bamboo huts here where one can witness the Khasi way of living. The view of the valleys from the Khasi heritage village is magnificent.
Mawphlang is also the starting point of the David Scott trail trek – one of the most pristine trek routes across Meghalaya. This trek route takes you deeper into the dense forest reserves of Meghalaya across the clear streams and hills and you get to experience nature at its best. The David Scott Trail trek is a 16 km trek route that starts from Mawphlang and ends at Lad Mawphlang. If you are an avid trekker and adventure seeker then do visit Mawphlang to embark on the David Scott Trail trek.
5| Mawsynram ~ 65 km from Shillong
Located at around 65 km away from Shillong is the town of Mawsynram. Mawsynram records the highest rainfall anywhere in the world and hence is the wettest place on planet Earth. The entire drive from Shillong to Mawsynram is indeed a breathtaking one where one gets to admire nature at its best. Once you approach Mawsynram you can see a cloud cover approaching you and it might start pouring at any instant making the weather much more beautiful. The popular tourist attractions at Mawsynram in the Jakrem Hot Spring, the Caves and the waterfalls. The Krem Puri caves near Mawsynram is the longest sandstone cave in the World covering a distance of over 24 kilometer. Mawsynram is famous for its handicrafts made up of bamboo and local artisans are adept in this skill. One can buy many ethnic bamboo handicrafts from here as well. The local market at Mawsynram is a must explore place as well. Do visit Mawsynram on your tour of Shillong.
6| Mawlyngbna ~ 90 km from Shillong
After crossing the right that lead to Mawsynram one has to travel for another 25 km to reach Mawlyngbna. A small village, Mawlyngbna is located atop a hill and is one of the last villages before one can reach Bangladesh from the Khasi Hills. This place was believed to be under the sea bed millions of years earlier and this has resulted in many fossils being present here at Mawlyngbna. There are fossils here at Mawlyngbna which are said to be over 200 million years old. Mawlyngbna is a famou adventure hub near Shillong where visitors can spend their day enjoying angling, kayaking, cliff jumping, etc. These activities happen at the Um-Kha-Koi reservoir. There are numerous springs around Mawlyngbna. A wide foret area is present here in the outskirts of the village which has a cultivation of pitcher plants. Numerous forest areas and plateaus makes Mawlyngbna an amazing hiking destination. On your visit to Shillong do not miss out to explore Mawlyngbna.
7| Mawphanlur ~ 90 km from Shillong
This paradise of a place is located in the West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya around 90 km from Shillong. A beautiful scenic spot near Shillong that has not been disturbed with an army of tourists flocking here. A perfect offbeat destination to spend a day in Meghalaya is Mawphanlur. Mawphanlur is a beautiful countryside that overlooks the virgin forests, rolling hills and the beautiful valleys of Meghalaya. Mawphanlur is often referred to as the land of seven lakes. If you want to beat a maddening touristy crowd of Shillong especially during the weekends then opt to visit Mawphanlur for a perfect weekend getaway. Very less populated with only 5 to 6 families, Mawphanlur offers various activities like hiking, boating, fishing, kayaking, etc. A must visit place on your tour of Shillong.
8| Nongkhnum Island ~ 100 km from Shillong
Nongkhnum Island is along the way to Mawphanlur and is the second largest river island in the World after Majuli in Assam. The journey from Shillong to Nongkhnum takes around 4 hours because of the road conditions. However, once you reach Nongkhnum island the majestic landscapes and beautiful waterfalls. The Nongkhnum island has been formed by the bifurcation of the Kynshi river into the Phanliang and the Namliang river of Meghalaya and spreads over an area of 25 sq. km. There are two waterfalls along this island which are worth a visit as well. These are the veinnia and the langshiang waterfalls. You can hire a boat here and travel on the clear waters of the Nongkhnum island in Meghalaya. A visit to Nongkhnum island is a must on your visit to Shillong.
Our Shillong Tour with our American Guests ~
Ms. Heather Carreiro had contacted us over email to plan a visit to North East India and she was interested in visiting the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam along with Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. Since she would be travelling with her two young children aged 8 and 5 years she didn’t want to make the itinerary very hectic and limited the sightseeing to certain places only and wanted to give ample time for the children to relax and play around too. We created a simple itinerary that looked like below ~
Nov 4 – Pick up from Guwahati and drive to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Nov 5 – Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Jeep Safari and Mayong Museum
Nov 6 – Drive to Umiam Lake (3 Hours) and continue to Shillong
Nov 7 – Drive to Cherrapunji and back to Shillong
Nov 8 – Drop off at Guwahati
Day 1 ~ It was the morning of November 4th and today I wa scheduled to pick the family at around 1 PM from Guwahati and then travel to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. I reached to the guest house at Bhetapara area in Guwahati at 12.45 PM and Ms. Heather and her two children Gabriel and Aryan were ready to be picked up. The caretaker of the guest house assisted to load the luggage into the car and at around 1.10 PM we started on our journey to Pobitora. I chose the road from inside the city via Narengi to Panikheti, Chandrapur, Burha Mayong to arrive at Pobitora. The city traffic was not too much as it was a sunday and so we easily crossed Guwahati and went on our journey. The drive is very beautiful along the banks of the river Brahmaputra and the beautiful countryside of Assam. The roads are not very good and hence we had to drive slowly. We reached the Assam Downtown University at Panikheti shortly and continued on our drive. We arrived at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary at around 2.45 PM.
Their stay was arranged at the Arya Eco Resort at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Pankaj the manager of the resort came to greet us. The room was allocated to them and the luggage transferred inside the rooms. I spoke to Pankaj until the time they got fresh and we set out to explore the area around the resort here. The children were all excited to see the natural beauty around as being a part of a modern city they rarely got to see so much greenery around. Heather was staying in Mumbai ince the past year as he was on an assignment in India. o they admired the beautiful forests, garden and paddy fields around along with the fresh air. We walked toward the hanging bridge area that lead to the Elephant Safari ride point at Pobitora. From here we took our time to admire various bird specie around the lake and we also got to sight the elephants at the Elephant Safari point. Next we visited the children’s park area nearby as there was still time to sundown. Gabriel and Aryan played on the see saw, swing and slides in the park while Heather and I discussed our plans for the coming days. At around 4 PM I took leave to come back to Guwahati while they checked into the Arya Eco Resort.
Day 2 ~ The next morning I left home at 6.45 AM to go to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. I reached at 8.15 AM and informed Pankaj to get the Jeep ready for our Jeep Safari ride into Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. I went to the forest office to pay for the entrance fees. We started our ride into Pobitora at 8.30 AM for about an hours duration that was given to us. We spotted our first rhinos in about 10 minutes after our ride into Pobitora. There were 2 of them grazing at the open fields. We admired these endangered animal species at the home of their highest population density – Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. We continued on our jeep safari. We spotted various birds, Asiatic wild water buffaloes, deers, wild boars and many more rhinos on our ride. At around 9.45 AM we came out of the interiors of Pobitora. Next up we headed to the resort and while the guests went to freshen up, I ordered for a quick breakfast before we headed out again to explore the Mayong Black Magic Museum.
Mayong near Pobitora was the land of black magic in India famous for the presence of various sorcerers who used their magic poweress to do mighty feats like making men disappearing into thin air, converting people into animals or even taming wild beasts magically, etc and something even bigger like making an entire army of men disappear. We reached the museum at 10.30 AM and the caretaker opened it for us. There are many ancient relics here in the museum including ancient scripts where these black magic were written on. We explored the museum and I explained the various artefact present here to them. We finished exploring the museum by 11.30 AM and headed back to the resort. Lunch was ordered and all of us sat at the garden area where we played hangman with the kids. Lunch was served at 12.45 PM and we had our lunch. I took leave at 3 PM and headed back to Guwahati.
Day 3 ~ Today we were to drive to Shillong from Pobitora and I reached the Arya Eco Resort at 8.15 PM. After a quick breakfast the luggage was loaded onto the car and we left at 8.45 AM to Shillong. I did not take the route from inside Guwahati to avoid the traffic and instead I took the route from Chamata to come out from Sonapur to head onto Jorabat and then into Meghalaya. We hadn’t planned on much sightseeing today as it would be a long drive on the hilly roads and we did not want to push the children. We planned on visiting the Umiam lake near Shillong and then explore the Police Bazaar area andthe Ward’s lake in Shillong before heading to the Cafe Shillong Bed and Breakfast at lower Lachumiere area in Shillong. We reached Umiam Lake near Shillong at 10.30 AM after the long drive. I parked the car and we went to visit the lake.
Umiam lake is the largest artificial water reservoir of North East India. The waters here are very clear and blue in color and a perfect getaway to enjoy boating on the lake. We did not opt to boat here and instead simple enjoyed the view from here. The children went into the water and played for around 20 minute before we clicked our pictures and headed back to our car to drive to Shillong. After driving for a while we entered Shillong city. The traffic in Shillong is always a problem because of the narrow lanes here and we got stuck here. The traffic was inching forward very slowly and it took us a lot of time to cross the Barabazar area here to head towards Shillong Cantonment. By the time we reached the Rhino Point at Shillong it wa already 12.15 PM. We continued on our drive to the Police Bazar area in Shillong after crossing Laban and the Government offices. Heavy traffic greeted us again and gradually we arrived at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. I parked my vehicle at the basement parking here and we started to explore the Police Bazar at Shillong. One of the busiest markets in Shillong, Police Bazar is the place to be here as various small and big shop owners come here everyday to carry out their routine business in Shillong.
We visited the handicrafts shops here in Shillong and Heather bought some handmade goods to take back home. After 30 minute we went to have our lunch at the Center Point Hotel in Shillong. One of the luxurious hotels in Shillong the Center Point Restaurant serves fine dining Chinese and Indian Cuisine in Shillong. We ordered our lunch and in 20 minutes our lunch was served. We ordered momos, pizzas and I had fried rice here. After our lunch we headed to visit the Ward’s lake area in Shillong city. Ward’s lake is an artificial lake here and the most popular tourist attraction of Shillong city. This lake was commissioned in the year 1894 by the then Commissioner of Assam. A very beautiful place in Shillong, we explored the Ward’s lake for around 30 minutes. There is also a provision of boating on the lake but we didn’t opt to boat.
Next as the children were tired, we proceeded to the Hotel. Their stay was booked at the Cafe Shillong Bed and Breakfast at the lower Lachumiere area in Shillong We continued to the Malki point area and then headed up to find the place. We reached there soon and the guests checked into the Hotel in Shillong. I had my stay booked closeby at the White Orchid guest house and so after saying goodbye I checked into my guest house. The white orchid is a small budget guest house in Shillong located near the Dhankheti area of Shillong. A decent place to stay but no noise and ruckus is allowed here as this is a residential area in Shillong. I checked in my room and after sometime I went out to visit the area nearby. Dhankheti area is a commercial area in Shillong and there are lots of local eateries here. To enjoy traditional Khasi cuisine this is the place to be in Shillong. The most famous landmark here is the Mary Help of Christian Cathedral. A beautiful blue colored architecture, this is the oldest catholic church of Shillong. I looked around the cathedral admiring its grand architecture and then came out.
The area also has numerous modern cafes that serves delicious food along with live music as well. I returned back to the guest house in Shillong by 6 PM. As it was the festival of Diwali, I could see the people getting ready for the celebrations to burst fire cracker. My friends from Shillong came over to my place to pay a visit. We ordered our dinner and by 10 PM I retired to bed.
Day 4 ~ The next day I got up at 6 AM and we were scheduled to visit Cherrapunji from Shillong today and after exploring Cherrapunji we were to come back to Shillong before sundown. I got ready and after a quick breakfast I went to pick up Heather’s family from Cafe Shillong. After picking them up we continued on our drive to Cherrapunji. In sometime we reached the Upper Shillong area. As today was a State holiday there was not too much traffic. The roads looked beautiful as there were cherry blossoms all around and Shillong was getting ready to host the annual Cherry Blossom Festival from Nov 14. We crossed Upper Shillong area to reach the point of the Shillong peak. The highest point of the East Khasi Hills, the Shillong Peak is a very popular tourist attraction of Shillong. But as it was closed today we couldn’t visit the place and instead headed to Cherrapunji. The drive to Cherrapunji from Shillong is very scenic and the family enjoyed the drive. We reached Cherrapunji at around 10 AM and I headed to the first sightseeing point – the Nohkalikai Falls. We arrived at the Nohkalikai falls at 10.20 AM and I parked my vehicle and we set out to explore the tallest plunge waterfall in India. The view of the waterfall was spectacular with pristine clear blue waters. After clicking our pictures we went ahead to explore the nearby local shops that sell goods like local cinnamon, local pepper, local turmeric, freshly made pickles, handicrafts and handlooms and freshly cut fruits. We ordered for freshly cut pineapples and enjoyed it with salt.
Next up we headed to the Mawsmai caves at Cherrapunji. The most popular caves of Meghalaya, Mawsmai caves is visited by hundreds of tourists every day. A very old cave formation, only a part of the cave is opened for exploration by tourists. We entered the caves and saw the various stalactites and stalagmites. The children loved the adventure of exploring the cave and in sometime we came out of the Mawsmai cave. Next up we headed to the Seven Sister Falls here. The fourth tallest waterfall in India, the Seven Sister Falls overlooks the valleys of Meghalaya and the plains of Bangladesh. As winter was approaching and the rains had reduced there was less water in the waterfalls and we could only sight the valleys clearly. Next we decided to stop for lunch. Our lunch was at the Orange roots restaurant at Cherrapunji where we had a very tasty lunch of Masala Dosa, Cheese Doa, Vegetarian Thali and Roti with paneer. By the time our lunch was over it was 1.15 PM. Next up we headed to explore the Arwah caves at Cherrapunji.
We entered the Arwah cave and it was a magical experience to be inside here. A small stream flows inside the caves and numerous stalactites and stalagmites and fossils can be seen here inside the Arwah caves. We explored inside the cave for about 30 minutes and then came out. As we were waiting down there was a viewpoint area where we could spot the Wah Kaba falls and the majetic valleys of Cherrapunji. There was a play swing here as well where the children played for a while. We left the Arwah caves and Cherrapunji too after this. Next we took the long drive to Shillong. We reached Upper Shillong area by 4 PM and headed to Shillong city. We did not plan on anything more for the day as the children were already quite tired. We reached lower Lachumiere area by 4.30 PM and dropped them at Cafe Shillong Bed and Breakfast and I headed to my Guest house. I ordered for dinner to be served at 9 PM and I went out again to explore the area to eat something. I entered a fast food shop here in Shillong and ordered for pork noodle soup. It was very delicious and after finishing it I came back to my guest house. Everyone wa bursting firecrackers and I was watching the celebration from the terrace of my guest house in Shillong. By 9.30 I had my dinner and went to bed as tonite was the last night at Shillong – the Scotland of the East!
Day 5 ~ I got up at 6 AM and went out for a short walk around the area of the guest house. We were to leave at 9 PM today and so I was at leisure. At sharp 9 AM we left the Cafe Shillong Bed and Breakfast in Shillong and headed to the Don Bosco Museum at Mawlai area in Shillong. The finest museum in North East India, the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong illustrates the rich culture and heritage of the people of North East India. Spread across seven floors, it has around 16 different galleries highlighting the lives and practices of the indigenous people of North East India. We explored the museum in Shillong and later headed on the top where there is a skywalk and from where we can get an aerial view of Shillong city. At 11 AM we left the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong to go to Guwahati. We stopped for lunch at the Jiva’s Veg Restaurant at Nongpoh. The lunch was very hygenic and tasty. After lunch we headed to Guwahati. We reached Guwahati at 3 PM and I dropped my guests at their guest house in Azara area in Guwahati. I bid goodbye to them wishing them a safe forward journey to Mumbai and our tour ended successfully!
To Plan your visit to Shillong with Kaziranga National Park please fill the form below:
Popular Hotels and Resorts in Shillong ~
1| Pinewood Hotel ~ Rita Road ~ Shillong
2| Hotel Polo Towers ~ Oakland Road ~ Shillong
3| The Center Point Hotel ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
4| Hotel Tripura Castle ~ Cleve Colony ~ Shillong
5| Ri Kynjai – Serenity by the Lake ~ Umniuh Khwan ~ Umiam ~ Shillong
6| Hotel Blue Berry Inn ~ Rita Road ~ Shillong
7| Cafe Shillong Bed and Breakfast ~ Lower Lachumiere ~ Shillong
8| Landmark Hills ~ Nongrim Hills ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
9| LRH Chalet ~ Lower Lachumiere ~ Shillong
10| Hotel Poinisuk ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
11| The Heritage Club Hotel ~ Clive Colony ~ Shillong
12| Windmere Resorts ~ Umpling ~ Shillong
13| Hotel Heige VNS ~ Dhankheti ~ Shillong
14| Hotel Indiana ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
15| Hotel Knight Inn ~ NEEPCO ~ Shillong
16| Hotel Alpine Continental ~ Quinton Road ~ Shillong
17| Hotel Pegasus Crown ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
18| Hotel Gateway Shillong ~ Keating Road ~ Shillong
19| The Majestic Hotel ~ Polo Market ~ Shillong
20| White Orchid Guest House ~ Dhankheti ~ Shillong
21| Nalgare’s Guest House ~ Laban ~ Shillong
22| Sunrise Guest House ~ Laban ~ Shillong
23| Ashiana Guest House ~ Laban ~ Shillong
24| Bonnie’ Guest House ~ Laban ~ Shillong
25| Hotel Orchid Annex ~ Polo Road ~ Shillong
26| Best Holiday Inn ~ Upper Lachumiere ~ Shillong
27| The Pear Tree ~ Lower Lachumiere ~ Shillong
28| Little Castle Inn ~ Jail Road ~ Shillong
29| The Lily Guest House ~ Bishnupur Point ~ Shillong
30| Cherry Blossom Inn ~ Rynjah ~ Shillong
31| Treebo Markynti Guest House ~ Madanrting ~ Shillong
32| Hotel Blue Mount ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
33| Eee Cee Hotel ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
34| Hotel Lake View Inn ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
35| Kaizun Bed and Breakfast ~ Lower Lachumiere ~ Shillong
Very Popular Restaurants in Shillong ~
1| City Hut Family Dhaba ~ Oakland Road ~ Shillong
2| Jiva Sizzlers ~ G S Road ~ Shillong
3| Bamboo Hut Restaurant ~ G S Road ~ Shillong
4| Deja Vu ~ G S Road ~ Shillong
5| Souper Bowl ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
6| Cafe Shillong ~ Lower Lachumiere ~ Shillong
7| The Hut Restaurant ~ G S Road ~ Shillong
8| Highway Snacks ~ Shillong
9| Grill Republic ~ Shillong
10| Biryani Kitchen ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
11| Hotel Kim Pou ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
12| Hotel Suruchi ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
13| Delhi Mistan Bhandar ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
14| City Wok Restaurant ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
15| Barbecue Chinese Hut ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
16| Naga Mandarin ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
17| Omega Cafe ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
18| ML05 Cafe ~ Upper Shillong ~ Shillong
19| Soyliana Hut ~ Upper Shillong ~ Shillong
20| Dosa Point ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
21| Foodies Hub ~ Major district Road ~ Shillong
22| Hongkong Restaurant ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
23| The Food Solution ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
24| Soul Kitchen ~ Mawroh ~ Shillong
25| Dylan’s Cafe ~ Tripura Castle Road ~ Shillong
26| Tashi Restaurant ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
27| Magnum Opus Bar ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
28| Temptations Food Court ~ Dhankheti ~ Shillong
29| Palomino ~ St Edmund College ~ Shillong
30| Great Wall China ~ Police Bazar ~ Shillong
31| Tibet Kitchen Restaurant ~ Glory Plaza ~ Shillong
32| Ms Appa Thali ~ Police Point ~ Shillong
33| Naga Rice Hotel ~ Keating Road ~ Shillong
34| Dexter’s Kitchen ~ Jaiaw ~ Shillong
35| Root Kitchen ~ Laitumkhrah ~ Shillong
Famous Hospitals of Shillong ~
1| Bethany Hospital ~ Nongrim Hills ~ Shillong
2| Woodland Hospital ~ Dhankheti ~ Shillong
3| Civil Hospital ~ Laban ~ Shillong
4| Nazareth Hospital ~ Laban ~ Shillong
5| NEIGRIHMS ~ Mawdiangdiang ~ Shillong
6| Super Care Hospital ~ Near Transport Office ~ Shillong
7| Jiban Ram Goenka Hospital ~ Shillong
8| The Children’s Hospital ~ Near St. John’s White Hall ~ Shillong
9| Military Hospital ~ NH 44 ~ Shillong
10| Meghalaya Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience ~ Pasteur Hills ~ Shillong
11| EMRI Hospitals ~ Shillong
12| Ganesh Das Hospital ~ Polo Hills ~ Shillong
13| Ramakrishna Mission State Dispensary ~ Near Police Station ~ Shillong
14| Hope Clinic ~ Pine Mount Ridge ~ Shillong
15| Mission Nethralaya ~ Nongthymmai ~ Shillong
Exploring Shillong with local friends ~ A Day out at Shillong on a Saturday
It has been a while since I had met my friends in Shillong as many of our tours were focussed away from Shillong at other destinations of North East India across Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland at Cherrapunji, Mawlynnong, Dawki, Jowai, Kaziranga, Majuli, Kohima, Mon, Dzukou, etc. So in January 2019, I decided to pay a visit to Shillong along with my friend from Guwahati and explore Shillong again on a Saturday as a day outing. We planned to have a small picnic near Shillong along with my friends and then have lunch at a popular cafe in Upper Shillong (ML 05 Cafe) and later travel back to Guwahati after a visit at the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong after making a final stop at the Cafe Coffee Day near Nongpoh area in Meghalaya. I started from my home in Guwahati at 7 AM and headed to Rajgarh Road area in Guwahati to pick up my friend and by the time we left Guwahati it was 7.30 AM.
As today was a 4th Saturday, offices and government institutions in Shillong would be closed due to a govt. holiday and so we did not expect much traffic on the roads while entering Shillong city from barapani which is always a bottleneck when it comes to visiting the ‘Scotland of the East’ at Shillong. So intentionally we planned on visiting Shillong on a saturday when offices in Shillong had a holiday. We crossed the bus terminus at Khanapara in Guwahati and reached Jorabat and from here we took a right to travel to Meghalaya as the road on left leads to Kaziranga National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Upper Assam continuing upto China following the historic Stilwell Road and upto Myanmar and Thailand following the road from Nagaland across Moreh in Manipur.
Shortly we arrived at Burnihat area in Meghalaya where we made a quick stop to fill up petrol in the car. Fuel prices in Meghalaya are slightly cheaper than Assam so we got our tank filled for about INR 1000. We did not have our breakfast as it was still quite early in the morning and so we decided to make our next stop at Nongpoh area in Meghalaya for breakfast. We reached the toll gate area before Nongpoh and we paid our toll tax here for a to and fro ride for INR 95 and continued on our drive to Nongpoh town. Nongpoh town in a favorite stopover for visitors to Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya as it allows visitors and the driver as well to take a break after the drive from Guwahati. There are many restaurants and food joints and roadside dhabas as well that cater to the taste buds of various people. From dedicated vegetarian restaurants to multicuisine ones, visitors to Meghalaya find all varieties of food here at Nongpoh. The small eateries at the Nongpoh bus stand serve ethnic Khasi meals as well. The most popular restaurants at Nongpoh are Jivas Veg, Zen Cafe and Restaurant, Sardarji Da Dhaba, woodlands Dhaba, Cafe Coffee Day, Aram Dhaba and Restaurant, Excellencia and many more. The most popular restaurant among all the tourists at Nongpoh is the Jivas Veg. It offers multi cuisine vegetarian food and is a clean and well maintained restaurant of Nongpoh. We wanted to try a south indian breakfast here at Jivas but when we were about to enter the restaurant we could see a huge line of cars parked here and so we decided to skip this place as it would take much of our time and we continued to drive ahead to another place near Nongpoh.
We made our halt at the Excellencia Dhaba and Restaurant slightly ahead of Nongpoh town. This is the second most nice place for food at Nongpoh after Jivas Veg Restaurant. This is a multicuisine restaurant offering both veg and non veg food option to its visitors. As it was breakfast time we wanted to settle with a normal Indian breakfast of Puri Sabji and tea. There are special breakfast offerings in the menu as well like Special Indian breakfast and American breakfast. We ordered Puri sabji, omelette and tea. breakfast was served and after breakfast we continued on our drive to Shillong. Next stop we made was at the Umiam lake near Shillong. We went down to the waters of the lake at the Umiam lake sports complex where boating and other sports activities are organized as well. We explored the crystal clear waters of the Umiam lake and took our time breathing in the fresh air here. We took a short walk near the lake and then started on our drive to Shillong city.
Our prediction turned out to be correct as there was not much traffic in Shillong city today. We crossed the narrow lanes of Shillong and gradually approached the Rhino point from where we head to take a left to Shillong city. Out first stop in Shillong city was at the Laban area where I had to make reservations at 2 hotels for an upcoming tour in the month of March. We arrived at the Nalgare’s guest house in Shillong where I met with the manager Mr. Porimal whom I had known from before from many of our earlier bookings in Shillong. He confirmed availability and I proceeded with the room bookings. Next we walked to the Sunrise Guest House in Shillong where I had to make reservations for the rest of the group as Nalgare’s guest house in Shillong could accomodate 15 members of the group and the other 15 members had to be accommodated at the Sunrise Guest House. This guest house is also located in the Laban area in Shillong and is a decent place to stay here in Shillong. The rooms are very spacious and neat and clean. There is a lawn area as well as a huge dining hall to accomodate around 50 guests easily. We completed the booking process and then my friend and I left Laban to head to Police Bazar in Shillong where our friends own an electronics shop in the heart of the Police Bazaar. Their shop was open for the first half today so we went to meet them at their shop in Shillong. We were meeting after 2 months and so we had lots to talk about. But as there were customers at the shop we decided to postpone our talks. It was around 11 AM and they would close their shop at 12 noon so we decided to explore the Police Bazaar and also the Wards lake in Shillong as well with my friend from Guwahati and then plan out our day at Mawphlang near Shillong. We headed out to explore police bazar market area in Shillong. The market was bustling with activity here with various vendors selling different types of good here. Also the traditional archery betting shops were also open and we could see the local people of Shillong placing their bets on certain numbers as it is the practice of this game. We explored other small shops that were selling traditional bamboo handicrafts and local Khasi handlooms.
Next up we went to visit the Ward’s lake in Shillong. Dug out during the era of the British, the Ward’s lake is the most popular tourist attraction in the heart of Shillong city. Every day hundreds of visitors come to visit the Ward’s lake in Shillong. We purchased our entry tickets to enter the Ward’s lake. A beautifully maintained green campus area, the waters of this lake is very clear and allows visitors with an opportunity to enjoy boating as well at an additional cost. We did not have much time to enjoy a boat ride and instead we chose to take a hike around the lake. Shillong was very cold and frequent walks ensured that we kept ourselves warm. By the time we were back to our friend’s shop it was 12.15 PM and they were about to close their shop. We left Shillong at 12.30 PM to head to Upper Shillong and then continue further to a place near Mawphlang. We reached Mawphlang at around 1.15 PM. Some other local friends also joined us and we sat down in a place where we grabbed some beers and spoke for sometime. We finished by 2 PM and then came back to Upper Shillong area where we made a halt at the ML 05 cafe and it was around 2.30 PM.
The ML 05 cafe is a very popular cafe in Upper Shillong area and has a beautiful theme of vintage cars and motorbikes. The entry road to the cafe is across a path covered with tall trees and the view is wonderful. The Dept. of Horticulture of Meghalaya have their gardens here and the beautiful flowers welcomes you at the ML 05 cafe in Upper Shillong. There is a big car parking area here and we parked our cars here. The cafe is on the first floor and once you enter you can see various pictures of cars and motorbikes. There is a vintage Royal Enfield bike on display and the walls of the ML 05 cafe are adorned with hangings of the history of various vintage cars in India. On the entrance at the left there is a cozy low seating and dining area. Then there are tables and chairs and cane seats to dine here at the ML 05 cafe in Upper Shillong.
We took our seats and placed our food order after a quick look at the menu. We ordered the speciality of the day viz. grilled pork, 2 plates of steamed chicken momo, shillong special fried rice and classic shillong noodles. The service is quite quick here and also the fact that there were only four other customers apart from us four as the local friends who joined us at Mawphlang left to their home in Shillong. The food was amazingly delicious and well presented as well. We took our time to complete our lunch and at around 3.30 PM we left the ML 05 cafe and Upper Shillong. We bid goodbye to our friends at the Rhino point in Shillong and we took a left to head to Guwahati. As we were already late we had to skip our visit to the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong.
We crossed Shillong to arrive at Nongpoh in Meghalaya. We made a final stop at the Cafe Coffee Day at Nongpoh. This CCD is at a perfect location away from the city hustle and gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy their coffee in the pleasant weather of Nongpoh town. We ordered Cappuccinos and Burgers here and enjoyed the views of the mountains of Meghalaya sipping our cup of coffee. After this we headed on our drive back to Guwahati. I dropped my friend at her place in Rajarh and then I returned to my home to arrive by 7 PM. It was a memorable day in Shillong city and I look forward eagerly in visiting Shillong in the month of March with the group tour.
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On our first tour ~ Shillong, Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, etc.
The first tour of our company was conducted in the month of April 2016 with Mr. Gopikrishna’s family from Bangalore. Theri Itinerary looked like below ~
Day 1 ~ Guwahati – Cherrapunji
Day 2 ~ Cherrapunji – Dawki – Mawlynnong – Shillong
Day 3 ~ Shillong – Kaziranga National Park
Day 4 ~ Kaziranga National Park – Jorhat
Day 5 ~ Jorhat – Majuli Island – Jorhat
Day 6 ~ Jorhat – Sivasagar – Dibrugarh – Guwahati
Day 7 ~ Guwahati – Bangalore
I had booked a Toyota Innova vehicle for the family while I took my car as a backup vehicle and my friend had joined me along. My friend, the Innova driver and myself went to the Guwahati airport on the 21st of April, 2016 to receive Mr. Gopi’s family. The flight was on time and by the time we left the airport it was around 8 AM. We were scheduled to visit the Maa Kamakhya temple in Guwahati before proceeding on our drive to Cherrapunji in Meghalaya via Shillong. We arrived at the Maa Kamakhya temple in Guwahati and proceeded for our ‘Temple Darshan’. I had purchased VIP entry tickets for the family to go inside the temple shrine quickly as there is always a long queue of devotees waiting to enter the premises of the Maa Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. One of the temple priests was requested to show them around inside the premises of the temple. While the family went inside to seek blessings of Maa Kamakhya, my friend and I went to have our breakfast. We finished our breakfast and by 10 AM the family was out of the temple shrine as well. After briefing them about the history of the Maa Kamakhya temple we started on our drive to Cherrapunji from Guwahati.
Our next stop was at the Umiam Lake in Barapani near Shillong. The beautiful waters of this lake is to leave any visitor spellbound. we made a stop here after the long drive and people needed time to stretch their legs as well. The view of the Umiam lake from the viewpoint was breathtaking. I ordered for black tea for everyone here. There was an old lady selling maize that was being roasted on charcoal fire. We ordered it too and after clicking our pictures here we continued on our drive to cross Shillong to Cherrapunji. We reached Shillong shortly and then there was traffic as usual on the narrow lanes of Shillong city. It took us about 45 minutes to cross Shillong to reach the Rhino Point from where we took a right to go to Upper Shillong and continue further to Cherrapunji. After crossing Upper Shillong we made our halt for lunch at the Highway Shacks Dahaba at Mylliem.
As the family was vegetarian we ordered for veg thali and paneer masala for them. My friend and I didn’t eat as we were still full from our late breakfast. In sometime we left the place to continue to Cherrapunji from Upper Shillong. We reached Cherrapunji at 3 PM and our first stop here was at the Nohkalikai falls. India’s tallest plunge waterfall, the Nohkalikai falls is the most popular tourist attraction at Cherrapunji. We took our time exploring the local shops here that sell local handicrafts and fresh pepper, cinnamon sticks and fruits as well. Our next stop was the Mawsmai cave in Cherrapunji. A popular cave among the tourists we explored the Mawsmai caves inside taking a look at the various formations of stalactites and stalagmites here. Next up we went to the Seven Sister Falls at Cherrapunji. The Seven Sister falls is the fourth tallest waterfall in India and seven distinct waterfalls can be seen here. The stay of our guests in Cherrapunji was booked at the Hotel Polo Towers just adjacent to the viewpoint of the Seven Sister falls. The best property to stay in Cherrapunji, I helped the guests to check in at the Hotel and after completing the check in formalities I took leave to go to our place of stay at the Coniferous resort in Cherrapunji near Shillong. My friend and I got something to eat at the local market at Cherrapunji and later we retired for the night at the Coniferous resort.
The next morning we started our journey at 8 AM from Cherrapunji to go to Dawki – the border of India and Bangladesh. We returned back from Cherrapunji towards Shillong and after crossing the Mawkdok Valley we had to take a right to go towards Dawki. We crossed Pynursla town and then arrived at Dawki at around 10 AM. At Dawki we first went to the International Border. After seeking permission from the BSF we crossed the border of India to go to no man’s land at the pillar 1275. We clicked our pictures here and later went to the boating point at Dawki to enjoy an hour long boat ride on the clear waters of the Umngot river at Dawki., The family loved the boat ride at Dawki and we left to Mawlynnong village in sometime.
We reached Mawlynnong at around 12.30 PM. Here we at first went to visit the Living Root Bridge of Riwai at Mawlynnong. A short hike down leads to the Living Root Bridge that are indigenous to Meghalaya grown by the Khasi and Jaintia people to help them cross small rivers and streams inside deep forests. We explored the Living Root Bridge at Mawlynnong and later came to the village to have our lunch. We took our seats at a local restaurant here and ordered our food. There were few visitors from Arunachal Pradesh here who belonged to the Apatani tribe from Ziro Valley. Their facial tattoos distinguished them from the other people. I introduced our guests to the Apatani people and then after lunch we explored the Mawlynnong village – the Cleanest Village in Asia. We finished exploring Mawlynnong by 2.30 PM and started on our drive to Shillong. It was a 2 hour drive to Shillong from Mawlynnong and we had to make a halt at the Elephant Falls in Upper Shillong before continuing to reach the Hotel Center Point at Police Bazar in Shillong. We reached the Elephant Falls at 4 PM and took a quiet walk around the place admiring the beauty of the waterfall. We reached the Hotel Center Point at 5.30 PM. I helped the guests to check in at the Hotel Center Point in Shillong and the guests went in to refresh themselves before they headed out to visit the Madina Masjid at Laban area in Shillong. The Madina Masjid is the only glass mosque in India and is located at the heart of Shillong city in Laban. In the evening the mosque gets lit up with green lights and it looks very beautiful. Our guests explored the Glass Mosque in Shillong and later came back to explore the police bazar area in Shillong. As their hotel was located right at police bazar area in Shillong I asked them to explore the market on their own and then return back to their hotel room. Also I looked for a stay close by here in Shillong.
The next morning we started at 8.30 AM from the hotel in Shillong to first explore the Ward’s lake area nearby and then continue to the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians. We explored these two beautiful places at the heart of Shillong city and continued to go to the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong.
We arrived at the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong at 10.30 AM and I purchased the entry tickets here. It is a seven storied museum that illustrates the rich culture and heritage of the people of North East India here in Shillong. Various floors have different galleries that illustrate the life, customs, traditions and attires of the various tribes of North East India. We finished exploring the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong at 12 PM and started on our drive to Kaziranga National Park from Shillong. On the way we made a halt at Nongpoh for lunch. After lunch we continued to drive to Kaziranga National Park. We crossed Jorabat, Sonapur, Jagiroad and made our next stop at Raha. Here we stopped to take a look at the various bamboo handicrafts of Assam that were on display at the local shops. Our guests bought some things here and then we started on our drive again. We crossed nagaon, Puranigudam, Amoni, Samaguri, Kaliabor, Jakhalabandha and finally arrived at Kaziranga National Park. At Kaziranga National Park, we first made s stop at the view point at Burapahar where we could sight some Rhinoceros from a distance. We admired the beauty of these animals and then went to check into their hotel – the Landmark Woods near Bagori Safari range of Kaziranga National Park. I helped the guests to check into their rooms and later after ordering their dinner I moved out to the Kohora range of Kaziranga National Park to check into my room.
The next day morning the Jeep Safari ride was scheduled at 8 AM into the interiors of Kaziranga National Park from the Bagori Safari range. I reached Landmark Woods at Kaziranga at 7.30 AM and the family were having their breakfast. The Jeep was waiting at the hotel entrance and I spoke to the driver for a while about his experiences of sighting various animals here at Kaziranga National Park during the many Jeep safari rides. The driver informed me of his various close encounters with the animals here like Rhinoceros, Tigers and even a herd of Wild Elephants as well. We started on our Jeep safari ride at 8.15 Am and at first we had to drive a little distance to go to the entrance of the Bagori safari range of Kaziranga National Park. The driver and myself completed the entrance formalities at the forest range office at Bagori and we started on our Jeep Safari ride.
Upon entering the range we could see visitors coming out from their Elephant Safari rides at the Bagori Safari range. Our guests did not choose the Elephant ride and only wanted the Jeep Safari ride here in Kaziranga National Park. We continued on our drive and we could see about four Rhinoceros grazing in the open fields of the park. A little later we sighted Asiatic Wild Water Buffaloes crossing the road ahead of us. Along the ride we also could see various Bird species. Further into the ride we could see Hog Deers and Deers. While returning we got lucky to sight a herd of Wild Elephants as well at the Bagori Safari range of Kaziranga National Park. The Jeep Safari ride was over at 9.45 AM and we returned back to the Hotel at 10 AM. The family went to get their bags packed as we had to continue on our drive to Jorhat after visiting the Kaziranga Orchid and Biodiversity park along the way.
We left Landmark Woods Hotel at 10.30 AM to go to the Kaziranga Orchid and Biodiversity Park – the largest orchid park in India. I got the entry tickets and we started to explore the Kaziranga Orchid Park. At first we visited the green house where we got to see the various indigenous orchid species of Assam and North East India. Some of these orchids were blooming as well and they plants looked extremely beautiful with the flowers on them. Then we went to the display room of the indigenous handicrafts and handlooms of Assam. A little ahead is the gallery that has pictures of hundreds of orchid species of North East India. The rice museum displaying various types of rice varieties available in North East India is also present here. Then there is a souvenir hall and a cactus garden as well. A huge open stage is also present at the Kaziranga Orchid Park that sees display of various traditional dance forms of Assam like Bihu and bamboo dances. At around 12.30 PM we finished exploring the Kaziranga Orchid Park and started on our drive to Jorhat.
On the way we made a halt at the Numaligarh Dhaba for lunch. We reached Jorhat at around 3 PM and we went at first to check into their hotel – the MD’s Continental at Marwari Patty area in Jorhat. The MDs Continental is one of the best Hotels in Jorhat area. There was a Marwari wedding ceremony being held at the Hotel so there were many guests around. I helped the guests to check into their rooms after which I took my car to a garage as it had developed a noise while applying brakes. The brake shoe had to be replaced so I went back to the Hotel again in the Innove vehicle. After half an hour we went to visit the Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar near Jorhat. The Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar is home to the Oldest Burning Oil Lamp in the World. We went inside the Namghar premises where the guests lit their lamps and incense sticks in prayer. The Namghar Bhakat came around and he opened the doors to the main prayer room at the Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar. Here we could see the oldest burning oil lamp in the World that was lit in the 1400s and has been burning continuously since then. After finishing our prayers we came to explore the hall of the Namghar and we took our time admiring the beautiful paintings on the Namghar walls and in some time we left the place to go to the Lachit Borphukan Maidam at Jorhat. Lachit Borphukan was one of the brave Generals of the Ahom army and this place was his ancestral home that has now been converted into a museum. Various artefacts from his life are preserved here as well. We took a walk around the place and also the big lawn area here and later returned to Jorhat. I dropped the guests at the Hotel and went to pick up my car from the garage and then I went to my Aunt’s place in Jorhat.
The next morning we were scheduled to go to the largest River Island in the World – Majuli Island. We started from the hotel at 7.15 AM to reach the Neemati Ghat to catch the 8 AM ferry to Majuli Island. The innova driver dropped us here and another vehicle would pick us up at Majuli Island. We reached Majuli after crossing the river Brahmaputra on a ferry boat at 9 AM. The Jeep driver was waiting for us and we boarded the Jeep to go to Majuli Island. Our first stop was at the Auniati Satra in Majuli Island. One of the most popular Satras of Majuli we explored the Satra and then continued to visit the Samaguri Satra in Majuli renowned across the World for its art of traditional mask making under the able guidance of its Satradhikar Dr. Hemchandra Goswami. At the Samaguri Satra we witnessed the art of mask making from scratch where the students showed us how they prepare a bamboo structure and coat it with a special mud and then wrap a piece of cloth and later paint these masks as well. We also got to witness how they use these masks to perform in traditional plays here in Majuli.
After this we went to the Uttar Kamalabari Satra in Majuli Island. This Satra is renowned for their practice of the ‘Sattriya Nritya’ – one among the 8 classical dance forms of India. We finished exploring the Uttar Kamalabari Satra and later returned the Kamalabari market for lunch. After lunch we headed to the Ghat to board our ferry back to Jorhat. We reached Jorhat by 4 PM and the guests returned to their rooms. I instructed the driver to take the guests around the local market at Jorhat in the evening as they wanted to buy some indigenous silk products of Assam to take home.
The next day morning we were scheduled to leave to Dibrugarh at 7 AM in the morning as the guests had to catch their flight to Guwahati at 1.30 PM. We left Jorhat at 7.30 AM before making our stops at Sivasagar. We reached Sivasagar at 9 AM and we explored the Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar and the Sivadol at Sivasagar. We reached Dibrugarh airport at 12 PM and I dropped the guests at the airport to be picked up by another vehicle in Guwahati who would drop them at Hotel Radisson Blue and in the evening take them to a river cruise ride and finally drop them off at the Guwahati airport the next day for their flight to Bangalore.
Exploring Mawphlang from Shillong ~
We keep conducting tours across Meghalaya and one place noteworthy of mention is Mawphlang. Mawphlang is a destination close to Shillong and is slowly gaining prominence as a prime tourist destination because of the Sacred Grove forests. Visitors to Mawphlang from Shillong who area adventure enthusiasts can also take up the challenge of the David Scott Trail Trek which is a 16 km long trek route that starts at Mawphlang and ends at Lad Mawphlang and takes you across the virgin forests, clean water streams, the beautiful countryside and two local villages of Meghalaya. Whenever we have visitor groups who choose to explore David Scott Trek with us we halt the previous night at Shillong and then travel to Mawphlang from Shillong the next day and after completing our visit to the Khasi Hills Sacred Groves we embark on the David Scott trek along with an able local guide.
At mawphlang we start by exploring the Sacred Groves and the Khasi Heritage village here near Shillong. The word ‘Maw’ means ‘Stone’ and ‘mawphlang’ means “grassy stone,” and is one of many settlements in the Khasi hills named after monoliths. We start our tour with exploring the Khasi hills sacred groves and Mawphlang near Shillong. Considered to be sacred among the local people, these sacred groves is a rich biodiversity forest harboring various species of plants and animals. In the earlier times, the Khasi elderly used to come to the sacred groves and offer prayers to the monoliths present here that in turn predicted the upcoming year to these people. Other ancient rituals were also performed at the Sacred groves at Mawphlang near Shillong. This sacred groves forest is home to over 200 species of rare orchids indigenous to North East India and also harbors a rich variety of medicinal plants as well including one whose bark can be used to treat cancer. Various wildlife are to be found deep inside the forests of the sacred groves of Mawphlang. No tree is allowed to be cut from the sacred groves forest and also people committing nuisance inside the forests are to bring upon them a doom as well. Visitors to Mawphlang from Shillong can either take a short or a long tour of the Khasi Sacred Groves at mawphlang accompanied by a local guide who lets you know about the importance and the varied diversity of the place.
Located close to the Sacred groves at Mawphlang near Shillong is the Khasi heritage village. originally constructed to showcase the rich culture of the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya during the Monolith festival, this place now sees visitors everyday who come to explore Mawphlang near Shillong. The heritage village has traditional houses of the Khasi people on display and visitors can take a walk around these model homes as well. You can take a walk around the lush green area of the heritage village that overlooks a valley with the eastern himalayas as the backdrop. After this you can travel to the trek start point of the David Scott trek at Mawphlang near Shillong. After paying a small contribution at a small shop which is located at the start of the trek you can embark on your trek and come out at Lad Mawphlang to either go back to Shillong or travel onwards to Cherrapunji.
Exploring Mawsynram from Shillong ~
When you are visiting Shillong you should not miss out on the opportunity of visiting Mawsynram Village. Mawsynram records the highest annual rainfall anywhere in the World and is often referred to as the wettest place on planet Earth near Shillong. The drive to Mawsynram from shillong takes about 2 hours and you need to take a right diversion from Mawphlang area. The roads are narrow but in good condition to travel to Mawsynram from Shillong. We explored Mawsynram from Shillong in a day and returned to Guwahati by evening. We visited Shillong for a friend’s wedding and had spent the night in one of the hotels at Laban area in Shillong. As the celebrations went on a little late into the night we got up slightly late the next morning and we wanted to go to Mawlyngbna but we had to cut our visit short by just exploring Mawsynram from Shillong and then heading back to Guwahati to reach by evening. We reached Mawsynram at around 11 AM and at first we started by exploring the Mawjymbuin cave in Mawsynram. A beautiful place we went inside the cave where there is a Shiva Linga present. We finishing exploring this cave in Mawsynram and continued to visit Jakrem hot spring here. A nice place where the hot waters of the spring are believed to have healing properties. After this we went to the Mawsynram local market that on display various exquisite bamboo handicrafts on display and sale. We had a Khasi traditional lunch at the market and then returned to Guwahati after crossing Shillong.
Exploring Shillong and Meghalaya with Team Ambition Adventures – Mumbai
In the month of October 2017, the outdoor trekking group from Mumbai – Ambition Adventures had planned their visit to Shillong and other destinations across Meghalaya with us. The tour was a mix of various activities like sightseeing, trekking, caving, local interactions and much more. They arrived at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport in Guwahati on the 11th of October 2017 at 11 AM and we started our drive to Shillong from Guwahati at around 12 PM. I interacted with the 14 member group who were a mix of various professionals in the late 20’s and early 30’s. There were engineers, Chartered Accountants, lawyers all as a part of the group who engage in adventure activities like hiking, caving, cycling to beat the stress of a busy city life in Mumbai to keep themselves rejuventated. They had come to North East India for the first time and I took time to explain the the group about North East India, our people, our culture, traditions, foods and various other places of tourists interest. The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland interested them a lot and they had decided to make their next visit to North East India to coincide with the celebrations of the Hornbill festival.
We arrived at Nongpoh at 1 PM and as the group was hungry from their long flight I asked them to have their lunch at the Jiva’s veg restaurant here. They ordered assorted items for the group like sandwiches, noodles, french fries, dosa, fried rice, etc. My friend and I went to the nearby Nongpoh bus stand along with the Tempo Traveller driver and his handyman to have our lunch at a local Khasi restaurant that served us traditional Khasi food of rice, dal, potato sabji, mix tomato and chilli chutney and boiled fish curry with spinach. Spinach is an important vegetable in the Khasi diet and it is available in plenty across Meghalaya and North East India as well. After our lunch we continued on our drive to Shillong.
Our next stop was at the beautiful man made water reservoir of the Umiam Lake at Barapani near Shillong. The crystal clear waters here look very appealing and the sun’s rays reflecting from the water makes it all the more spectacular. We stopped here for tea and to click pictures. I discussed with the group about the plan for today and after a while we continued to drive to Shillong. In sometime we reached Shillong city. The landscapes of Shillong city resembles to the ones in Scotland and hence the Britishers had referred to Shillong as the ‘Scotland of the East’. We could see the various traditional and modern shops alongside the roads of Shillong. I explained to the group about the Khasi people and their culture and the matrilineal system prevalent here as the group was curious as to why most of the shops were being run by the women folks here. As 50% of the group comprised of girls they were impressed with this and they wanted to learn more about the culture which I told them we would interact with the Khasi people of Mawlynnong village. We crossed Shillong and headed to Upper Shillong to visit the Elephant falls here.
The Elephant falls is a very popular tourist destination in shillong and is a three step cascading waterfall. One of the falls is on top and one in the middle and the most grand one is down. A flight of stairs helps visitors to climb down and admire the natural beauty of the three waterfalls. I guided the group across the stairs and they took time admiring the waterfall and clicking their pictures., After 30 minutes we came back from the Elephant falls in Upper Shillong and headed to the market area of Shillong at Police Bazar. We reached Police Bazar at around 5 Pm. The group got down from the vehicle and they started exploring Police Bazar area in Shillong. My friend and I went to meet our local friends at their electronics store here in Shillong. After about an hour everybody was back in the vehicle and we stared on our drive to the Guest House located at Laban area in shillong – the Nalgare’s Guest House. We arrived at 6.30 PM due to the heavy traffic on the roads of Shillong city. I helped everybody check into their rooms and after checking with the group I placed their order for dinner to be served in their rooms. My friend and myself returned to a guest house close by here in Shillong.
The next day morning we got up and after breakfast we started on our drive to Mawphlang from Shillong to visit the Khasi Sacred Groves Forest and also to embark on the David Scott Trek. We reached Mawphlang at 9.15 AM and I had arranged for a local guide here who would take us on a tour across the Sacred Grove Forests, the Khasi Heritage Village and finally guide us along the David Scott trek as well to end at Lad Mawphlang. Mr. Bun our guide greeted us and we started on the tour of the Sacred Groves forest here at Mawphlang near Shillong. We finished exploring the sacred groves forest and then took our time exploring the model Khasi heritage village here and later left to the trek start point near Bun’s house at Mawphlang near Shillong. As the vehicle would drop us here and then wait for us at the trek end point, I made the group ensured that they had all necessary belongings with them to go on the David Scott trek including the most important ‘Rain gears’. Rains here in Meghalaya are very unpredictable and it is always advisable to carry rain gear along.
Shortly we started on the David Scott trek and the beautiful valleys of Meghalaya greeted us on the start of the trek. The river Umiam was also flowing across with us along our trek. The first half of the trek is a climb down the hills crossing small streams and valleys and forests until you reach the suspension bridge. From here it is a flat land hike until you cross a larger stream. While we were crossing the stream it started to rain and all of us put on our rain gear. After crossing this stretch it is an uphill climb. We stopped at a place to have our lunch of instant noodles and snacks. Then we approached a local village here. At the village there is a small shop that sells water bottles and maggi noodles. We bought maggi for us and a few bottles of water as well. Then we hiked again to reach the trek end point at Lad Mawphlang. It was exhausting yet we felt refreshed after completion of the David Scott Trek at Lad Mawphlang near Shillong. After this we continued on our drive to Cherrapunji our next destination for night halt after Shillong. We arrived at Cherrapunji at 6.30 PM and we checked into the Nalgare’s Homestay here. The group settled in their rooms and after ordering dinner for them my friend and I headed to the Saimika resort at Cherrapunji to stay at their dorm room.
The next day we set out to explore the Nohkalikai Falls at Cherrapunji and then continue to drive to Dawki and Mawlynnong. We reached the Nohkalikai falls and started exploring the place. The beautiful waters of the Nohkalikai Falls made everyone speechless and they stood there admiring the beauty of the falls. We took a walk around the viewpoint area of the Nohkalikai falls and then headed on our drive to Dawki from Cherrapunji via the Shillong route. We reached Dawki at around 11.30 AM. At first we went to explore the border area of India and Bangladesh here. Everyone in the group crossed the Indian side of the border and we went up to the pillar 1275 where we clicked our pictures and saw the country of Bangladesh from here. Next up we went to the Dawki boating point from where I hired 3 boats to accommodate the group to enjoy boating on the clear waters of the Umngot river here at Dawki. The boat ride lasted for an hour and everyone came back very happy with the ride.
After this we continued on our drive to Mawlynnong – the Cleanest Village in Asia. After a late lunch her at Mawlynnong, the group set out to explore the Mawlynnong village and then we visited the Riwai Single Decker Living Root Bridge here. We left Mawlynnong at 5.30 PM to return to Cherrapunji at 7.30 PM in the evening. I had ordered for their dinner at the Sohra Plaza Homestay here and they were to stay here tonight as well. My friend and I returned to the Saimika resort at Cherrapunji.
The next day we were to visit the Double Decker Living Root bridge at Nongriat village near Cherrapunji. We had a quick breakfast and embarked on our drive to the Tyrna village from where we would start the long trek to Nongriat village crossing the flight of 3500 stairs. The beautiful forests of Meghalaya greeted us again and we continued on our trek. The weather was humid and so it took a little toll on the group. We finally arrived at Nongriat village and got our glimpse of the grand Umshiang Double Decker Living Root Bridge. The group got quite excited on witnessing this man made bioengineering marvel and they forgot their stress and started to bathe in the water stream here. My friend and I went to the local tea shop to have tea and after about an hour we started on our trek back to Tyrna. Climbing back the flight of 3500 steep stairs is always a challenge and by the time we came back to Tyrna it was around 2 PM. After this we went to the Cherrapunji market to have our lunch. Then we explored the Seven Sister Falls, the Mawsmai Cave and the Cherrapunji local market. We returned to the Homestay at 8 PM and the group had their dinner.
The next morning we had to start early at 7 AM to go to Guwahati as their flight back to Mumbai was scheduled at 2.30 PM. We reached Upper Shillong in sometime and the group clicked their pictures here nearby the tea gardens of Meghalaya of the Horticulture Department. We started on our drive to reach Guwahati at 10.30 AM. We halted at the Gam’s delicacy restaurant in Guwahati as they wanted to try traditional Assamese cuisine lunch. After lunch we went on to a local showroom of handicrafts and handlooms. The group purchased Assam tea and other souvenirs to carry back home. We finally dropped them at the airport at 12.30 PM thereby ending our tour of Shillong and Meghalaya with Ambition Adventures Mumbai.
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Shillong is a hill station city that is often referred to as the Scotland of the East and this name was provided to Shillong by the Britishers who had come to the place and they saw that the landscapes of Shillong city represented that of the ones in Scotland and therefore they named the place as the Scotland of the East. The city of Shillong is a complete blend of the traditional and the modern Worlds and this is obvious from the various constructions across the place that is a reminiscence of the glorious past of Shillong city. The city of Shillong is where guests can get to witness the principles of the matrilineal society of Meghalaya, as the Khasi people practice this where the family lineage is taken from the Mother’s side. The head of the household is a woman and the entire family ancestry is transferred to the youngest daughter in the household and she is entrusted to take care of her aging parents and the unmarried siblings. So when you are travelling across Shillong, you will see that most of the business establishments are being run by the women folks and also the women hold important positions across the Government of Meghalaya as well.
A complete blend of the modern and the traditional World, your visit to Shillong is sure to be one of the very rewarding experiences for you for a lifetime. Take time to explore the beauty of the city and you can gradually start your exploration of Shillong by a visit to the Umiam Lake at Barapani enroute from Guwahati to Shillong. This is a very beautiful artificial water reservoir that was originally created to generate power and this is how the origin of the Umiam lake in Shillong is present and it was in 1965 that a dam was built here to facilitate power generation. Since then the lake has now gained popularity in the tourist circuit of Shillong and today this is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Shillong. The lake has crystal clear waters that makes it appear as one of the very pristine crystal clear water lakes and there is a view point from the road that allows guests to stay here and admire the waters of the Umiam Lake. Also there is a water sports complex at the area as well and this is where the visitors to the Umiam Lake can get to enjoy the various adventure sports activities as well.
You will travel all the way to the Umiam lake sports complex by your vehicle and here you will be welcomed by the vast and clear waters of the Umiam Lake near Shillong in Meghalaya. You can also have the opportunity to stay here by the Umiam Lake and this allows guests to spend a quaint time by the lake area and visitors are sure to love the thrill of the calm waters across the place. Not only this property but there are several places where one can get to enjoy their stay across the Umiam Lake near Shillong in Meghalaya and one among these is the Ri-Kynjai Serenity by the lake that is one of the most luxury resorts to halt across Northeast India and this is one of the most sought after properties to halt for guests who come to Shillong in Meghalaya. Spread across a sprawling campus that is filled with the tall growth of pine trees, one can get to explore the grand view of the waters of the Umiam Lake at the place and visitors who come here are all thrilled to view and witness the bounties of the place. This is almost a 5 Star property that is a proof of the deluxe stay of guests at the place and visitors are all thrilled to enjoy their stay at the Ri Kynjai Serenity by the lake near Shillong in Meghalaya.
You will love the ambiance of the place that is filled with the grand and luxury items that overlooks the grand waters of the Umiam Lake at Shillong and visitors can take a stroll across the place to reach the banks of the Umiam Lake at Shillong in Meghalaya. You will be thrilled to explore across the Umiam lake and few of the other properties to stay here are the Café Umbir and also the other places near the lake as well. You can take time to go for adventure rides on the crystal clear waters of the Umiam Lake and this is where the guests are sure to love the views of the crystal clear waters of the Umiam Lake and they can get to enjoy various boat rides across the place. Another perfect place to enjoy by the Umiam Lake is that of the Umiam Lake boat house that is located on an island that is present on the Umiam Lake near Shillong. This is called as the Lumpongdeng island and this is the place where the boat house is located and it provides guests a unique stay experience at the place.
Continue further to explore more of the Umiam lake near Shillong and you will go to visit the Orchid Lake Resort that is a very beautiful resort here in Shillong that is operated by the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). This beautiful resort has luxury rooms for its guests to stay on their visit to Shillong and also guests can get to savour very nice cuisine at this place as well that allows them to seek an opportunity to admire the grand presentation of the meals at this place as well. You can go for various adventure activity rides on the Umiam Lake at Shillong in Meghalaya and you will get to enjoy the boating experience at the lake where visitors can board the motor boats at the place and the boats will take you on a ride across the crystal clear waters of the Umiam Lake near Shillong in Meghalaya. You will be thrilled to observe the beauty of this lake and it will allow you to enjoy the thrill of the place. Next up you will wind up your visit the Umiam Lake near Shillong and go to explore more of Shillong city.
A visit to the Umiam Lake can be planned on the drive from Guwahati to Shillong as the lake is enroute to Shillong and you will get to admire the vast landscapes all along the way to the Umiam lake. The next halt over destination to explore in Shillong after the Umiam Lake for visitors is that of the Don Bosco Museum that is located at the Mawlai area in Shillong. The Don Bosco museum is one of the finest destinations across Northeast India and this is one fine place to explore in Shillong. You are to go to explore this museum in Shillong that is spread across Seven Floors and it is located at the Mawlai area in Shillong. It is a short drive away from the main town junction of NEHU and once you reach the area of the Don Bosco museum you will love to visit the area of the place. Spread across Seven floors, each floor depicts one aspect of the life and customs of the indigenous people of Northeast India along with the principal tribes of Meghalaya as well.
The ground floor of the Don Bosco museum is where guests can get to explore the various aspects of the life and customs of the indigenous people and this is where the guests can see the various pictures that are displayed here that showcase the life and customs of the indigenous people of Northeast India here at the museum in Shillong. As the majority of the population of Northeast India are based out of the rural areas across the villages so they can reside across the villages and they are involved in various agricultural and farming activities. Guests who come to visit the Don Bosco museum at Shillong can get to admire the vast heritage and culture of the people of Northeast India. At the ground floor of this museum is a restaurant as well that serves its guests the various organic food items along with the other food cuisines and recipes as well and you will get to explore more of the cuisine of the place and there is a souvenir area as well where guests can get to buy the various local souvenirs that are known to allow guests to buy their memoirs of their visit to Shillong in Meghalaya.
After enjoying your stay at one of the very fine resorts around the Umiam Lake near Shillong you can explore across the beautiful area of the city as well. The boat house that is located at the Lumpongdeng island at the Barapani Lake is a very eco-friendly construction and the place uses wood for its built and so guests are rest assured that they will be having an ample way of exploring across this place and enjoy the thrill to stay by the banks of the Umiam Lake and get to admire the vast surroundings of the place as well. It is a thill of an opportunity to be witnessing the stay by the lake area and in ensure to explore this beautiful area near Shillong. At the place you can have the option to cook the meals by yourself and at the same time you are to get the opportunity to cook yourself at the kitchen area of the place that is provided to the guests here. You will have the place to yourself as it is a small place and can only accommodate a single family and so the thrill of having the place to yourself is a very rewarding experience.
Explore the Don Bosco museum in Shillong by at first starting to explore from the floors that are below the ground level and you will at first go to explore the 2nd level below the ground. There are several tribes across Northeast India who are known to inhabit the various states of the region and one thing very nice about these people are their various traditional attires that they adorn that make the place one of the most satisfying experiences to explore. These traditional attires are all woven with hands and this allows the guests to have a nice opportunity for them to learn about the traditional way of not only the Khasi people of Meghalaya but also the various other tribes of the region as well. In the interest of time when you cannot explore much of the place, so this museum will be a perfect way to witness the culture of the place and this is a great opportunity to witness the culture and customs of the tribes of the place. Each aspect of the tribes of the region are displayed across each of the floors of the museum and this is known to be the best way to explore the place.
You will all be thrilled to witness these traditional life of the people and how they reside across the villages of the region and get to learn their way of life here at the Don Bosco museum in Shillong. This is the museum that is known to be one of the finest museums of Northeast India located here in Shillong and you will be thrilled to explore this place here and you will get to explore across each of the floors of the museum here in Shillong. Next up we will explore each of the floors of the museum that will tell us about the thrill of the region and this will be a great opportunity and learning program for everyone. There are a total of seven floors across the museum in Shillong and the top floor goes to end in a skywalk that overlooks the area of Mawlai in Shillong. You will take sometime to explore the Don Bosco museum at Shillong and later you will come to the ground floor to visit the souvenir shop area that sell the various local produce of the local people of Shillong in Meghalaya and the items are well packed and provided to guests to be able to enjoy the vast bounties of the place as well. The thrill of the place will sure leave you mesmerized here and you can make a purchase of your memoirs at the place.
A visit to Shillong is incomplete without making a visit at the Umiam Lake and the Don Bosco Museum and the place will leave you in absolute thrill. At the restaurant that is located at the ground floor of the Don Bosco museum in Shillong you can take the opportunity to get some very good quality breakfast or even full course lunch as well and the place is known to serve a wide array of dishes that provide guests with an ultimate thrill of the place. You will finish your exploration of the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong and later in the day you will set out to explore more of Shillong city where you will get to explore the beautiful architecture of the buildings of the place. Next up set out to explore the vast bounties of the landscapes of Shillong city when you set out to visit the Lady Hydari Park at Shillong that is one of the very prominent tourist locations in Shillong. Located on the way to Shillong city, you will get to explore the beautiful architecture of the building of the place. Next up set out to explore the vast bounties of the landscapes of Shillong city where you can get to visit the Lady Hydari Park at Shillong that is one of the very prominent tourist locations in Shillong. Located on the way to Shillong city, you will get to explore the vast surroundings of the city and this will be a perfect opportunity for you to explore across the Shillong city in Meghalaya.
The lady Hydari park at Shillong has a beautiful horticultural garden area as well where one can get to view the various seasonal flowering plants and there is also a garden area present where one can get to see the various orchids blooming along with the other species of plants that are native to Shillong and Meghalaya as well. A museum is present at the premises of the Lady Hydari park in Shillong that illustrates the details of the imperial era of the British Raj of Shillong and one can get to admire the various other aspects of the establishment of this tinsel town being called as Shillong – the Scotland of the East to the administrative capital of the erstwhile state of Assam and also the present capital of the state of Meghalaya. There is a huge lawn area at the premises of the Lady Hydari park in Shillong where visitors can get to spend their evenings and it is a very well kept lawn area that allows visitors to explore the vast area of the lawn cover and this allows them to spend their time in calm and peace at the place.
You will be all thrilled to explore the Lady Hydari park at Shillong and later in the day you will go to next explore the Everliving museum at Shillong and also get to visit the Butterfly museum at Shillong as well. Both these are specific places of interest in Shillong that are known to be unique in its own aspect and visitors who come here are sure to be left thrilled with the vast details about the specific customs of the place that makes both these places a very popular tourist attraction here in Meghalaya. Take your time to explore both these places of tourist interest here at Shillong and you will continue on your drive to the Shillong Polo Ground and on the way you will cross the Shillong Golf course. This Shillong golf course has a very fine 18 hole golf course that was established during the time of the British and the place served as a recreational place for all the officials of the British empire and it was a nice recreational area for all the people and the lush green cover of the Shillong golf course is a real treat to the eyes.
After you visit the Shillong Golf course you will drive across the city and get to admire the architecture of the houses of Shillong that are somewhat different from the architecture of the other places and no wonder the place is called as the Scotland of the East. One very unique thing about Shillong is the music scene of the place and it is said that one in each household knows to play some sort of a musical instrument and this is that makes the music scene in Shillong absolutely fabulous. There are many local cafes in the city that play some of the very nice musical scenes and this ranges from rock to pop and in the evening when you will visit one of the local cafes in Shillong, you will have the perfect opportunity to witness this music scene in the city. It is said that when the various rock bands from across the World come to India, they ensure to pay a visit to Shillong to display their performance. Drive across the roads of Shillong to reach the Polo Grounds area and here this is a nice place to explore in the city.
This is where a very famous traditional betting game of Shillong is held and this is called as the Game of Shillong Teer. In this unique betting game that is also a traditional game and it is where the local people place a bet on certain numbers of the day. These bets are placed on stall that are present at various locations across Shillong and also the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya as well. In the afternoon, the local archers gather at the Polo grounds in Shillong and here these archers shoot at a board that has the numbers of the day placed on them. The archers aim at these numbers and they shoot out and the number that receives the maximum number of arrow shots is declared as the winning number of the day and the winners are the people whose number receives the maximum number of arrow hits and the person is declared as the winner and he receives an amount much higher to the bet amount placed and this is what makes the game of Shillong Teer a very popular betting game among the local people of Shillong and Meghalaya. The polo grounds is also the place where the locals come to practice their games here in Shillong.
From the Polo grounds area in Shillong you can continue on your drive to short travel to the Police Bazar area in Shillong and this is where the main central market of the place and guests who come here are sure to love the vast area of the place that is filled with various shops that is a bustling market place. Visitors can get to explore the Police Bazar market area in Shillong and this is a vibrant market place as well. The police bazar area is a very vibrant market place that is the commercial hub of Shillong and the various commercial establishments are present here at the Police Bazar along with the Hotels and other budget places of stay as well. At the Police Bazar, you can go to have your lunch at the City Hut Dhaba that is a very popular food joint at the place and this is where you will get to enjoy some of the very nice cuisine of the place and guests coming here are left spell bound with ambiance of the place here in Shillong. You will enjoy your lunch here at the Citi Hut Dhaba in Shillong and later set out to explore the Police Bazar area.
Take time to enjoy a sumptuous lunch at the city hut Dhaba at the Police Bazar area in Shillong and this place is a very beautiful place that is filled with absolute wonders of the architectural marvels that are to be found at the restaurant setup here in Shillong. Post this you set out to explore the vibrant Police Bazar market area in Shillong and this is a true blend of the traditional and modern market places to see here in Shillong. On one side of the place there are the various high rise malls and on the other side are the various mom and pop that are run by the local business community of Shillong and they are mostly the Bengali, Marwari and the Sindhi community and on the other side there are the various high rise malls across the place. Also there are various local food stalls that are setup by the people of the place and these stalls are known to sell some of the very fresh produce that are sourced from the local markets around Shillong. The majority of the population around the places in Shillong involve themselves in the various agricultural activities and they are known to produce various vegetables that are known to be fresh and organic and these vegetables are transported to the various market areas across Northeast India and these local produce are brought at the Bara Bazar and Police Bazar market areas in Shillong where the vendors sell their produce and the same can be found here at the Police Bazar market area in Shillong as well.
You will leave the place here to explore and you will take your time to explore across the Police Bazar market area in Shillong as well. This is a perfect way for you to enjoy the vast bounties of the place here in Shillong and you will enjoy the thrill of the place. This is a very vibrant market area in Shillong and you can get to admire the various aspects of the Police Bazar market area in Shillong and also at the same time you will love the serenity of the place as well. Take the opportunity here to explore the various stalls that place a bet on the game of Shillong Teer and they get to enjoy themselves in the setting of the place here in Shillong and enjoy the betting process on the game of Shillong Teer.
There are numerous such stalls at the entrance of the Police Bazar market area in Shillong and these are known to attract many local people at the place. The place gets vibrant in the evenings when the lights come out here in Shillong and a very unique street food scene that crops up at the market here in Shillong. You will be excited to go to enjoy the various street food recipes that are prepared by the local people at the market area here in Shillong. They prepare the various non-veg delights and these are out up on the grill or even fried and this is what draws hundreds of visitors to the place everyday. In case you want to have something more filling that a must try are the various Bengali restaurants that are present here in Shillong and these are located at the Police Bazar market area in Shillong. These restaurants are known to serve its guests with the various traditional Bengali cuisine recipes and guests can try the various fish curry recipes can come here and try out the various recipes of the Bengali restaurants at the Police Bazar area in Shillong.
Take time to explore the Police Bazar area in Shillong and you will get to visit the various shops and malls across the place. In case you do not have a budget cap on your travel plan then you can plan on staying at the Police Bazar in Shillong as the place is having very good places to halt here in the heart of Shillong city and one name that stands apart is the Hotel Center Point Shillong. This is one of the very fine properties to stay on your visit to Shillong and the best hospitality services are provided to the guests who come here at the Hotel Center Point in Shillong. You will get the opportunity to go to the restaurant at the Center Point in Shillong and this is where you can taste the very delicious Chinese cuisine recipes that is known to be served across Shillong in Meghalaya. You will be all thrilled to enjoy the Police Bazar area of the place and this is how will get to enjoy the ambiance of the place and learn about the way and life of the people of the place.
Next up at Shillong you can go to explore the Wards Lake area in Shillong that is one of the top draw tourist attractions here as well. The Wards Lake is also located at the heart of Shillong city and this place is known to be a recreational area for the local people of Shillong. This Wards Lake is a short walk away from the Police Bazar area and you will go to explore this beautiful lake here. This Wards Lake has various recreational facilities for guests who come here and visitors can take a walk across the paved walkways across the place and also guests can get to enjoy boating on the waters of the lake here as well. Take time to admire the vast landscapes across the place of the Wards Lake and this used to serve as a prime recreational area for the various British officials who were posted in Shillong when the place was the erstwhile capital of Assam. The lake was commissioned to be dug out by the then Commissioner of Assam – General Wad who saw the prisoners of the Central Jail in Shillong were putting on weight not having much work to do and so he ordered them to dig out the lake and this is why this lake came to be known as the Wards lake in Shillong.
In the evening, the local people of Shillong who are fitness conscious and they come to the Wards Lake area and they enjoy their time here by walking around the big area of the well laid out tracks at the Wards Lake in Shillong. People who are interested in boating on the waters of the lake can take the opportunity to purchase the tickets and they will get the time to explore on the waters of the Wards Lake at Shillong on these paddle boats. This is a very nice way to explore across the waters of the Wards Lake and there is a bridge area on the top of the lake where visitors can stand and they will have the chance to feed the fishes on the Wards lake with the feed that can be bought from the shop nearby. A nice café also present at the complex and you can come here to savour the freshly brewed coffee and enjoy some nice evening snacks as well. Once the Wards Lake at Shillong was dug out by the prisoners of the Central Jail, since then this has been a very popular place of recreation and even today the place serves as a popular site for recreation that is located at the heart of Shillong city.
After exploring the Wards Lake in Shillong you can go to explore another of the very popular place of interest in the city that is the Madina Masjid. Although almost 90% of the population of Shillong practice Christianity as their faith, a fair population of the people especially the business class belong to the Hindu and Islam community as well and a small part of the population of Shillong follow Sikhism as well. The Muslim community of Shillong came up with the unique idea to build a mosque to offer their evening prayers and it was decided to build a mosque completely out of glass. Once the mosque was built completely it became to be known as the only glass mosque in India and today the place too has become a very popular tourist attraction in Shillong as well. This structure is none other than the Madina Masjid in Shillong and in the evening, the place gets illuminated with the green lights and the place looks absolutely stunning. You can remove your footwear and then enter the premises of the Madina Majid and once you cleanse your hands and feets you can set out to explore the Madina Masjid in Shillong.
After exploring the Madina Masjid at Shillong in Meghalaya you can call it a day for today after a long day of exploration and you can go to check into the hotel here in Shillong. We will list in details about the various hotels and properties like guest houses, resorts and homestays a little later in this section and at present we recommend to you the Sunrise Guest House that is located at the Laban area in Shillong. The Sunrise Guest House is a budget and yet a very nice property to halt for guests on their visit to Shillong and the place is located at a prime area of Laban that is known as a place that is inhabited by the various outside communities of Shillong apart from the Khasi people and so you will love to explore across the place as well. The other places in Shillong where the various other hotels and guest houses are located are Laimukrah, Police Bazar and the Polo area and in case you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of a city life here you can go the Upper Shillong area at Mylliem as well and a very nice property to stay here is the Pine Hill Homestay.
As tourism is a major revenue generator for the people of Shillong and Meghalaya and so the people have opened up various hotels, resorts, restaurants, guest houses and even opened up their homes as homestays as well. The Sunrise Guest House is a perfect way to enjoy your vacation in Shillong as the place offers the basic luxuries at budget prices and this is a nice place to stay. Visitors who come to the Sunrise Guest House can enjoy their stay and meals at the place. The place is a beauty to witness and it was originally constructed by the owners for their personal stay but the later left for abroad and the place was assigned to a manager and a chef who attend to the needs of the guests staying at the sunrise guest house at Shillong in Meghalaya. The place offers five deluxe rooms for the stay of guests and this is a very nice way to enjoy a grand standard of living here in Shillong. The place has a nice outside garden area where guests can relax and unwind after a long day of exploration of the Scotland of the East viz. Shillong.
Enjoy your pleasant stay at the Sunrise Guest House at Shillong and here you will be served with a sumptuous dinner and the next day you will set out to explore more of Shillong city. The next morning you will have the opportunity to go and visit the Bara Bazar market area in Shillong. It is said that the best way to learn about the culture and heritage of the place is to visit the local market area of the region as these are the places that is where the gathering of the people happens and so the people here have the opportunity to get to witness the vibrant culture of the place and this allows guests to go and enjoy their visit to these market areas. In Shillong, the Bara Bazar area is one such market area and this is the largest traditional market in Northeast India. Vendors and villagers from all across the area of Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya come to this market area in Shillong and here they get the opportunity to trade their goods and because the place sees a large gathering of people so there are several eateries across that have sprung up here.
This is the place that allows the guests to taste the local cuisine of Shillong and these are the stalls that sell the famous Jadoh that is a signature dish of the local people of Shillong that is mostly local rice cooked with various herbs in pigs blood and it imparts a very special taste to the rice. There are various other signature dishes and one thing visitors need to keep in mind is that the people of Shillong consume both pork and beef and so in case you do not eat beef or pork then you will need to adjust to the food accordingly. Post your breakfast at the Bara Bazar area in Shillong you can head out to explore more of Shillong where you can proceed on your drive to the Upper Shillong area. Ensure that you try out the various local delicacies of the place and these stalls are located close to each another and each is known to serve a special cuisine of Meghalaya to the local people. You will be all thrilled to explore the Bara Bazar area in Shillong and later go on to explore more of the Scotland of the East.
From the Bara bazar market area in Shillong you will go to explore further across the vast terrains of the Scotland of the East and once place to explore is the Marys Help of Christians Cathedral in Shillong that is locates at the heart of Shillong city at the posh Laimukrah area in Shillong. As mentioned earlier around 90% of the population of Shillong practice Christianity as their faith and so they offer their worship to the God at these various churches and cathedrals and once cathedral that is known to have a very grand architecture is that of the Marys Help of Christians Cathedral in Shillong. This place is best suited to admire the grand architecture of the place and the beautiful blue colour architecture of the place looks absolutely stunning for the guests. The place looks over a big lawn area and this is having a very beautiful blue colour across the vast campus of the place and this is what makes this cathedral a very popular tourist attraction here in Shillong. Admire the beautiful structure of this cathedral and later in the day you can set out to explore the Upper Shillong area here in Meghalaya.
The drive to Upper Shillong from Shillong is one of the very scenic routes of the place one can enjoy and this is where the cherry blossoms happen every year in the month of November and visitors who come here along this time are sure to fall in love with the place as it showcases the beauty of the place as it showcases the beauty of the place to all the guests. Next up you can go to explore the air force museum at the Upper Shillong area that is a place that is known to showcase to its guests the various aircrafts that are used by the Indian Airforce. The Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force has its headquarters here in Shillong and so the visitors who come here can get to enjoy all the thrill that is associated in being a part of the Indian Air Force and there are various places of interest that can be seen here. You will need to produce your ID cards at the entry gate and you can get to explore the air force museum in Shillong. Later in the day you will set out to explore the elephant falls in Shillong.
The Elephant falls in Shillong is a very popular tourist attraction and this is a three tiered waterfall where guests can admire the grand view of the waterfall here in Shillong. This is called as the Elephant Falls as when the British had discovered this waterfall there was a rock here that was shaped in the form of an Elephant head and this rock was destroyed in the great Earthquake of 1897. There are three waterfalls at this place with one waterfall on top, the second in the middle and the this and the much wider waterfall located at the base. Your exploration of the elephant falls in Shillong start at the top and you can witness the view of the waterfall and you gradually walk down towards the base of the falls and this is where you will see another beautiful waterfall from here.
Shillong is indeed one of the very beautiful hill station destinations in the Northeastern part of the country and visitors coming to Shillong are sure to be thrilled with all the bounties of nature all around and also the pleasant weather of the place as well. Take time to explore the Elephant falls in the Upper Shillong area and later you will return back to the top of the place and this is where you will find the local stalls that are known to allow guests to adorn themselves in the local Khasi attires and click their pictures here. The Khasi attire of the local people of Shillong in Meghalaya is a very colourful and bright attire that are known to be very vibrant and so visitors who come here get all thrilled to adorn themselves in these attires and they get their pictures clicked here and so the visitors can carry a memoir of their visit to this place in Shillong. Next up you will finish your exploration of the Elephant falls in Shillong and you will proceed on your drive to visit one of the very famed destination near Shillong that is none other than the Khasi Hills Sacred Groves at Mawphlang.
Known to be another of the very popular tourist attractions near Shillong, the Khasi Hills sacred groves at Mawphlang is a very popular tourist attraction that draws visitors from far and near to the place and guests who come here are sure to be left mesmerized with the vast bounties of nature all across the Khasi Hills Sacred groves at Mawphlang. You will explore the vast area of the place and continue on your drive on the vast landscapes of Shillong in Meghalaya to travel to Mawphlang. You will get to visit the farmlands of the area and travel all the way to Mawphlang in Meghalaya. This place is known to be the home of the Khasi Hills sacred groves that are known to be the sacred forest pockets that are revered by the Khasi people of Shillong and Meghalaya as well. Mawphlang is also the place where one of the most pristine treks of Meghalaya is present and visitors who come to this place near Shillong have the perfect opportunity to trek across this place and admire the vast landscapes of Meghalaya and the other side of the trek ends at Lad Mawphlang and they can travel from here to Cherrapunji.
The Mawphlang sacred grove is one of the very lush and green forest cover areas across Meghalaya that is known to attract visitors from all across the globe and this place is a very nice way to explore the varied flora and fauna of the place. You will be welcomed by the various local guides at the place and you will be assigned one guide who will help you to explore the sacred groves area at Mawphlang near Shillong. These are sacred forest pockets that are revered by the local Khasi people of the place and these are known to be the place where various rituals were performed by the local Khasi people. In the olden days, the local Khasi people of Shillong near Meghalaya used to come to the sacred grove forest area and they used to perform various rituals that allowed them to appease the Gods and Goddesses to help them have a year of bountiful harvest. They used to perform these rituals and God used to appear before them in the form of a tiger or a snake signifying a year of bountiful harvest or a year of famine and so they had to prepare accordingly for the year. These sacred groves near Shillong are considered to be sacred and so no acts of nuisance are to be committed at the place including felling of trees and this prohibitory action has allowed the place to have a very beautiful and grand flora and fauna.
The forests of the place near Shillong are home to several rare and endangered animal species and also the rare bird species are known to be found here as well. The forests harbour very rare flora and some of the species of plants are very rare and endangered and some are known to have various medicinal properties as well including ones that are known to have a cure for cancer as well. The guide will lead you across the forest reserves of the sacred groves at Mawphlang near Shillong and you will take your time to visit and explore the place and later on you will come out of the sacred grove forest near Shillong and you can go to visit the Khasi heritage village at Mawphlang. This Khasi heritage village near Shillong is a very nice place to learn and understand the life and culture of the Khasi people of Meghalaya. The place was actually built to host the Monolith festival of Mawphlang every year but due to unforeseen circumstances the place is now just a tourist attraction that draws hundreds of visitors here everyday during the peak tourist season.
Next up you will go to explore the Khasi heritage village that illustrates to its guests the various houses of the Khasi people and this is nice way to explore across the place as well. You will be all thrilled to learn about the life of the local Khasi people at this place and this is a perfect way to enjoy the bounties of the place. Post this you will go to explore the small village that starts on the David Scott trail trek and you will go to visit the place here. The David Scott trail trek is once of the very pristine trek routes across Meghalaya that spans across from Mawphlang to Lad-Mawphlang and the place is known to allow guests to explore the vast and beautiful landscapes of Meghalaya. At this small village near Shillong in Meghalaya visitors can have the thrill to explore the life and culture of the Khasi people of Meghalaya and this is a very nice way to enjoy across the place and learn about the life and customs of the place. There is a small tinsel village that overlooks the vast bounties of the place near Shillong and it is a very nice way to visit the place.
This is known as the place that overlooks the vast valleys of Meghalaya and also they get to admire the view of the Umiam River near Shillong and they can travel all the way to Lad Mawphlang admiring the vast valleys of Meghalaya. At Mawphlang near Shillong you will at first go to explore the Khasi Hills Sacred Groves. From Mawphlang you will travel to Mawsynram that is the wettest place on Planet Earth. Mawsynram is another of the very beautiful destinations in Meghalaya that is having various waterfalls and the hot water springs that are a very in demand tourist spot across Meghalaya that is known as the place that attracts vast number of tourists. On the way to Mawsynram near Shillong from Mawphlang you will cross the Maple Pine Farm homestay that is one of the very eco-friendly properties to halt near Shillong. The drive takes you across the beautiful verdant landscapes of Meghalaya and this will indeed be a very thrilling experience. The Maple Pine Farm homestay is a very beautiful eco-friendly property to halt and the place is run by a couple where the husband is a Canadian and the wife is a local Khasi lady.
The property is spread across a sprawling green campus and every aspect of the eco-friendly practices has been kept in mind when it comes to eco friendly practices and also the place utilizes solar power to fuel its power needs across the campus. You will surely love this place and you can get to explore the wide view of the green meadows across the place. Take the opportunity and chance to spend an evening here at the Maple Pine Farm homestay and later you can continue on your drive to Mawsynram in Meghalaya near Shillong. Mawsynram is one of the best known destinations for guests who are known to love nature and green surroundings and this is the place that is known as the wettest place on Earth. You will travel all the way from Mawsynram and at first you will go to visit the local market at the place near Shillong that is known to be a place that sells a wide variety of fresh produce that are sourced from the local villages. Mawsynram near Shillong is very famous for its bamboo crafts that are handmade by the local craftsmen who come here.
The bamboo handicrafts of Mawsynram near Shillong are made with a special quality of bamboo that is brought from the forests of the region and this bamboo is also smoked that imparts a very stylish texture to the bamboo and visitors coming here can get to see the various bamboo handicrafts that are put up on display and sale as well. Guests can take time to explore the market area at Mawsynram and they will love the place and the various organic produce can be seen here at Mawsynram near Shillong as well Also you can get to explore the Jakrem Hot springs at Mawsynram near Shillong that is a very beautiful place and it is said that the waters of this hot spring have various medicinal properties that are known to drive the visitor to come here and they can take the opportunity to bath themselves in the waters of the Jakrem hot springs at Mawsynram near Shillong.
The actual location of the Jakrem hot spring at Mawsynram near Shillong is located far away from the place as the place is not accessible by vehicles and provision has been made to bring the water from the location site near Shillong to the place and here bath areas have been built for the visitors to come and enjoy their bath at the place and this is considered to allow them to get rid of the various body ailments that they might have and this is a nice way to enjoy across the place here at Mawsynram near Shillong. Take time to explore across the place at the Jakrem hot springs near Shillong and later you can travel to the Mawjymbuin caves at Mawsynram that is a very nice cave to explore. The area near Shillong in Meghalaya is filled with the various caves and few of these caves are opened for public exploration and two among them are very popular ones in Mawsynram that are the Mawjymbuin caves and the Krem Puri. The Krem Puri is the longest sandstone cave in the World and in order to access this cave in Meghalaya visitors need to hire the services of a local adventure company who can lead the guests across the place to reach the sire of the Krem Puri and also explore in depth about this cave as well.
The Mawjymbuin cave on the other hand is not a very deep and wide cave and it can be explored without the assistance of any professional guides and this is known to be a famed cave due to the presence of a Shiva Linga that is present inside the cave area. Every year during the festival of Shivaratri, thousands of devotees come and gather at Mawsynram near Shillong and here they have the opportunity to have their darshan at this temple shrine. The Hindu people consider the Shiva Linga to be very auspicious and so the devotees come from all across India to this cave at Mawsynram near Shillong where they offer their prayers. The Shiva Linga at the Mawjymbuin cave is fed by a continuous stream of water and once you enter across the premises you can get to see the various rock formations inside the cave along with the stalactites and stalagmites as well.
It is a must visit for anyone coming to Shillong and travelling to Mawsynram. After you exploration of the Mawjymbuin cave at Mawsynam you can continue on your drive back to Shillong. On the way to Upper Shillong you can take the opportunity to go and visit the Shillong Peak area that is another of the very popular tourist destinations of Shillong area. The Shillong Peak is the highest point in the East Khasi hills district and this is the place from where you can get to explore the vast area of the Shillong city and get a panaromic view of the place. This Shillong Peak is located at the Air Force Cantonment area and visitors who come here can have the aerial view of Shillong city. As the place is located in the middle of the cantonment area of the Air Force so visitors need to be frisked to be able to enter the place. The place is indeed very beautiful and once you reach the site of the Shillong peak you can get to see the various tourist vehicles parked at the place and you will go to the viewpoint area at the place to admire the panaromic view of the Shillong city from here.
Take time to admire the village area and you will get to witness the vast and scenic surroundings of the place. Next up you will go to visit more of the places around Shillong in Meghalaya and one place that is of utmost importance is that of the Mawsynram that is the wettest place on Earth and the place is a short drive away from Mawphlang. Mawsynram near Shillong is once of the very famed and renowned tourist destinations of Northeast India located near Shillong and this is referred to as the wettest place on planet Earth. Visitors who come to Shillong ensure that they have the opportunity to go and visit Mawsynram and get to witness the vast abundance of nature here across the place. Travel on your drive from Mawphlang near Shillong to Mawsynram and here you will travel across the beautiful and verdant landscapes of Meghalaya. This is a scenic drive that overlooks the vast valleys of Meghalaya and you will come to the place to see the natural surroundings that provide a very scenic view of the place on the way to Mawsynram in Meghalaya.
Take time to explore the Shillong Peak area and get to admire the vast panoramic view of Shillong city from across the place and further up you will travel back to Shillong city. Most of the sightseeing destinations across Shillong have been covered at present and once thing for sure you cannot miss is the visit to Cherrapunji from Shillong. Cherrapunji near Shillong is the second wettest place on planet Earth and this is known as the place that is home to abundance of waterfalls, caves, vast undulating valleys and the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya. The next day you will set out to explore Cherrapunji from Shillong and today evening you will be staying at Shillong itself and get to enjoy the night life across the place. At Shillong you will have the opportunity to explore the night life of the place where in you will set out to visit the various cafes at the Laimukrah area in Shillong that is one of the posh localities across the place.
This is one of the very posh areas across Shillong that is having the very nice homes of the elite people of Shillong and this has allowed the place to have many cafes across the place as well. Get to enjoy the night life across the place and savor some very fine meals and wine at the place. Next up you will return to your rooms at the hotel and the next morning you will set out to visit Cherrapunji area from Shillong. Enjoy your stay at Shillong at the Sunrise Guest House and the next day you will travel on your comfortable vehicles from Shillong to Cherrapunji. Drive across the beautiful roads of Shillong to Upper Shillong and continue further on the drive to the Cherrapunji area. The roads are good and the drive sis very favorable as well and all across the year you can get to see the vast valleys of Meghalaya at the place. The drive from Shillong to Cherrapunji is a very picturesque drive and you will go to visit the Mawkdock valley in Meghalaya that isa renowned place for visitors to enjoy the undulating valleys of Shillong and Cherrapunji and you will stop here to take the opportunity to admire the place.
There are a few local restaurants here as well and in case you skipped your breakfast at your hotel in Shillong you can stop at one of these restaurants to enjoy a meal here as well. Next up you will go to visit the vast undulating valleys here and these are sure to leave any person captivated and visitors who come here can have the perfect opportunity to witness the place on their way to Cherrapunji from Shillong. Continue to admire the place here and you will love the scene here and also there is a provision for zip-lining here as well that is conducted by the pioneer adventures in Shillong. Next up you will continue on your exploration of the place of interest near Shillong and you will continue on your drive to Cherrapunji.
Cherrapunji is located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya and Shillong is the state capital. You will be thrilled with the views of nature all along your way to Cherrapunji from Shillong and in some time you will reach Cherrapunji. The climate of the place will surely have a lasting impression on your mind and you will come to know as to why the place is called as Sohra meaning the shade of the clouds because the cloud cover across Cherrapunji ceases to withdraw and Cherrapunji is called as the second wettest place on planet Earth after Mawsynram near Shillong. You will all enjoy the vast bounties of nature at Cherrapunji near Shillong and you will head further to explore more of the place before you stop to eat a bite at the Orange Roots restaurant at Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. You will go to visit the restaurant that is known to serve very nice and delicious South Indian cuisine meals and recipes and you will visit the place and get to enjoy your meals here along with coffee and later you will go to explore the place of tourist interest at Cherrapunji near Shillong.
At first you will go to visit the Nohkalikai Falls at Cherrapunji near Shillong that is a very renowned waterfall of the place and it is termed as the tallest plunge waterfall in India. From the town of Cherrapunji near Shillong to the area of the Nohkalikai Falls it is a very nice drive and visitors are all thrilled as the landscapes across the place remind them of Scotland and you will go to visit the place here. The beautiful landscapes near Shillong are a sure sight to attract any visitor and you will soon reach the area of the Nohkalikai Falls at Cherrapunji near Shillong. This is a very beautiful waterfall to witness and it is called as the plunge waterfall because the waters from across the various perennial streams across Cherrapunji com and collect at the summit of the Nohkalikai falls and it falls down from as one collective waterfall. The sound of the falling waters is sure to leave any visitor coming to Shillong thrilled and you can go to explore across the area of the Nohkalikai Falls in Cherrapunji.
The Nohkalikai Falls at Cherrapunji near Shillong is called as India’s Tallest plunge waterfall and this is also the fourth tallest waterfall in the country and the majestic natural beauty across the place is sure to leave a person thrilled with the bounties of nature all across the place. Take time to admire the grandeur of this waterfall from the viewpoint and later you will set out to explore the area across the waterfall wherein you will get to see the various local women of Cherrapunji near Shillong setup their stalls and this will allow you to learn about the matrilineal society of Shillong and Meghalaya as well. The Khasi people of Shillong follow the matrilineal society wherein the family lineage is taken from the mother’s side. The head of the household is a woman and she is entrusted with the responsibility to take care of the members of the household. The family ancestory is passed on to the youngest daughter in the house and she is entrusted with the responsibility to take care of her aged parents and unmarried siblings.
In Shillong when you travel across the place you can see that the various business establishments are being run by the women folks and also the women hold various important positions with the Govt. of Meghalaya as well. They have to run the financial aspect of the household and so they are running the small business around Shillong and Meghalaya as well. These stalls sell the local produce that are sourced from the forests across Meghalaya and these include the items like cinnamon, turmeric, bay leaf, home made pickles, pepper corns and also the fresh fruits as well. When you visit Shillong and travel further to Cherrapunji you are sure to love this opportunity to witness this sight and the Nohkalikai Falls area and post this you will set out to explore more of the places of interest at Cherrapunji near Shillong. From the area of the Nohkalikai Falls you will later travel to the Mawsmai caves area near Shillong. This is a drive that will take you across the beautiful landscapes of Meghalaya and you will reach the site of the Mawsmai caves area.
The Mawsmai cave is a stunning place that is found in Cherrapunji near Shillong and this is the place that is known for its various formations of stalactites and stalagmites including the various rock formations as well. You will be all thrilled to explore the cave near Shillong and you will enter the cave from one end to explore more of the area inside the cave interiors. The Mawsmai cave near Shillong is actually a very big cave but only a part of it is opened to tourists for exploration and the place is a very well lit cave that is home to the stalactites and the stalagmites. When you enter the cave area you will find the various fossils on the cave walls and also the rock formations as well. Take time to explore this cave area at Cherrapunji near Shillong and you will get to explore in depth the Mawsmai cave and this is a well lit cave and so the people will love to explore the area across the cave as well. You will come out of the cave area and set to explore more of the area near Shillong.
After exploring the Mawsmai cave area at Cherrapunji you can set out to explore more of the places of interest around Cherrapunji wherein you will get to visit the Seven Sister Falls near Shillong. This is another of the very beautiful waterfalls in Cherrapunji near Shillong and visitors who come here can get to witness the third tallest waterfall in India and this is a segmented waterfall unlike the Nohkalikai Falls that is a plunge waterfall located near to Shillong. You will get to go to the parking area of the place and next to it is the view point area that is where the visitors can het to wait and admire the lush greenery all across the place. The Seven Sister Falls near Shillong is a segmented waterfall meaning the water from the various streams do not come and get collected on the top and instar they fall down separately as distinct waterfalls and so you can get to see the distinct waterfalls at this place. You will be all thrilled to witness this waterfall here near Shillong and also here you can view the vast valleys of Meghalaya as well.
Meghalaya who capital is Shillong shares a boundary with Bangladesh and you will get to visit this border on your journey from Shillong to Dawki where in you will cross the Indian territory to reach at No man’s land along the border and this is a very rewarding experience for any guest coming here. Shillong is the state capital and is often referred to as the Scotland of the East and this is because when the British had come to Shillong they found that the landscapes of the place resembled to that of the ones in Scotland and so they named the place as the Scotland of the East. Also they were so touched with the weather of Shillong that they made Shillong the capital of the erstwhile Assam. You will not have a moment to sit idle here in Shillong because there is so much to explore across this beautiful city. Coming back to Cherrapunji here there are many more places of interest that can be visited on your visit to Shillong and another popular tourist attraction is the Arwah caves near Shillong that is a much wider cave when compared to the Mawsmai Caves in Cherrapunji near Shillong.
Take time to go and visit the Arwah caves at Cherrapunji near Shillong and this is one place that is surely not to be missed on the visit to Shillong. The drive to the Arwah caves entrance is across a hill and this is why the place is located at an elevation and also the place is the summit of the Wah Kaba falls at Cherrapunji near Shillong. You can hire the services of a local guide when you get to explore the Arwah caves and this is the place where visitors can get to learn a lot more about the pre-historic caves and how the life on planet existed several million years ago. You can get to experience the vast beauty of the place and it is a short 500m walk away from the entrance to the cave mouth near Shillong The guide will stop you at the cave entrance to guide you about the various aspects of the Arwah caves near Shillong. Walk into the cave and you will be greeted by the various fossils on the cave walls an this is a very unique thing to view here.
Once you enter the cave interiors of the Arwah caves near Cherrapunji you are sure to be thrilled to find the various rock formations and the stalactites and stalagmites that are home to the place. It is one of the very beautiful caves to explore that remind you of the ancient times and visitors who come here are thrilled to get the experience of the cave here. You will set out to explore the cave area and this is here that you will find the various rock formations that allow you to have a pleasing experience and the stalactites and stalagmites of the place. This is a nice way to enjoy and you will notice that a small stream passes across the interiors of the cave that makes it all the more interesting and you will simply love the view inside the Arwah caves near Shillong. The guide will lead you across the cave and you will see the stalactites and stalagmites as well. You will next go to visit the area inside the cave and the guide will lead you properly and you will get to sight many more places of interest at this place. The cave is well lit and visitors can get to learn a lot about the cave formations here at the Arwah cave.
The Arwah caves at Cherrapunji near Shillong is a very magnificent cave and you will like the various detailing on the cave walls and next up you will go to explore across the inner area of this cave near Shillong. There is only a particular area upto where the cave is well lit and post that you will need to use the services of a torch light to get visibility inside the cave area and you will be taken by the guide to this place. This is a perfect opportunity for you to spot some of the cave detailing and later in the day you will come out of the Arwah caves near Shillong and this will be a great opportunity for you to explore the vast area of the Arwah caves near Shillong. You will be to the cave entrance and from here you will board your vehicles to begin on your drive to the Dainthlen Falls at Cherrapunji near Shillong. This is another beautiful waterfall located at the place that overlooks the vast bounties of nature all across the place and you will be all thrilled to enjoy the bounties here and this is a very unique waterfall located at this place. You will step out of the vehicles to explore the Dainthen falls near Shillong.
The Dainthlen falls near Shillong has a unique folklore attached to it wherein it is said that the area across this fall was inhabited by a demon and this demon used to attack on people who used to travel across the place in odd groups and not on people who travelled who travelled in even groups and this made the villagers across the place very scared and they approached a knight called as Thlen to help them to solve this matter and so the knight came to the place and he slayed the demon and to celebrate this feat the villagers had organized a big feast with the meat of the slain demon and they prepared a nice meal near Shillong and the knight had instructed that no piece of meat of food or even the utensils could be carried back home by any person as this might allow the demon to revive on a separate soil and so he had clearly instructed the villagers to leave all the things at this site near Shillong itself. Over the years all the utensils turned into stones and this can be still seen at the area of the Dainthlen falls near Shillong.
An old lady however committed a grave mistake of carrying some piece of meat along with her to feed her grandchildren and this is why the legend of the Thlen still remains among the people of Cherrapunji near Shillong. With this you will wrap up your visit at the Dainthlen falls near Shillong and you will head on your drive to another beautiful waterfall in Cherrapunji that is called as the Wei Sawdong falls and this is located near to the place itself and this is another very grand waterfall to view near Shillong. The Wei Sawdong falls is a three tiered waterfall that is a beautiful waterfall to view for guests who come all the way to Cherrapunji from Shillong and this is a crystal clear pool to be seen here as well. Take time to explore across this falls near Shillong and you can also climb down the place to reach the summit of the waterfall and admire the falls near Shillong more closely.
To address this problem, the local people started to grow these root bridges across the remote places of the areas near Shillong and today these living root bridges near Shillong are on the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The young roots are provided the direction by the bamboo poles and they are allowed to grow across the perennial streams and to grow completely it takes almost 15 to 20 years for these bridges. The walkway across this bridge is later made with planks of wood and also stones and this completes the living Root Bridge that can handle the flow of people across these root bridges near Shillong. Once completely grown these root bridges can last for almost 500 years. This is what makes these Living Root Bridges of Shillong very popular among the tourist circuit of Meghalaya and a visit to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is highly recommended for all guests coming to Shillong. At the base of the Tyrna village near Shillong you will go to sight the set of Single Decker Living Root Bridge and the guide will lead you to the site.
Once you finish exploration and admiring these root bridges, you will next go the Nongriat village and you will cross a small church to be followed by a hanging bridge, a sacred grove and a suspension bridge and you will get to reach the Nongriat village near Shillong. Once you reach this place you will be surprised to see visitors from all across the World come and stay at the place. This Double Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat near Shillong is a one of a kind in the World and so visitors and back packers from all across the World come to see this place and this is what makes the place a truly amazing tourist destinations and these visitors come and spend day and weeks together at this place and they spend their evenings at one of the homestays that are present at the Nongriat village near Shillong. Visitors from various Nationalities come to Nongriat and they get to admire the grand heritage of the Double Decker Living Root Bridge. Take time to explore across the area of the bridge and you will next go to explore the site of the Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat near Shillong. There is a ticket counter at the place where you need to purchase your tickets and then enter the place and you will be all thrilled to see the vast grandeur of nature all across the place. You will visit the wonder of the place and so you will be all thrilled to explore this grandeur of the place and this is the wonderful region to be seen.
Next up you will see a stream that flows across the place and this is where the visitors are all enjoying their bath on this stream. This is a crystal clear water stream as well and so guests who are good swimmers can get to enjoy their time here. Also these is a way for people to enjoy a natural fish spa here as well and guests can get to enjoy their time as well. Next you will get to see the various natural surroundings of the place and later in the day you will come to the shop that is located near the Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat near Shillong where a local lady prepares maggi noodles and tea.
One of the best ways to enjoy a bowl of maggi noodles is here at this shop at the local place because the owner lady makes the maggi noodles with freshly chopped vegetables and also she prepares it over wood fire that makes it one of the most flavourful maggi noodles one can eat near Shillong. As for the non-veg lovers she tops it with a slice of half fried egg and it adds to the flavour of the noodles and visitors can enjoy this along with the fresh black tea or milk tea that is served as well and you can admire the grand side angle view of the Double Decker Living Root bridge from this place as well. Pot this you can trek further to the Rainbow falls area near Shillong if you are interested and this is one of the crystal clear waterfalls to be seen near Shillong and the trek is also across a beautiful terrain area as well that allows guests to witness the vast landscapes of Meghalaya. On the way to the rainbow falls near Shillong there is the Mawshaw bridge that is another fascinating root bridge structure to be seen and you will reach the rainbow falls area at Cherrapunji near Shillong.
This is a very beautiful waterfall area that has crystal clear waters and the place looks absolutely gorgeous with the lush landscapes and scenery across the place and the view of the waterfall at the place is grand. Come back from the trek and later you will begin on your climb to the top at the Tyrna village near Shillong. This is the challenging part of the trek because it is a very steep incline that originates from the base and it takes you all the way to the top near Shillong. You will need to have a balanced approach as you will feel weary when you start on your hike especially when you are not used to climbing across such terrain and you will need to take adequate breaks when you approach this climb and soon you will reach the halfway mark and continue to trek further. There are stalls on the way and you can stop to take a break and buy refreshments to hydrate yourself along the trek and soon you will reach back on top at the Tyrna village near Shillong.
You will board your vehicles and begin on your drive back to Cherrapunji near Shillong and thus completing one of the must try to visit places here in Northeast India viz. the Double Decker Living Root Bridge near Shillong. At Cherrapunji you will take time to explore the local market and here you will get to enjoy a sumptuous lunch at a traditional restaurant that is known to serve the delicious Khasi cuisine of Shillong that is very famed and it is cooked with all the natural ingredients and a must try is the Jadoh that is a signature rich dish that is cooked with meat and blood and post your lunch you can continue on your drive back to your hotel near Shillong. Today is your last evening here in Shillong and you will get to enjoy a nice stay at the hotel and also you will enjoy an evening bonfire and barbecue at the hotel area in Shillong and you will later in the evening treat yourself to the an amazing Chinese cuisine dinner at the hotel. As the place of stay is not very big and is having a few rooms you can have the place to yourself and enjoy the meals at the place here at Cherrapunji near Shillong.
The next morning you will bid farewell to Cherrapunji and you will begin on your drive to Dawki that is another famous tourist destinations near Shillong. Dawki near Shillong is the border of India and Bangladesh and it is known to be home to the Umngot River that is one of the very crystal clear water rivers that is a big tourist draw. Being the border of India and Bangladesh, visitors coming to Dawki from Shillong can get to cross the border and go to the No Man’s Land and admire the border across the two countries. Also you can get to go for boating on the crystal clear waters of the Umngot River at Dawki near Shillong. From Cherrapunji you will begin on your drive to Dawki post breakfast and we will need to take the road to Shillong and after the Mawkdock valley we will take a right diversion to travel to Dawki near Shillong. The roads are goo and you can sit back and enjoy the drive across the vast valleys of Meghalaya and the landscapes will remind you of the beautiful landscapes of Europe and you will soon get to view the vast landscapes of the place and later in the day you will reach Pynursla near Shillong.
This is a small town and the last stoppage for fuel so the vehicles will refuel at this place near Shillong and you will go to visit the longest root bridge at Pynursla near Shillong. This is a small town area and you will take a right diversion from the town area to travel to a small village area near Shillong and this is the sight of the place. Again here as well you will get to observe that the entire village is kept very neat and clean and visitors who come here are all left amazed and thrilled with the vast stretch of the place and the vehicles will drop you at the village entrance and you will be welcomed be a local guide who will greet you at this place in Shillong and you will start on the trek to the site of the longest living root bridge. This is not a tough trek and unlike the Double Decker Root Bridge, the stairway is not very steep and visitors coming here are all excited to go and visit another one of these bio-engineering marvels of the World near Shillong.
You will love the landscapes around the place that appear to be completely green and visitors will love the area of the place and you will keep walking on the trek to the base of the place to the site of the longest living root bridge at Pynursla near Shillong. Take time to explore the vast beauty of the place and once you will reach the bast of the place you will get to admire the grandeur of the longest living root bridge that spans across a length of over 50m near Shillong. Visitors are not allowed to walk across this root bridge and instead they have to admire the bridge by standing from another root bridge that is located alongside this living root bridge near Shillong. Take your time to explore across the place and later you will begin on your trek back to the top and the guide will lead across this trek. You will reach back to the top and here you will be taken on a short tour across the village where you will get to admire the clean surroundings of the village environment near Shillong and post this you will board your vehicles to drive to Dawki.
You will drive across the beautiful roads to reach a road diversion where the left diversion takes you to Dawki and the right diversion takes you to Mawlynnong. Take the left diversion and continue on your drive to Dawki near Shillong and here you will observe that the roads get narrower and the weather starts to feel warmer because you are driving away from the hilly area to the plains. Dawki near Shillong is located at the border of India and Bangladesh and this place is the natural border that is marked by the Umngot River at Dawki near Shillong. On one side is the beautiful country of India and on the other side is Bangladesh. When you will be driving from Dawki to Mawlynnong near Shillong you will be driving along this border itself that is separated by the guard fence as well. You will cross the suspension bridge at Dawki near Shillong and you will drive towards the border area and later come back to the boating point at Dawki near Shillong. You will check the border area and here you will step down from the vehicle to go to the border at Dawki near Shillong.
Once you get down at the border of India here at Dawki near Shillong you will notice that the place is heavily guarded by the soldiers of the BSF who are on a continuous patrol across the place and they ensure that no cross border movement happens illegally. Dawki near Shillong is a very prominent tourist destination and visitors from India and Bangladesh both alike come to explore the place. Another very known hot spot near Dawki near Shillong is Shnongpdeng that is a place where one can get to enjoy various kinds of river sports activities on the Umiam River and a few among these are water scooter rides, kayaking, snorkelling, boating, scuba diving, rock climbing, bunjee jumping, etc. and in case we have time in our hands we will take the opportunity to travel to Shnongpdeng near Shillong as well. Once you step down from your vehicles you will proceed to the border outpost where the BSF soldiers are positioned and here you will get to admire the vast landscapes of the place near Shillong.
There will be heavy deployment of BSF personnel at the border and you need to ensure to seek their permission before you set out to explore the border and you will soon cross the border of Indian side of the territory at Dawki near Shillong and get to travel to no man’s land at Dawki. The border of Bangladesh near Shillong will get visible to you and you will get to walk upto the pillar 1275 and admire the border area across both these countries and soon you will come back to the Indian territory near Shillong and head on to board your vehicle to travel to the boating point at Dawki. In the interest of time we will need to skip the visit to Shnongpdeng and later in the day we will reach the boating point at Dawki near Shillong. Here we will get our tickets and one boat along with a boatman will be assigned to us here at Dawki on the Umngot River near Shillong. The Umgot river is known to be a very crystal clear water river and the guests can see the river bed clearly and if you notice the boat from a distance you will see as it they are floating on air and not just plying on the waters.
Take the hour long boat ride across the Umngot River at Dawki near Shillong and you will get to admire the vast grandeur of the place where the boat takes you across the clear waters and it will take you under the suspension bridge at Dawki and also you will get to see many of the local people engage in fishing on the clear waters on their boats here at the Umngot River at Dawki near Shillong. Also in case you are travelling to Dawki near Shillong in the winter season then there will be a number of islands that come up here and due to the dry weather and people of Dawki setup small stalls on these islands where visitors can come and get to savor chilled beer and also they fry the fish that are caught from the river at these place and it is a real nice experience for any person coming to Dawki near Shillong. Post your boat ride you will board your vehicles to begin on your drive from Dawki to Mawlynnong village near Shillong.
The drive from Dawki to Mawlynnong near Shillong will be taken from a different approach and not the same way that you had come and you will drive across the narrow yet beautiful road to travel to Mawlynnong near Shillong. This is the border road and you will get to see a tall border fence erected along the way and the place is also known to provide a glimpse of a beautiful waterfall at the place and you will drive further towards Mawlynnong near Shillong. The drive will take you about an hour and half and in sometime you will reach Mawlynnong village – viz. the Cleanest village in Asia located at the East Khasi hills near Shillong. Once you reach Mawlynnong you will go to travel to the parking area at the village where most of the restaurants are located and at first you will go to have your lunch at the village near Mawlynnong. There are many restaurants at the place that serve a sumptuous lunch to the guests that mostly comprise of the Khasi cuisine delicacies like rice, dal, chicken curry, fish curry, potato fry, etc.
At Mawlynnong you will enjoy a very sumptuous lunch and later in the day, you will begin on your exploration of the Mawlynnong village near Shillong. Today you will halt at Mawlynnong itself and not continue on the drive to Shillong and so we will not rush across the place and instead we will take a leisure time across the place and at first we will take you to check into your homestay here at the Mawlynnong village near Shillong. Mawlynnong has now become a very popular tourist attraction and visitors who come to Shillong ensure that they pay a visit to this Cleanest village of Asia and get to learn about the life and culture of the Khasi people of Meghalaya and Shillong here at Mawlynnong. It is a very neat and clean village and when you are walking across the beautiful village you will see that dustbins made up of bamboo or tin are places at regular intervals so that everyone discards their thrash on these dustbins and the village folks can regularly keep a check on these dustbins and get the thrash cleaned and disposed off responsibly.
As the number of tourists coming to Mawlynnong from Shillong have greatly increased over the years and also these people choose to live at the village itself to spend their time with the local people to understand their culture and traditions so the local people have extended their homes as homestays where the guests can halt for an evening and get to learn about the Khasi way of living along with savoring the local cuisine of the people as well. So over time with the increase in the number of visitors from Shillong these homestays have also grown and today there are several such homestays here and we will take you to your homestay and you will check in and freshen up and later in the day we will go to explore the balancing rocks at Mawlynnong village Board your vehicles to travel to the site of the balancing rocks at Mawlynnong near Shillong that is located right at the outskirts of this tinsel village near Shillong. These balancing rocks at this village are a unique gravity defying phenomenon wherein one very large rock boulder rests atop a much smaller rock boulder.
This balancing rock structure has been standing like this since several hundred years and even great earthquakes have not been able to cause any damage to this structure. You will be surprised at this gravity defying phenomenon and this is now a very prominent tourist attraction at this village near Shillong. In the olden days, the older Khasi people used to consider this place to be sacred and they used to carry out several rituals to appease the Gods at this site of the balancing rocks near Shillong and across the years, now this place is mostly a tourism site and people who come to Shillong ensure that they come to visit the balancing rocks at Mawlynnong. Take time to explore across the place and later you will travel back to the village and we will go across the village on a short tour. Mawlynnong near Shillong is dubbed as the cleanest village in Asia and this was awarded to the place by the Discover India Magazine in 2003 and later the BBC filmed a documentary across this place that made Mawlynnong as a famous site in the tourism circuit of Meghalaya near Shillong.
The village is a small one with about 100 households and the place is known to be home to the local Khasi people of Shillong who have worked hard over the years to reach the title of being the members of the cleanest village in Asia and they have used tourism as a tool to promote the place as the Cleanest village near Shillong and this draws hundreds of tourists to the place every day and this has allowed the local people to use the money generated from tourism to sustain themselves. Mawlynnong near Shillong serves as the perfect halt over place for tourists coming from Shillong to Dawki and later the have the lunch here and explore the Riwai Double Decker Living Root Bridge to travel back to Shillong on a day tour. The evening is the time when the tourists leave the place and the villagers gather to start the cleaning activities and they ensure that the next morning is ready for the place to welcome more guests from Shillong.
The activities of cleaning at Mawlynnong near Shillong is a dedicated task that is followed by all the local people of the village along with the committee team as well. In the morning and evening it is the duty of every household to clear the premises around their house and dump the thrash in the dustbins that are placed outside each household. Later on the committee team goes around the village and they collect the thrash and they come and collect it and segregate the waste into degradable and non-degradable post and the degradable waste is to be used as manure or compost in the agricultural fields around Mawlynnong and the non-degradable waste is loaded onto the trucks and these are sent to Shillong at the various recycling plants and here the waste is recycled or disposed off responsibly in Shillong. It is a very nice thing to see that such villagers who have not much of educational background still know about the importance of cleanliness and just a simple way of keeping their village clean have allowed them to transform their village into a major tourism hub near Shillong.
You will explore across Mawlynnong village near Shillong in the evening and there will be a provision for you to go and learn about the traditional Khasi way of cooking at a local kitchen of one of the homestays near Shillong. You will see how the various fresh and green organic produce of the vegetables are brought in from the local farms and the local kitchen staff prepare all these ingredients ready to prepare the meal. These people near Shillong still prefer to cook the food in the traditional way wherein the food is cooked over firewood and as the area is a thick forest cover so the availability of cooking wood is found in abundance at the place. You will explore across the kitchen to see how the traditional utensils are used to cook the food at the place and the meal will have chicken that is reared in the backyard of the house and it is a complete organic way of preparation. The food of the people near Shillong do not use the artificial spices and they only make use of the natural spices to be used in the preparations.
Enjoy a flavorful meal at the homestay at the Mawlynnong village near Shillong and later you can retire for the evening. The next morning you can begin on your preparations to go to explore some more of Mawlynnong village before you head out on your drive to Shillong back. Have a nice breakfast at your homestay and you will set out to board your vehicles to travel to the site of the Riwai Single Decker Living Root Bride at Mawlynnong. At first we will witness the various cleaning activities that are adopted by the local folks on their daily routine. These practices are adopted and followed by the local people of Mawlynnong wherein they clean the premises of the village and segregate the water and later get on with their daily activities to welcome the various guest coming to the place. It is a strict ritual that is followed everyday and every evening and the place and it is nice to watch the local people engaging in such activities that has helped Mawlynnong near Shillong in becoming the cleanest village in Asia.
Later pack your luggage and board your vehicles to begin on the drive to the site of the Riwai Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong. The vehicle will stop at the parking area where you will need to get down while the vehicles will travel to the Nohwet village and you will trek from the site of the Riwai Living Root Bridge near Shillong to the Nohwet village. This is the most popularly visited Living Root Bridge near Shillong because it is the widest among all the Root Bridges and the most easily accessible one as well. It takes a short hike of about 10 minutes to reach the site of the Root Bridge near Shillong and you will get to admire the cast root structure that is an amazing sight to near this Living Root Bridge at Mawlynnong near Shillong. This is the widest living root bridge and so you can easily walk across the place to reach the other side and the stream flowing underneath is a wide one as well. From this place you will begin on your trek to the Nohwet village that is the site of the oldest Khasi Hut.
This trek across the beautiful green landscapes of the place near Shillong and one can get to witness the various rare trees and flower species on this trek across this place. You will get to sight more of the rare species of fauna as well and in sometime you will reach the Nohwet village near Shillong. You will go to visit the Oldest Khasi tribe hut that is now a very popular tourist attraction at this village. This is a traditional hut that is built with mud walls and a thatch roof near Shillong and visitors are left in awe when they see the place. It is a small hut and you will be surprised to see how the family used to fit inside this small hut and the place was enough for a living room and a kitchen as well. Take time to explore the hut and later you can get to explore the skywalk at the Nohwet village that allows visitors to catch a glimpse of the border of India and Bangladesh from this point. With this you will board your vehicles and start on your drive to the capital city of Meghalaya viz. Shillong.
Once you arrive back in Shillong you will go to check into your guest house at Shillong and this will be a day of leisure for you as you have explored many of the places of interest near Shillong and this has allowed you to learn a lot about the Scotland of the East and the state capital of Meghalaya as well. The city of Shillong is a complete blend of the traditional and the modern World and this can be see across the various landmarks of the place because the old World charm is still to be seen here from the times of the colonial era of Shillong. The British when they had come to Shillong found the landscapes of the place resemble that of the ones in Scotland and hence they called the place as the Scotland of the East. This is where you explore across Shillong and this is where you can get to see the various buildings across the place that will remind you of the colonial era of the place and visitors coming here are left enthralled to witness this glorious past here at Shillong. Stay in awe of the place and you will get to explore more of the place near Shillong when you explore across the place in the evenings. At Shillong one can get to taste the varied cuisine of the local people and these are sure to leave the taste buds of the visitors wanting for more.
Get to admire how the people use the traditional cooking methods to achieve the cooking goals across the place. In the evening we will try out some of the very famed street food of Shillong wherein we will go to visit the Police Bazar area and this is one famed place that is known to serve its guests with the various offerings. Also we get to taste many of the flavours of Shillong city at these local stalls that are put up in the evening as well. One must try food in Shillong is that of the Bengali cuisine wherein one can try to savour the delightful meals of the Bengali cuisine here in Shillong. The hotels in the Shillong market area are the Bengali cuisine hotels and they serve the various fish speciality dishes that are a pride of the people of favour the Bengali cuisine and visitors who are mostly tourists from Bengal love to come and enjoy their food at these hotels. In case you are interested to try out some of the delicious local cuisine of the Bengali style then you will be enjoying the cuisine here in Shillong. Try the prawn masala, the Hilsa with mustard, Rhou fish curry, the dal, etc. at these restaurants.
It is indeed a nice way to explore across Shillong where you can get to explore the place and get to live the life of the local people of Shillong at the place. You will be all excited to go across the place andyour get to enjoy the vast grandeur of the place as well and next up you will go to explore more of the Police Bazar area in Shillong. There are a few very special stalls at the place that are run by the local people and these shops in Shillong are known to sell some of the very ornate bamboo handicrafts of the place. The area across Shillong mostly around Mawsynram have the abundance growth of bamboo and many varieties of bamboo grow across the forests of the place that has allowed the people to become adept in using the bamboo to weave out various ornate handicrafts of the region. The local people use bamboo to create some very elaborate instruments like furniture, bamboo light hangings, bamboo stools, bamboo trays, etc and all these items are put on display at the place that allows guests to take a look and buy these as a memoir of their visit to Shillong – the Scotland of the East. Take your time to explore more of the places across Shillong and spend your evening at leisure here.
One thing not to be missed on your visit to Shillong is a visit to the Don Bosco museum that is located at the Mawlai area near Shillong. This is one of the finest museums in Northeast India located here in Shillong and the place is known to be illustrating the various traditions and cultures of the indigenous people of Northeast India. The Don Bosco museum in Shillong is spread across a height of seven floors and each floor depicts one aspect about the life and culture of the indigenous people of Northeast India. The area across Northeast India is inhabited by the local people who have been staying across the place since several generations and they have transferred their culture and work life across the generations wherein they have passed on their ideas of the traditional way of living across the villages where technology has not yet taken over the place. You will get to witness the various facets of the life of the indigenous people of Northeast India wherein you go to visit the Don Bosco museum at Shillong in Meghalaya.
The place is run by the Don Bosco group and with the premises itself there is a school and college as well and it imparts quality educations to the local students of Meghalaya as well. When you go to explore the Don Bosco museum at Shillong you will at first need to purchase your tickets at the entry counter and later you will be allowed to go inside the place and this is a very nice experience. When you go across the ground floor hallway you will see that the various elaborate pictures of the people of Northeast India who are dressed elaborately and they can be seen to be involved in the local activities of the village life and you will love the ambiance of the place. Next up you will reach the souvenir area at the ground floor and you will come back to the place later to buy a memoir of your visit to Shillong. Start with your exploration of the Don Bosco museum at Shillong from two floors below the ground wherein you will travel down the place and each floor will depict one aspect about the life of the indigenous people of Northeast India and Shillong.
Coming to the popular hotels and other stay options around Shillong then the first name that comes to mind is that of Hotel Center Point Shillong that is located in the heart of Shillong city at the Police Bazar market area in Shillong. Shillong is no doubt one of the most sought after destinations for visitors travelling to Northeast and the Center Point is clearly one of the best luxury hotels that is located in the heart of Shillong city. The hotel is strategically located and is at close proximity to the bus stand, taxi stand, banks, travel agents, emporiums and the shopping centers across Shillong city. The structure of the hotel is absolutely unique and the hotel building is divided across two ways namly the classic and the club. The Center Point Hotel in Shillong reflects the old heritage and charm of the British era and it combines the modern and the artistic era. There are a total of 31 well appointed rooms at the Center Point hotel in Shillong and the place provides a panaromic view of the Shillong peak mountain that is the highest point in the East Khasi hills district at the same time it offers a grand view of Shillong city at the bustling market place as well.
At the Center Point Hotel in Shillong, the management offers you the best in class 4 Star services and amenities and you can be rest assured that you will enjoy the traditional warmth and hospitality of Shillong as well as the Northeast here. Center Point is the perfect place to be whether you are on a business trip or on a holiday and being located at the heart of Shillong city you are sure to not miss out on the various opportunities of exploring across Shillong. Coming to the categories at the hotel, there are four categories namely the Classic Wing, Classic King Deluxe, Classic Wing Executive Classic, Classic Wing Executive Special, Classic Wing Club deluxe, Classic Wing Club executive and Classic Wing Club special. When it comes to the dining experience at the hotel Center Point in Shillong you are sure to be pampered with the various special delicacies that are served at the restaurant and Bar at this deluxe hotel in Shillong. La Galleria is an in-house multi-cuisine restaurant that is very popular among the tourists and the locals alike who come to Shillong to experience a fine dining experience. This restaurant serves Indian Chinese and Continental dishes that is served across a vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu.
La Galleria is known to be one of the pioneers that has brought the concept of fine dining here in Shillong. Another nice place at the Center Point Hotel in Shillong is the Cloud 9 that is where you can enjoy the nightlife of Shillong and the place offers you the best in class music, food and drinks. At the Cloud 9 at the Center Point in Shillong, World class paintings and photographs surround you and you can sit back and relax to enjoy the foot tapping music and gourmet food and amazing cocktails. Another not to be missed place to visit at the Center Point in Shillong is that of Skype Asia that is a prized place to dine that offers the Pan Asian cuisine under one roof at the Center Point Hotel in Shillong. The chefs at this place bring in years of experience that have allowed them to churn out dishes that offer a prized dining experience to all guests who come here. The Center Point also is a part of the Ri Kynjai hospitality and the restaurant at Ri Kynjai called as the Sao Aiom (Four Seasons) is a relaxed fine dining experience that offers varied cuisine of that of Indian, Chinese and Continental.
Apart from the above, the place offers it guests the best in class Northeastern cuisine as well that is known to be a perfect way to enjoy a meal that is cooked traditionally and it has a complete blend of the traditional interests. There is a bar here as well that offers its guest some very fresh blend of cocktails and fine cuisine and also the place overlooks the beautiful water of the Umiam Lake and the local handicrafts add to the grandeur of the place as well. Another popular café ambiance that is a part of the Center Point group is the Café Shillong that is a favourite among the visitors and the locals of Shillong alike. Conveniently located at the posh locality at the Laimukrah area in Shillong, the Café Shillong offers friendly service, great food and beverages and also the live music that sparkles your evenings here at Shillong – the Scotland of the East. The Café offers a grand parking place that is a short walk away from the Café Shillong Bed and Breakfast. A stay at the Center Point Hotel in Shillong is highly recommended for any visitor coming to Shillong who would want to pamper themselves with the luxurious stay.
Another popular stay option at Shillong is the Bonnie’s Guest House that is located at the Laban area near Shillong near the Civil Hospital area. This is a budget guest house that has neat and clean rooms that draws many visitors to the place as this is a budget and comfy guest house with boarding and fooding facilities. The Bonnie’s Guest house is located at the Laban area that is a place where most of the business communities of Shillong stays and this place is conveniently located to all the unique shops and establishments and even bars as well so that you can have a pleasant stay experience at the place. The room are located on the first and second floors respectively and as there are not many rooms at the place so your service is top notch and well attended on time at the place. The restaurant at the Bonnie’s Guest House in Shillong is a very popular one among the local people of Laban in Shillong as well and visitors who come here are also able to enjoy the services of the kitchen at the restaurant that is known to serve some delicious Chinese cuisine meals to the guests.
Another popular guest house in Shillong is the Sunrise Guest House that is again located at the Laban area in Shillong and this place is located at an elevation that provide fantastic views of the Laban area in Shillong. You will be enjoying a calm and peaceful stay here at the Sunrise Guest House in Shillong that is actually a villa that was built for the stay of the owners who later shifted abroad leaving the house under the care of an able manager and chef who cater to all the requirements of the people at the place. The Sunrise Guest House has a total of five rooms that are very elegantly designed and has a beautiful wooden finish across each room and visitors can get to admire the lush green surroundings of the lawn that is present at the entrance of the place. The inhouse kitchen at the Sunrise Guest House in Shillong is known to churn out very delicious local cuisine and you will be enjoying the beauty of the place. Take time to enjoy your stay at the Sunrise Guest House in Shillong and get pampered with the services offered to you here.
Coming to another popular guest house in Shillong that is called as the Ashiana Guest House that is located right opposite to the Sunrise Guest House in Shillong and this is under the operations of OYO rooms and the bookings here are done in the OYO app itself. You will find this place to be a budget and pocket friendly place to halt and the rooms are quite big for the prices offered here in Shillong and once room has two separate double rooms with a bathroom at the centre and thus one room here at the Ashiana Guest House in Shillong can accommodate upto 4 guests easily and this served to an economical option to stay. There is an inhouse kitchen at the Ashiana Guest House in Shillong and you can get to enjoy delicious meals and snacks at the place. The place overlooks the area of Laban in Shillong and once you get to stay at this place you are rest assured to enjoy one of the very memorable stay options at the budget prices here at Shillong in Meghalaya. Enjoy your stay here at the Ashiana Guest House and spend the evening at leisure at the Scotland of the East.
other popular guest house that is located at Shillong city is that of the Nalgare’s Guest House that is located the Laban area and this is a budget guest house as well with room tariffs starting at INR 2500. The guest house is spread across 3 floors and the ground floor is the reception cum kitchen and parking and the rooms are located at the first and second floors here in Shillong. There are two categories of rooms at the guest house wherein one is a double room and another is the triple room and the are 3 double rooms and 2 triple rooms across each floor taking the total room quantity at the Nalgare’s guest house at Shillong to 10. The rooms are very neat and clean without a large king sized bed and a single bed for the triple rooms and the bathroom is well maintained and equipped with all the modern bath amenities. You will be enjoying a homely atmosphere here at the Nalgare’s Guest House in Shillong and also can order your meals at the room itself and the place is known to serve some very famed Bengali cuisine as many of the guests who come to Shillong are from Bengal and they prefer to stay here.
Another good quality guest house at the Laban area in Shillong is the Shillong Guest House that is located close to the Bonnie’s Guest House in Shillong and this is a budget property for guests coming to Shillong. The place is located conveniently near the Laban market area and the place overlooks the vast valleys of Shillong in Meghalaya. The place is located near the Presbyterian higher secondary school in Laban in Shillong and it is a good place to enjoy sightseeing, recreation and food here in Shillong. This is again a budget guest house and so not many rooms are present across this guest house area that makes it an ideal way to enjoy your stay at the Shillong Guest House in Meghalaya. The place is having an inhouse kitchen and so your meals are served fresh and you can enjoy a variety of cuisine here at the Shillong Guest House as well. Take time to sit and relax at the property and admire the beauty of the Shillong city where you can order your favourite food and sit down with a glass of wine at the balcony of your room here in Shillong.
Coming to a few more properties for stay at Shillong then a few noteworthy places to be mentioned at the Laimukrah area in Shillong is the LRH Challet that is a comfortable and deluxe hotel at budget prices offered to guests. The LRH Challet is spread across a beautiful campus area and one very good thing about this place is that even though it is located at the heart of Shillong city at the Laimukrah area, yet there is ample space for car parking at the place that allows guests to have a nice and relaxed stay without having to worry about your vehicle. The LRH Challet at Shillong is again a small property that has on offering about 10 rooms for its guest and this allows guests to have a nice stay experience at the place. The rooms are very ornately decorated that allows guests to enjoy their stay at the LRH Challet at Laimukrah in Shillong. There is an in-house kitchen at the place as well and you will get to savour some very delicious cuisine and meals at the place that allows you to savour the real taste of Shillong as well.
In case you are looking out for a real and nice budget place to halt and you are not ready to compromise on the neatness and cleanliness of the hotel rooms then the best place to stay at the Laimukrah area in Shillong is that of the Sunflower Guest House that is located near the place and one can get to enjoy the various views of the Shillong city at this hotel. You will like to stay at this place in Shillong as it is known to offer many spacious rooms that are quite neat and clean and all at budget prices. Take time to enjoy the place and the place is not very elaborate but a good place for a night’s halt that allows guests to enjoy the calm of the place. The place doesn’t have an inhouse kitchen but guests can order their meals from a menu that is kept in the room and the food is brought from the restaurant that is located close to the place and so you do not need to worry about the food. In case you want to enjoy other food here then there are several options near the market closeby the hotel at Shillong as well.
If luxury is what you desire on your stay on your visit to Shillong then we present to you the Hotel Polo Towers in Shillong that is one true 4 Star experience hotel located in the heart of Shillong city. When you speak to anyone about the star experience in Shillong city then one name that will surely come up in everybody’s mind is that of the Polo Towers Shillong and this property has been constantly rate as one of the best hotels over the last 15 years in Shillong. This particular hotel in Shillong is often referred to as the Shillong icon and it is a perfect choice for business visitors and tourists alike who come to Shillong to enjoy their stay here. Located at the Oakland road, the property is one of the most centrally located properties in Shillong and it has unique banquet facilities like the Den and Darbar and also the polo room as well. The Polo Towers is a perfect marvel when it comes to enjoying the signature hospitality of Shillong and the place provided for exclusive venues that are ideal for grand celebrations here at the Scotland of the East. The various facilities provided to the guests at the Hotel Polo Towers in Shillong are flat 12% discount on bookings and much more.
King sized beds and twin beds are available for guests, Ac and Non Ac rooms, Room service, RO water on complimentary basis, packed meals, Free wi-fi, exclusive services and bonus discounts for members, fitness centre, daily housekeeping, 24 hours room service, great location, safety lockers, travel desk, Spa, mini bar, etc. and a host of other amenities for guests to enjoy their perfect stay here in Shillong. Coming to the room categories at the Polo Towers in Shillong, the rooms here are categorized into Premier rooms, boutique rooms, executive suites and presidential suites. The premier room category at the Hotel Polo Towers in Shillong has an area of about 200 sq. ft. and the accommodation here comes with various amenities like AC, high speed Wi-Fi and TV for guests to enjoy. The boutique rooms at this hotel in Shillong are the most stylish ones in the city that are spacious and have one queen sized bed that provide all the elements of contemporary design and state of the art facilities. These boutique rooms at the Polo Towers exude the heritage of Shillong city through its various elements of luxury.
Coming to the executive rooms at the Polo Towers, these rooms are for the upwardly business travellers who come to Shillong and these large suites feature separate space for business and private dining. Visitors who are on business trips can enjoy their stay as well and conduct their daily business meetings from the executive suites at the Hotel Polo Towers in Shillong itself. The Presidential suite at the hotel Polo towers is again for the VIPs and the business travellers who come to the city to conduct their business meetings and the place has hosted various celebrities who have visited Shillong and these suites feature separate bedroom and living rooms. Coming to the dining options at the Hotel Polo Towers in Shillong there are two deluxe restaurants and one pub along with a bakery inside the premises of the hotel that allow guests to savour some very fine cuisine at the place. Ginger is one of the most acclaimed multi cuisine restaurants in Shillong that is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong and this restaurant provides a range of delectable and delicious cuisine for the guests to enjoy. Visitors who come to Shillong can get to enjoy the authentic Chinese, traditional and Indian dishes at this restaurant.
The Sky Grill is another of the very famous places to dine in Shillong and this is Shillong’s only dining venue that serves a range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian barbecue dishes that makes it a must visit in Shillong. The Irish Pus is a signature pub in Shillong that serves the guests a wide array of local and international beverages that guests coming to Shillong can enjoy. The place also provides a wide range of snacks and appetizers to guests to complement the drinks as well. The cupcake factory is the best bakery in Shillong that provides guests items for their sugar cravings. The absolute attraction at the Hotel Polo Towers in Shillong is the Spa that is known to provide its guests with a relaxed and rejuvenated experience. The life in a metro is a very hectic and stressed one with the various deadlines and the traffic jams. To beat the stress you can get to visit the Zen Spa at the Polo Towers in Shillong to enjoy a well deserved break from your mundane daily activities. The Spa here in Shillong is known to provide a range of body massage, facial massage, body wrap, etc. The other facilities to guests include facial, head and foot treatment, aroma therapy, full body treatment, etc.
When it comes to banquets and meeting rooms at the Hotel Polo towers in Shillong then there are 3 options to choose from on your stay here and these are the Polo Rooms, the Durbar and the Dan Board room. The Polo room is one of the best banquet halls in Shillong that is having an area of about 500 sq. ft. and the place is ideal to host a wide variety of corporate events, boardroom meetings, symposiums, etc. This offers a seating capacity of 40 and the Polo rooms at Shillong is equipped with a wide variety array of technical amenities. Another nice place is the Durbar that serves to be an ideal place for hosting the wedding ceremonies at the Polo Towers in Shillong. This is a lavish wedding venue in Shillong and is ideal for hosting wedding ceremonies, receptions and parties and other social events as well. The Durbar Hall spread across an area of 2300 sq. ft and it can accommodate about 300 guests. Another nice place here at the Polo towers in Shillong is the Den Board room that is spread across an area of 200 sq. ft. and this place is perfect to host board meetings, business events and conferences. This is a U-Shaped structure and can accommodate about 10 guests at a time for their meetings.
One fine name that comes to mind when it comes to accommodations in Shillong is the Blue Berry Inn that is another of the mid end deluxe properties that is located at the heart of Shillong city near the Governor’s residence area in Shillong and this place has been known to accommodate guests coming to Shillong over the past decade. This is a beautiful property to halt and guests from all across the World come to enjoy their stay here at the Blue Berry Inn in Shillong. The Blue Berry Inn in Shillong is located on the Rita road that is near to the Police Bazar area in Shillong and this is a luxurious property that is equipped with all the smart amenities. The rooms at this hotel in Shillong are well furnished and spacious and the interiors of the rooms speak of royalty. The décor inside the rooms at the Blueberry Inn in Shillong is very inviting and is designed to fit the environment across the beautiful city of Shillong. The various essential amenities are found across the rooms and the delightful work and leisure was at the Blueberry Inn in Shillong is to make the stay comfortable for guests.
The various amenities to be found at the Blue Berry Inn in Shillong are that of room ventilation, complimentary breakfast, laundry service, 24×7 service and kitchen, parking, TV, refrigerator, hair dryer, dining area, bar, queen sized bed, room heater, power backup, ac, etc. The various tourist attractions near the Blue Berry inn at Shillong are the Police Bazar, Ward’s Lake, Saints Cathedral, Williamson Sangma State museum, Mary’s Help of Christians Cathedral, etc. Another Budget Hotel that is a must to be mentioned that is located right at the Police Bazar area in Shillong is that of Hotel Blue Pine and this is located at the state capital of Meghalaya and it is a magical trip to Shillong driving along the hairpin turns, the sleepy hills, the tropical forest cover and the pineapple plantations, banana groves and the bamboo clumps. Shillong is located at a height of 8000m above MSL and the place is flanked by the tea shops and cottages that are present along the hill sides.
Shillong was made the capital of erstwhile Assam as the British officials who worked here found the place to resemble that of the ones in Scotland and so they found the place to be their home with the rolling hills and pleasant cool climate. To enjoy the stay at this beautiful hill city of Shillong you can choose to halt at the Blue Pine Hotel in Shillong that is a budget and pleasant stay option here in Shillong. The various facilities at the Blue Pine Hotel in Shillong are free Wi-fi, free parking, room service, doctor on call, laundry service, 24×7 security, travel desk, etc. There are 15 rooms available for the stay of guests at the Blue Pine Hotel in Shillong and you can get to explore the vibrant market of the Police Bazar area across the hotel. Another popular Hotel at the Police Bazar area in Shillong is that of the Blue Mount Hotel that is located at the Police Bazar area as well. This popular hotel that is a budget priced hotel is located at the Jail road area in Shillong near the Police Bazar in Shillong and this is another of the popular stay options in Shillong.
Another nice and budget hotel that is located near the Police Bazar area in Shillong is the Eee Cee hotel in Shillong that is known to be a place that has been hosting tourists from all over the World for the past twenty years here in Shillong. Along with boarding and lodging facilities, the Eee Cee Hotel in Shillong has a restaurant, bakery, Pub lounge and conference hall as well. Conveniently located at the heart of Shillong city, the rooms at the Eee Cee Hotel in Shillong are well appointed with wooden floors, tiled baths and high quality bathrooms. The rooms and baths at the Eee Cee Hotel in Shillong are having TV, Wi-Fi, hot water facilities, German fittings, complimentary toiletries, etc. As the place is located at the main market area in Shillong so it is conveniently close to the taxi stand and bus stand. Also the various banks and ATMs are located close to the Eee Cee Hotel itself. The various other facilities at the Hotel Eee Cee in Shillong are a multi cuisine restaurant, Bar, Bakery and snack counter and a retail store for gifts as well. The hotel also offers complimentary breakfast, backup generator, currency exchange, parking, garden, room service, travel counter, laundry services, recreation, etc.
Another popular hotel in Shillong is the Rainbow Hotel that is located at the GS Road at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. This is another of the budget hotels in Shillong for guests coming to Shillong and this is a popular place among the tourists coming to Shillong and it is known for Shopping and the excellent restaurants at the place as well. The best thing about this Rainbow Hotel in Shillong is that, the place can accommodate guests in single, double, triple and quad stay options as well. It is a very homely environment at the place and the rooms are well furnished that allows the guests to get the feel of a homely environment. The Rainbow hotel in Shillong has been operational for more than fifteen years now and this will be evident when you visit the place and you will see that the service personnel at the hotel are very efficient, courteous and professional at the same time. The staff at the Rainbow Hotel in Shillong come from diverse geographical backgrounds and so they speak two or more languages, the other various facilities offered to guests at this hotel are airport transfers, backup generator, breakfast, complimentary newspaper, garden, doctor on call, room service, restaurant, etc.
The Pinewood Hotel in Shillong is located at the European Ward along the Rita road in Shillong in Meghalaya and this is perhaps the oldest structures in Shillong that was built by a Swiss couple in the late 19th century. This is one of the heritage hospitality properties in Shillong that is preferred by all the patrons coming to Shillong as well as the locals who love to come in the evenings to spend their time over a drink and enjoy the fine cuisine that is served at this hotel in Shillong. The backdrop of the Pinewood hotel in Shillong is constructed entirely with the Burma Teak and Seasoned Red Pinewood and there are 8 cottages at the hotel that are spread across 8 acres of prime land and the place can accommodate around 100 guests. The Pinewood Hotel is located conveniently at a distance of about 2 km from the Shillong bus stand and this is one of the finest first class hotels in Shillong that provide all the modern amenities and perfect service to all its guests. Located at the capital city of Shillong in Meghalaya, the Pinewood is one of the preferred stay options of the various guests coming to Shillong.
Shillong is a beautiful city that offers a plethora of breath taking view of waterfalls, whistling woods, scenic roads and beautiful valleys. The various amenities offered to its guests at the Pinewood hotel in Shillong are airport transfers, ATMs, Backup generator, complimentary breakfast, business conference rooms, complimentary newspapers, doctor on call, garden, 24 hour check in and check out, recreation, wedding hall, etc. Another budget hotel that is a pride of Shillong – the Scotland of the East is the Orchid Hotel that is located on the Polo road at the Polo Bazar area at Shillong in Meghalaya. This beautiful and yet budget hotel is located a short distance away from the 18 hole Shillong golf course that is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The distinguishing part of this hotel in Shillong is that the owner is a lady and she is the person who professionally manages this hotel that speak about the matrilineal society of Meghalaya.
This practice if followed by the Khasi and Jaintia people of Meghalaya wherein the family lineage is taken from the mother’s side and the head of the household is the lady. She is entrusted with the entire responsibility of running the household and she is also incharge of the various operations of the household. The family ancestry is passed on from the family to the youngest daughter and she is entrusted with the responsibility of providing for her aged parents and unmarried siblings. The women folks in Shillong run most of the business establishments and also hold important positions in the government offices of Shillong as well. The various facilities offered to guests at this hotel in Shillong are airport transfers, ATM, backup generator, complimentary breakfast, exhibition space, health club, garden, doctor on call, laundry facility, travel desk, CCTV, 24 hours security, attached bathroom with modern amenities, etc.
Another stay option is the orchid lake resort that is located near the Umiam Lake at the Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya and this is a very beautiful tourist place in Shillong. This property is run by the MTDC and it is a very nice place to halt by the banks of the Umiam Lake near Shillong and visitors coming to this place can get to enjoy the various water sports activities that are conducted here at the place. This orchid lake resort near Shillong is a budget friendly hotel with deluxe accommodation facilities. The rooms at this resort near Shillong are well furnished regular and deluxe rooms and the rooms are airy and have all the modern amenities as well. The facilities at the rooms at the Orchid Lake resort near Shillong are colour TV, Intercom, attached bath with hot and cold running water, etc. Once you visit Shillong you must not miss out on the opportunity to explore the game of Shillong Teer. This is an ancient betting game of Shillong where in the bet is placed on a game of archery and the numbers of the day.
This is one of the most popular traditional games of Shillong that is held everyday at the Polo Grounds in Shillong. Around 60 traditional archers assemble at the big fields at the Polo Grounds in Shillong and the place is surrounded by ticket booths and shops that sell alcoholic beverages. They shoot at the boards that contain the numbers of the day and this happens at 4.15PM sharp and the shooters begin to aim and shoot for 4 minutes. The officials count the number of arrows and the last two numbers of the total number is the winning number of the day. Once you are in Shillong then you must take the opportunity to go and visit the Polo Grounds in Shillong to witness this game of Shillong Teer. Another nice place to halt in Shillong is the Embassy Hotel that is located at the Guru Singh Saheb market complex at the GS Road. This is a budget hotel that is located at the centre of Shillong city and it is known for the comfortable stay and homely food.
This is another of the oldest hospitality properties in Shillong that began its operations in 1994 and the place has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and they provide a wide range of hospitality services for guests coming to stay here. The Hotel Embassy in Shillong is located at walkable distances from the heart of the city and the restaurant here is known to serve delicious meals of Indian and Chinese cuisine. Outdoor catering for various events are also organized at this hotel in Shillong and the restaurant opens in the evening and stays open till midnight. Another nice property in Shillong is the Boulevard Hotel that is located along the Thana road and the Shillong GPO near the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The various room categories at the Boulevard hotel in Shillong are the deluxe rooms, superior rooms and the executive rooms and most of these rooms are priced on budget that are pocket friendly and guests can avail a host of facilities that are provided to them here at the Boulevard Hotel at Shillong in Meghalaya.
Perhaps one of the most deluxe properties near Shillong located at the banks of the Umiam Lake at Barapani is the Ri Kynjai resort that is one of the most beautiful and serene properties one can halt on their visit to Shillong. The name of this hotel in Shillong translates from Khasi to the land of serene environs. This beautiful hotel property is located at the backdrop of the East Khasi Hills and it is set amidst the majestic pines, lush paddy fields and the small organic tea garden. The architecture of this place is inspired and derived from the original Khasi thatch huts, that is a symbolic presence of the roofs of the cottages. This unique resort reflects the mark of the Khasi hospitality, the eco-centric culture, the captivating architecture that are combined with the modern convenience and luxury. Each cottage and room is designed with its orientation to the east that captures the view of the Umiam Lake and the rays of the sun here at Shillong in Meghalaya.
The various room categories at the Ri Kynjai Serenity by the Lake near Shillong are Superior rooms, Supreme rooms and the vernacular hybrid cottages. The total number of rooms at the resort are 12 that are elegantly designed individual cottages and the various facilities in these rooms are reading lamps, wake up call, Wi-Fi, AC, climate control, DVD player, etc. The various activities to be enjoyed at this beautiful resort near Shillong are health club, swimming pool and Spa. The other notable facilities provided to guests at the Ri Kynjai Serenity by the Lake near Shillong are ATM, Banquet, complimentary breakfast, coffee shop, conference hall, parking, restaurant, room service, Spa, etc. Another nice hotel that is located at the Thana road near the Police Bazar area at Shillong in Meghalaya is the Alpine Continental Hotel that is located at the heart of Shillong city within a walkable distance of the various businesses, shopping arcades and the restaurant areas.
This place is surrounded by the beautiful landscape view and the hotel is equipped with all the modern amenities and these are desired by the various travelers coming to Shillong. This is a mid priced hotel that offers its guests fine hospitality and whatever be your needs, it is provided to at this Alpine Continental Hotel in Shillong. Everything you look for is present here and the grand lobby area welcomes you to this hotel in Shillong. There are a total of 24 rooms at this hotel that are designed keeping in mind the luxury needs of the travelers coming here to Shillong. The room categories at the Alpine Continental Hotel in Shillong are the Standard Rooms, Executive rooms and the Suite rooms. The facilities offered to guests at this hotel in Shillong are room service, health club, business facilties, airport transfers, parking, coffee shop, laundry, recreation, room heater, smoking rooms, TV, AC, wake up call, Swimming pool, sports, etc.
Another 2 star category hotel in Shillong is the Silk Route hotel that is equivalent to a 2 start hotel coming to the facilities it is known to provide to its guests. This beautiful hotel is located at the heart of Shillong city and this beautiful hotel is located is known as the land of the eternal beauty and abode of peace and happiness. The spell bound beauty of the capital city of Shillong is a dream for everyone who come from the various parts of the country and abroad as well. The state of Meghalaya whose capital is Shillong is one of the most amazingly beautiful state that is bounded by lush greenery and tall hills. The city of Shillong is surrounded by the tall mountains, flora and fauna of the rare varieties and also the waterfalls and the majestic rivers that flow across the place. The silk route hotel is located at the Keating road near the Police Bazar area in Shillong city and the hotel is a premier property that is located at the heart of Shillong city. The various room categories at the Silk Route Hotel in Shillong are the executive rooms, luxury rooms, executive suite rooms and the silk route suite. The general facilities made available to guests at this hotel in Shillong are breakfast services, garden, restaurants, family friendly, airport transfers, parking, safety deposit box, security guard.
The in room facilities at the silk route hotel in Shillong are complimentary newspaper, AC room, TV, attached bath, wake up call, bath tub, etc. The hotel also provide free wifi to all its guests coming here and various payment mode are made available to guests for their convenience. The total number of rooms at this in Shillong is around 30 and each room is known to provide various facilities to all its guests. Another very popular hotel in Shillong is the Majestic hotel at the Polo market area in Shillong. This is a unique boutique hotel in Shillong and whether you are in for business or pleasure, this hotel is considered to make your stay pleasant and comfortable for you to enjoy a perfect vacation. The majestic hotel at Shillong in Meghalaya is a new experience boutique hotel that provides professional service in a building that has 14 rooms and suites that satisfy the individual needs of the guests coming to stay here. Whether you are here for business or an a vacation the staff at this hotel on Shillong ensure to take care of all your needs to make your stay here a very memorable one.
The staff at the Majestic Hotel in Shillong are ready to go the extra mile to make your stay comfortable, impeccable and memorable at the same time. Shillong is known to be a city that has cold and wet climate and usually a cloudy weather (no wonder Meghalaya is called as the Abode of city very warm and friendly. The people of Shillong are known to be proud of their traditions, culture and heritage and also their language as well and this is what makes Shillong a very desired tourist place to visit. Shillong is a beautiful city that is free of litter and it is because of this that the people take pride in the cleanliness of the city and you will love to explore across the laid back streets of Shillong that speak about the rich era of the British Raj in Shillong. The various room facilities at the Majestic Hotel in Shillong are safe deposit boxes, beauty services, airport transfers, recreation, complimentary newspaper, backup generator and the various in room facilities are room heater, complimentary toiletries, western fittings, etc.
Another popular hotel located at the Keating road in Shillong is the Mi Casa Hotel that is a 2 Star category hotel in Shillong. This nice hotel is surrounded by the attractions and entertainment in Shillong city and in case you are visiting Meghalaya and Shillong for the first time then this is one of the very attractive places for you to stay and enjoy the surroundings across Shillong. This beautiful Hotel in Shillong offers its guests various sights, sounds and tastes that are an elegant way to live across the place. This beautiful property located at the heart of Shillong city and it offers 30 rooms for its guests along with an elegant suite and the best in class hospitality for its guests. The place has something to offer to any visitor and it is surrounded by the beautiful World Class history centres, museums, cultural connoisseurs and offers the beautiful parks, lakes and waterfalls of Shillong. The mission at the Mi Casa Hotel in Shillong is to provide guests with the highest quality of standards and commitment. The various room categories at this hotel in Shillong are Double Bedded Room, Super Deluxe room, Executive room, Superior executive room and Suite room.
Another nice property near Shillong at the Upper Shillong Mylliem area is the Pine Hill Homestay that is a fairly new property that overlooks the vast plains and valleys of Shillong and this is just a little ahead of the Shillong Peak area that is the highest point in the East Khasi Hills district area. The Pine Hill Homestay is a mix of deluxe rooms and tented accommodations and the property is a try out for the various family goers to Shillong and visitors can get to enjoy the vast area and natural surroundings across the place. The Pine Hill Homestay is run by a couple with the owner lady being a local Khasi lady and the husband who is a Punjabi person and they have a team of dedicated staff who cater to the needs of the various guests and ensure to make their stay at Shillong a very comfortable and memorable one at the same time. You will love the entire atmosphere across the Pine Hill Homestay near Shillong and guests coming here are all thrilled to enjoy the calm of the place where they can get to enjoy the evening bonfires and barbecue.
Another popular 2 Star category hotel located at the KL complex opp. to the Neepco office in Shillong in Meghalaya is the Knight Inn hotel that offers a wide variety of amenities to its guests. The Knight Inn Hotel staff are always delighted to welcome their guests to Shillong and this hotel caters to the tourists and business class travellers coming to Shillong at the same time. This particular Hotel in Shillong was built with a sole aim to bridge the gap when it came to hospitality and to provide guests to Meghalaya with a comfortable and pleasant stay on their visit. The staff at the Knight Inn hotel in Shillong understand the true value of hospitality and they try their best to meet the expectations of the guests coming to Shillong. With a motto oriented towards the satisfaction of the customers, the Knight In hotel at Shillong provides a wide range of facilities to its guests like money exchange, doctor on call, hotel packages and other facilities that are oriented towards customer satisfaction. The other in room facilities at the Knight Inn hotel in Shillong are attached modern bath, bottled water in rooms, AC, etc.
Another very popular hotel in Shillong is the Assembly Hotel that is located at the Khyandaital area at the Police Bazar in Shillong. This is a 2 Star property that offers the best in class hospitality to guests that are desired by visitors and the hotel in Shillong reflects the true traditional work and hospitality at the Himalayan foothills. So whether you are visiting Shillong on a family holiday or a business vacation, you can step into the Hotel Assembly in Shillong to make yourself feel at home. The amazing comfort offered to its guests at this hotel in everything you would want to experience on a holiday on your visit to Shillong and the moment you step foot at this hotel you will be welcomed in a traditional Khasi style with the words Khublei and this denotes both gesture of welcome and respect to the Abode of the Clouds. A stay at this hotel in Shillong is sure to be one of the most memorable experiences on your visit to Shillong and Meghalaya. This is a budget priced hotel and so the room tariffs here are pocket friendly. The other facilities available for guests at this hotel in Shillong are doctor on call, garden, etc.
The various facilities that are organized here at this hotel in Shillong are Wedding services, complimentary breakfast, restaurant, express check in and check out, bottled water in rooms wake up call, complimentary toiletries, telephone in room, AC, attached bath, etc. Another popular hotel located at the Mirman complex at the GS road opposite to the UCO bank building in Shillong is the Serene Hotel that is another of the 2 Star category hotels in Shillong. The hotel is known to host guests from all across the World here at Shillong in Meghalaya that is a land of serene beauty and exquisite landscapes. This hotel in Shillong is located at the city centre and it is the epicentre of the Meghalayan culture, the beautiful valleys and the pleasant climate of the place as well that makes it an ideal destination to be visited all across the year. Located at the heart of Shillong city where most of the prominent tourist places are at close proximity, this place allows visitors to enjoy the true nature of the all the explorable places here in Shillong. The rooms at the serene hotel in Shillong are spacious and are subtly designed to meet the requirements of guests with neat intricate details.
The serene hotel offers its guests a cozy dining hall area for the intimate dining experience and it offers to you the most luxurious experience at most reasonable rates. You can enjoy the beautiful view of Shillong on your visit and prepare for a nice experience of shopping and exploring the places of interest across Shillong city. Get to visit the various local handicraft stores that are known to provide a mix of the various traditional bamboo handicrafts of Shillong and also there are a lot of eateries where you can get to enjoy a wide variety of cuisine that range from local, North Indian and Chinese. A must visit and try out are the stalls near the Police Bazar area that are setup in the evening time and these stalls sell some of the very delicious barbecue chicken recipes to its guests here. When you explore across this place from the Serene homestay in Shillong, you can take tourist busses and cars to get around the very beautiful parks, lakes and waterfalls and for the taste of culture you can attend the various museums and rock concerts that are held across Shillong city.
The Bed and Breakfast café in Shillong is one of the very nice and premier 2 Star category hotel to halt at one of the posh areas in Shillong viz. the Upper Lachumiere area in Shillong and this is a setup of an old British Era Bungalow that provides the feel of the heritage era of the British here in Shillong. The Café Bed and Breakfast offers visitors a quaint stay experience here in Shillong that is a 70 year old Bungalow that is providing a charming stay at the heart of Shillong city. Careful renovation has been done across this place that belonged to a local Kharpuria family and it boasts of a colourful character. The place offers modern hospitality to all its guests coming to Shillong and the place offers Wi-Fi, coffee stations, LED TVs, electric heaters, complimentary breakfast and in-house dining facilities. There is a nice garden at the front area of the Bungalow that provides a relaxing spot for the morning tea or the evening cocktails here in the heart of Shillong city at Upper Lachumiere.
The facilities available for guests at the Café Shillong Bed and Breakfast are backup generator, ATM, safe deposit box, front desk, breakfast services, cultural evenings, complimentary newspaper for guests, doctor on call, baggage storage, etc. Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Orchid Annex Hotel that is located near the Maiti Maidan opposite to the BSNL quarters at the Polo Grounds at Shillong in Meghalaya. This hotel in Shillong was opened to tourists in the year 2015 and since then the place has come a long way when it comes to hosting quality guests here in Shillong city. There are 18 beautiful and ornate room at this hotel in Shillong that are classified under 4 categories namely the executive, deluxe, corporate and suite rooms and these provide the best even service to their guests. This is a modern hotel that offers dynamic accommodation to its guests at affordable prices and the fresh and convenient room at the place offers a grand view of the city and green atmosphere.
Another popular stay option is the Lakkhotaa lodge guest house that is located at the Polo Hill area at Jaiwaw area in Shillong. This property in Shillong started as a luxury residence that was built with 9 guest rooms, dining hall, gym, lodge, restaurant and banquet hall has now been a very desired property for guests to halt here in Shillong. Even though the place provides the facilities of a big star hotel, yet the place is a small and so responding to the wishes to the guests quite diligently. The place was designed, built and decorated by the masters of Feng Shui practice who have kept in mind the aspects of the comfort, peace and harmony of the guests of the place. The rooms at the Guest House have large windows that allow the pace to be airy and to be filled with happiness of the visitors who come to stay here. The place is nature friendly as the management believes in reuse of the resources here and the best example is the efficient use of the energy at the place with the slowdown of the transfer of heat.
Another nice property for guests travelling to Shillong to halt is the Pine Borough hotel in Shillong that is located at the Thana Road near Police Bazar in Shillong. This is a very popular budget hotel in Shillong that is located at the heart of Shillong city and it is equipped with all the modern amenities that are desired by the traveler coming to Shillong. The hotel in Shillong offers single and double bed room options and visitors coming here can get to close the rooms according to their needs and budget. The rooms are very neat and clean and are elaborately decorated at the same time. Guests coming here can experience a comfortable stay in these well equipped room and the rooms have all the modern amenities. The various room categories at the Pine Borough Hotel in Shillong are Double Rooms, Suite rooms and family rooms. The various facilities at the hotel are complimentary newspaper, doctor on call, exhibit space, airport transfer, room service, backup generator, disabled facilities, health club, etc.
The Ashutosh Inn Hotel at Shillong in Meghalaya is a unique property that speaks of the heritage and the guests are welcomed with a smile and they feel a homely environment at this place. The place is known for its exquisite interiors right from the entrance, lobby and the corridor as well. The place has well ventilated and spacious rooms that have exclusive interiors done as well. The attendants at this hotel in Shillong are very professional and courteous and they cater to the needs of the guests coming here. The attendants at this hotel are very professional and courteous and you can be rest assured that you are in complete experienced hands who will provide you with all the facilities and services to make your stay here a very pleasant one. The restaurant at this hotel offers various multi cuisine specialty dishes and guests who do not want to leave the comfort of their rooms can plan to stay back and order in room service as well and the food is delivered fresh and hot to their rooms here in Shillong.
This is not a very big property and so the services are assured and prompt and this signifies the hospitality, comfort and hygiene that the guests can get to enjoy at this place. The hotel staff here in Shillong are completely focused about the guests comforts and needs. So don’t worry about quality and instead go and make your reservation at the Hotel Ashutosh Inn at Shillong. The various facilities offered to guests at this hotel in Shillong are recreation, doctor on call, complimentary breakfast, complimentary newspaper, laundry facilities, parking, ATM, power heater, AC, wake up call, TV, complimentary toiletries, attached bathroom, bath tub, etc. It is one of the best in class places to halt on your visit to Shillong if you want to enjoy your vacation and spend your time in utmost calm across the place. The food at the restaurant of this hotel in Shillong is known to be very homely and not too much spices are used in the preparations that allows the place to have a unique homely environment as well.
Another popular budget hotel located at the Thana road near the Police Bazar area in Shillong is the Eden Residency Hotel. This beautiful and yet budget hotel in Shillong is known to provide its guests with a very relaxed and refined atmosphere and this place is considered to be an outstanding pace to halt on your visit to Shillong in Meghalaya. Once you enter the premises of the hotel you will love the elegance of the place and the warm hospitality that is extended by the hotel staff to you. The hotel is budget pried and yet it offers its guests all the modern amenities and grand items to enjoy their stay here and a one to be remembered forever. The two room categories are the Standard Rooms and the Double Room and there are executive rooms and executive suites as well. The various services on offering are room service, wedding services, travel counter, exhibit space, doctor on call, newspapers, etc.
A hotel for the budget travelers and the backpackers to Shillong is the hotel that is located near the Shillong GPO at the GS Road in Shillong is the Lotus Hotel that is a very simple and yet old property to halt at Shillong. If you are on a budget and you are not fussy about the interiors and the facilities at the hotel and the price tag suits you then this is the place to be. There are standard rooms at this hotel in Shillong that offer guests basic and yet comfortable stay experience. The hotel provides sightseeing tours as well along with travel assistance. Fooding is not available at the hotel but the staff ensure to get the food from a nearby restaurant and served it to you at the convenience of your room itself. The facilities offered at this hotel in Shillong are travel desk, room service, front desk, backup generator, airport transfer, hot water, attached bath, dustbins, etc.
Another nice budget property to halt on your visit to Shillong is the Apsara Guest House that is located along the Tripura Castle Road in Shillong. This Guest house in located at a quaint and peaceful residential area that is having a fruit garden and a farmland as well. It is not rightly located along the highway and so it is a calm and peaceful place away from the noise and hustle and bustle of a market environment that allows guests coming to Shillong to enjoy a nice and quaint time at the place. The guest house offers complete privacy to and service assistance to its guests in a quiet neighborhood that is surrounded by nature. Apsara Guest House in Shillong provides spacious, clean and comfortable rooms to guests here in Shillong and the guest house in withing the city limits and not far away from the main city attractions and the various schools and markets are at close vicinity to the guest house itself. This guest house in Shillong is having the standard and deluxe rooms that are equipped with all the modern amenities and attached bath. Also there are Super Deluxe rooms and Triple bedded rooms as well. The various facilities at this hotel are recreation, safe deposit boxes, front desk, check in/out express, security guard, complimentary breakfast, airport transfer, etc.
This guest house is within the city limit and not far away from the city center and the various facilities are closeby to the guest house proximity. The guest house in Shillong is having standard and deluxe rooms that are equipped with all modern amenities and attached bath. Also there are Super Deluxe Rooms and Triple bedded room as well. The various facilities at this hotel are recreation, safe deposit boxes, front desk, check in/out, security guard, complimentary breakfast, airport transfer, etc. The in room facilities at the Apsara Guest House in Shillong are wake up call, TV, AC, complimentary toiletries, safe deposit lockers, bathrobes, climate control, room heater, etc. A health club is also present inside the premises of the Apsara Guest House in Shillong that provide the various modern equipment for the workout of the guest. There are a total of 15 rooms at this guest house in Shillong and once you check in at this place in Shillong there are certain cancellation policies to be kept in mind that can be checked at the hotel reception.
Located at the Police Point at the Laimukrah area in Shillong is the Highway Inn Hotel that is another of the very nice budget hotels to halt in Shillong and even though it is budget priced, the hotel offers decent, neat and clean facilities along with basic modern amenities for all the guests. Guests who come here can enjoy the place in a relaxing holiday environment and they can match the budget of a best value hotel that is an ideal option for low cost travelers coming to Shillong. The area has 22 spacious and clean rooms the Highway Inn Hotel and there are all with maintained attached bath, basic modern amenities and provide quality service to its guests. The various other facilities offered to guests at this hotel in Shillong are room service, disabled facilities, complimentary newspaper, backup generator, guard, wedding services, doctor on call, ATM/Banking, energy saving, exhibit space, etc. Other facilities at this hotel in Shillong are wake up call, attached bath, complimentary toiletries, safe deposit locker, etc.
Another budget hotel in Shillong is the Elgin Hotel that is again located near the Police Bazar area in Shillong. As we have clearly seen that there are several hotel properties across the Police Bazar area because this is the main market area of the place and so many visitors come to visit the Police Bazar area. The Elgin Hotel at Shillong has been once of the pioneers in the hospitality industry across the city and it has over 2 decades of experience in hosting guests from all over the World here in Shillong. One prime USP of the place is the location of the hotel that is at close proximity to the bus stand and the Wankhar museum and offcourse the Police Bazar area in Shillong and another USP is the cost of the rooms that are budget priced and it offers stay across various categories of rooms at budget prices that start at INR 700 per room that is the standard room and the other room categories are Semi Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Triple Bedded rooms, Non AC room, four bedded rooms and even 7 bedded rooms for families.
The various facilities offered to guests at the Elgin Hotel in Shillong are parking, wedding services, business facilities, amazing interiors, airport transfers, secretarial services, complimentary breakfast, front desk, room service, etc. The in-room facilities offered to guests at this hotel in Shillong are attached bathrooms, bottled water in room, satellite TV, deposit safe, climate control, room heater, AC, Bathrobes, complimentary toiletries, etc. Another Budget priced as well as deluxed priced hotel in Shillong that is again located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong is the Zara residency hotel that is known to offer various facilities to guests that allow them to enjoy the vast bounties of nature all around Shillong city. One can come and stay at the Zara Residency at Shillong and get to enjoy their pampered stay here at the budget prices based on the quality of the room. The room categories at this hotel are deluxe rooms, deluxe rooms with breakfast, Breakfast and Dinner, executive suite with breakfast, executive suite with breakfast and dinner.
Another popular hotel in Shillong is the Sapphire Hotel near the Police Bazar area in Shillong. At Shillong, the sought after hill resort in India’s Northeast, the Sapphire Hotel is the best located luxury hotel at Shillong at budget prices. This is a strategically situated in the heat of the bustling and colorful capital, the bus terminus, taxi stand, bars and the travel counters. The various rooms at this hotel are well appointed that have all the modern amenities that provides a panaromic view of Shillong city. At Hotel Sapphire, guests are offered World class facilities and services that speak of the traditional warmth and hospitality of the people of Shillong. Be it a business traveler or a vacation goer, the Hotel Sapphire in Shillong will provide you the best in class amenities that will make your stay memorable on your visit to Shillong. There are two room categories at this hotel in Shillong that are the standard and the deluxe rooms and the various facilities offered to guests here are laundry service, room service, conference hall, parking, RO water, complimentary Wi-Fi, backup generator, etc.
Few other budget hotels in Shillong are the Ashmit Hotel, Marwari Basa Hotel, Indiana Hotel, Hill Top Chateau Hotel, Whispering pines hotel, Natraj Hotel, etc. Koshi Niwas Hotel, Meghalaya Hotel Shillong, Golden Pearl Hotel Shillong, Ashiana Hotel Shillong, Usha Hotel Hind Jalpan Hotel Shillong, Hideaway Heritage Hotel Shillong, Jasmine Orchid Hotel Shillong, Magnolia Hotel Shillong. Golf View Bed and Breakfast Hotel Shillong, Travelers Bed and Breakfast Hotel Shillong, Kaizan Bed and Breakfast Hotel Shillong, AM bed and breakfast hotel Shillong, etc. Another two star hotel in Shillong is the Lady Bird Hotel that is located near the Police Bazar area in Shillong. This is a beautiful hotel that is a unit of the Ariana estates that is a prime business area in Shillong. This is at close proximity from all the tourist attractions in Shillong including the shopping malls, restaurants, café and cinema halls. This is a unique ecofriendly property that uses various ecofriendly materials to adopt the housekeeping practices in Shillong. There are a total of 17 elegant rooms at the hotel classified under standard, executive and deluxe rooms.
Perhaps one name that would come to the mind of any person in Shillong when it comes to recommending the stay option for guests coming to visit Shillong in the Poinisuk Hotel that is known to be a pride of the city when it comes to luxury stay experience here in Shillong at Meghalaya. Located at the Lady Veronica lane at Laimukrah area in Shillong, the Poinisuk Hotel offers a wide range of ecofriendly stay option to guests and it is known for its heartwarming hospitality when it comes to various hotels and guest houses in Shillong. The place is known to provide heartwarming hospitality for business as well as leisure travelers coming to Shillong. The various well appointed rooms at the Hotel Poinisuk in Shillong boasts of complimentary amenities and assures a comfortable stay for all its guests. There are three room categories at this hotel in Shillong that are executive rooms, deluxe rooms and premier rooms. The various facilities to be found at this hotel in Shillong are backup generator, bar, gym, check in/out express, currency exchange, laundry service, booking service, etc.
Another important and nice hotel that is located at the Lewduh area near the Barabazar in Shillong is the Barbarak Inn hotel that is a nice and fine hospitality example. The Barbarak hotel in Shillong is located at the heart of Shillong city and it is close to the taxi stand that allows you to quickly access two of the most prominent and bustling market areas in Shillong viz the Barabazar and the Police Bazar areas in Shillong. The kitchen at this hotel in Shillong is called as the Cinnamon Kitchen and the place serves you 100% vegetarian cuisine that are very delicious and in case you are a traveler who prefer to dine on the veg cuisine then this is the perfect place to be for all of you. At the Barbarak Inn Hotel in Shillong, you can get to enjoy your stay at spacious self-contained rooms that are available across one to seven major rooms that are good for small and large groups at the same time. The various room categories at the Barbarak Hotel Inn in Shillong are standard rooms, luxury rooms, deluxe rooms, super deluxe rooms, three bedded rooms, four bedded rooms, elegant VIP suite, etc.
The various facilities at the Barbarak Inn in Shillong are restaurant, Swimming Pool, Room service, catering, safe deposit box, gym, coffee shop, etc. Another popular 3 Star hotel in Shillong is the Landmark Victoria Hotel that is a part of the Landmark Hospitality chain that has luxury 3 Star properties across various places in Northeast India. The design of this hotel in contemporary and this hotel provides a fascinating and colorful culture of the people of Shillong and Meghalaya. This Landmark Victoria Hotel in Shillong is a perfect blend of the old culture and the place is known to provide high end facilities to the guests that allow guests to enjoy their stay here in Shillong for a lifetime. The various room categories at the Landmark Victoria Hotel in Shillong are luxury rooms, corporate rooms and executive suite rooms. The facilities available are ATM, conference hall, family friendly, catering, sports, laundry facilities, express check in/out, gardens, etc.
Another 3 Star property at the Police Bazar area in Shillong is the Shaurya Inn Hotel. This luxury hotel in Shillong is known to offer cost effective and comfortable stay experience for guests here in Shillong. The hotel is located at a strategic location that makes it well connected to all the nook and corners of Shillong city and various modes of transport are available at the place that allows visitors to explore across Shillong city. The room service provided by the staff at the Shaurya Inn hotel is absolutely perfect and it is for the convenience of the guests coming here. The well designed room at this hotel provide the perfect stay experience for guests in Shillong and the rooms here have AC, quality furniture, Satellite TV, telephone, etc. Each room is accompanied by an attached bath that provides a constant supply of hot running water and guests can avail the facilities of travel desk at the place that allows other guests to go on various sightseeing destinations across Shillong – the Scotland of the East.
When you are looking for a very nice 3 Star property to halt at Shillong then you cannot miss out on the Habitat Guest House that is located at the Laimukrah area in Shillong. When you come for your vacation here in Shillong this place provide a lasting impression on the minds of the various travelers coming to Shillong in Meghalaya. The Habitat Shillong is located within the premises of the Asian confluence and this is to make the naming a little more special that provide the authentic flavor of the Northeast hospitality with the best class facilities. The various room categories at this guest house in Shillong are deluxe rooms, Double Deluxe rooms, single bedded rooms, four bedded rooms, etc. The various facilities at this guest house in Shillong are business facilities, health club, security guard, safe deposit box, room service, travel counter, complimentary newspaper, etc. The various in room facilities to be enjoyed by guests at this guest house in Shillong are wake up calls, climate control, bottled water in rooms, hair dryers, satellite TV, complimentary newspaper, Wi-Fi, safe deposit box, arcade room, heath club, sports, etc. The various tourist attractions near Shillong are also at close proximity to this hotel and you can explore them from this place.
Another popular guest house property that is located at the Dhankheti area at the Malki point in Shillong is the Eldorado Guest House that is equivalent to a 3 Star property. This is one of the very nostalgic places to stay in Meghalaya at Shillong and the place offers an amazing stay experience to all its guests. This place is home to innumerable vistas and visitors to this place are always thrilled to enjoy their experience at the place. Truly worth a visit on your tour of Shillong, it provides an amazing stay experience for all its guests. The various room categories at this guest house in Shillong are the semi deluxe rooms and the deluxe rooms. The other facilities for guests at this guest house in Shillong are safe deposit box, front desk, elevator, recreation, business facilities, exhibit space, arcade room, business facilities, exhibit space, garden, parking, Wi-Fi, etc. The Heritage Club Tripura Castle is arguably one of the most sought after properties for tourists coming to Shillong who want to experience a deluxe hotel stay experience. Located at the comfort of the Clive Colony, this is a homage to the World’s second longest continued Royal line. The place provides splendid view of the peaks of Meghalaya and this landmark hotel is located at the prime tourist area in Shillong.
Another popular Hotel in Shillong that falls under the 3 Star category is the M-Crown Hotel that is located at the Marba Hub at the Police Bazar area at Shillong in Meghalaya. The M Crown is a premier boutique hotel in Shillong that is an accomplished blend of luxury. This premier 3 Star Hotel is located at the premier business hub of Shillong city at the Police Bazar area and the hotel is located at the top floor of the Marba Hub that is the largest and most enjoyed shopping center at Shillong city. A stay at the M Crown hotel at Shillong is sure to provide any visitor with the option of avant grade with it multi inducements and unparalleled choice. At the Marba Hub in Shillong one can find leading fashion brands, restaurants, gaming and salon parlors and guests are sure to love to spend their time at this hotel on their visit to Shillong. This beautiful hotel in Shillong is inspired to fraternize leisure holidaying and business travel at the same time.
The hotel is a perfect getaway for comfortable stay and at the same time it is renowned for buoyancy as well. The Hotel M Crown is your home in the Clouds and the place consists of elegantly designed rooms that are having eight suites as well that speak of luxury and exclusivity. The other executive and deluxe rooms at this hotel in Shillong also speak of finesse and repulse to naturally begin your day. On your stay at the M Crown hotel in Shillong you will learn to harmonize with nature and experience the World renowned rainfall of Meghalaya from the open roof of the Hotel M Crown and get to enjoy the tranquil of the place in undisturbed nights. The room categories at the M Crown Hotel in Shillong are Deluxe room, executive room and suite room. The other facilities to be found at this hotel in Shillong are conference hall, credit cards accepted, parking, room service, security guard, business facilities, Wi-Fi, bottled water, Satellite TV, reading lamps, toiletries, attached bath with custom fittings, etc.
Another popular budget stay hotel experience in Shillong is the Rockski Bed and Breakfast that is located at the Laitumkhrah area in Shillong. This budget hotel in Shillong is known to serve its guests with complimentary breakfast, AC and parking facilities along with transfers from the Umroi airport near Shillong. The place offers its guests with room service, front desk, 24 hours laundry service as well. The Rockski hotel is an amazing place to stay in Shillong and it is known for the warm hospitality and services that are extended by the staff members of the hotel. The rooms at this place in Shillong are quite spacious and each room offers a balcony with sit out areas. This place is located at one quaint corner of Shillong city and it is a very nice boutique hotel with quiet surroundings that is surrounded by nature and across the area across the place is not is a bustling city environment like the Police Bazar area. The rooms are quite neat and clean and also posh at the same time. Being located at the Laimukrah area in Shillong, you are at close proximity to all the restaurants and cafes. The place is highly recommended for its staff who go the extra mile to provide a comfortable and pleasant stay experience to its guests.
At the Tripura Castle in Shillong the main castle serves as the residence of the Royal Scion of the Royal Family of Tripura and this hotel in Shillong has been carefully designed to ensure the availability of the spacious old rooms that are decorated with the local art and traditional castle furnishings yet the modern furnishings add grandeur to the place. The Tripura Castle in Shillong keeps all aspects of the comforts and requirements of the guests and this includes a big parking place that is allowing all guests to enjoy their stay in complete peace. The Manikya hall is a 30 seating capacity conference toom that allows guests to host various events and corporate conferences. Also witness the presence at this luxury hotel in Shillong the Café Shillong heritage that is a must for anyone to experience the gourmet culture and modern day life of Shillong. This luxury guest house in Shillong offers its guests with breakfast and the other facilities offered to guests are bar, complimentary newspaper, parking, restaurant, Wi-Fi, TV Room, travel desk, reading lamps, Shower caps, etc.
Another great pace to stay around Shillong is the Banalari Pine Inn that is located at the Lower Cleve colony at the Dhnakheti area in Shillong. This property in Shillong is located at the highway off NH6 road and it is about a kilometer away from the famed Lady Hydari Park in Shillong and also 3km away from the Williamson Sangma State museum in Shillong. The accommodation options available here are across the standard and deluxe rooms and these laid back rooms at the place provide flat screen TVs, Wi-Fi and kettles in addition to the en-suite wet rooms with bucket showers. Some of the rooms here have balcony facility as well and also room service is available for guests as well. The amenities at this restaurant include a place that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also a wide parking space that is an utmost necessity for hotels in Shillong that provide the peace of mind for guests who come to Shillong with their own personal luxury vehicles. If you are looking for a luxury stay in Shillong one name that comes to mind after the various star category hotels at the place is that of the Windmere Resort.
The Windermere Resort provides various facilities to guests that include free Wi-Fi, parking, room service, bar, car rental service, local shuttle service, a restaurant that serves a wide array of cuisines, etc. This is a very well maintained and scenic resort that is away from the crowded area of Shillong and it is located on top of a hill. The rooms are luxurious and ae kept very neat and clean with attached toilet and bath and hot water available round the clock. The surroundings of the resort in Shillong have much of open space and you can go out to enjoy a nice morning walk across the place and at the night as the place is located atop a hill so one can get to see the bird’s eye view of Shillong city. The staff at this resort are well trained and are very cooperative and kind enough to accommodate the needs of the guests. The resort has an inhouse restaurant as well that obliges with all hygiene standards and it serves best quality and tasty food to all guests coming here at this resort in Shillong. The cuisine varies from North Indian, Chinese and Ala Carte menu.
Another budget stay guest house in Shillong is that of the White Rabbit Guest House in Shillong that provides a host of amenities to its guests. The White Rabbit guest house is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong and it is offering deluxe, clean and budget accommodations to guests coming here in Shillong. The rooms at the White Rabbit Guest House in Shillong are fitted with a wardrobe, a flat screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen and towel and the rooms can accommodate with 2 adult with the presence of an extra mattress. Another vey deluxe stay option in Shillong is the Woodstock farm house that is located at the Mylliem area in Upper Shillong that is located away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life at Shillong. The place is known to provide room service, front desk, full service laundry, kitchen that serves lip smacking cuisine to its guests. The staff at this place are a top USP who provide and attend to the needs of the guests coming here and they cater to the needs of the guests. The best part of this Woodstock farmhouse in Upper Shillong area is the location that spreads across a beautiful valley area and gets the feeling of being at a farmhouse and the rooms are very neat and well maintained.
The place serves as a pit stop on the way to Cherrapunji and the location speaks for itself. The room prices start at INR 5000 as the place falls under the deluxe category and the rooms have all the modern facilities available for guests that include room heater and hot water available across the day. Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Hotel Getaway and as the name suggests it is a nice place to get away on your visit to Shillong. This is a budget property that accommodates guests in the standard and deluxe category rooms that are priced fairly and one can get to enjoy the vast scenic views of Shillong city from the comfort of the hotel itself. You will love the ambiance of the ambiance of the place that is coupled with the efforts of the hard working staff who go the extra mile to accommodate the guests here. The inhouse restaurant is known to churn out some really fine cuisine that comprise of various meals for the guests here in Shillong.
Another very nice place to stay in Shillong is the Loft Executive Inn that is located at the Lower New Colony area at the Laimukrah area in Shillong. This nice executive Inn is having all the modern amenities and facilities and it is a good location for all around sightseeing, recreation, dining and getting around and all the same time. The Loft Executive Inn in Shillong offers various amenities like breakfast, food, restaurant, room service, nice atmosphere, bar, grand location, etc. The interiors of the Loft Inn at Shillong are very elegantly done and also the ambiance of the place is known to have a team of able staff who are always welcoming and accommodating at the same time. The place is also known to serve delicious food to its guests and the best part is that the food is not very expensive. The place is very well maintained and there is an option of choosing a room with balcony as well that is a very positive point. The rooms at the place are very neat and clean and spacious and the property is kept disinfected in a post COVID scenario option. Located away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life it is a quiet homely experience.
There is a small seating area as well that allows guests to spend a peaceful evening at this place in Shillong. The various other facilities that are offered to guests at the Hideaway Heritage are laundry service, 24×7 accessible kitchen, room ventilation, complimentary breakfast, parking facility, room service, Free Wi Fi, Geyser, kitchen, complimentary veg breakfast, hair dryer, fan, modern wardrobe, mirror, CCTV cameras along the corridor, etc. The various nearby attractions at the place include the war memorial, Ever Living museum, Lady Hydari Park, Shillong view point, etc. Another nice and deluxe property to stay on your visit to Shillong is the Hotel Jessica Residency that is located at the GS Road near the Shillong at the Garikhana area at Shillong in Meghalaya. This place is known to be a perfect place for sightseeing’s, recreation, dining and gathering near Shillong. This is known as the place that has AC rooms, located at a very good location close to the shopping area and easy to get out of Shillong and get to explore the various tourist locations across Meghalaya.
The place has an inhouse kitchen that is known to serve delicious food and guests will love the entire ambiance of the place of stay here in Shillong. The food here is elaborate at this hotel in Shillong and the room service is available as well that allows guests to order the food from the comfort of the home itself. The service might get a little slow because there are five floors across the place and the service boys do not use the lift and instead they keep climbing the stairs and so it is always advised for you to place your food order in advance so that the meal is delivered quickly to your room and that too hot and fresh. The hotel is located near the Police Bazar area in Shillong and so you have the access to the major tourist attractions of Shillong city from the place itself and the staff here are quite expert and they attend to all the needs of the guests here.
The hotel Hideaway Heritage is one of the most sought after properties to stay in Shillong when it comes under the budget category list because the rooms at this place are priced below INR 2000 per room per night. This beautiful place is located near the Risa Colony hills forest that is a clean and green cover in the quaint corner of Shillong city and visitors can stay away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life of Shillong at this place. This is a tastefully designed property that is located at the Upper Risa colony at Dhankheti in Shillong. The interiors of the place has been done with various colored themes and the rooms are bright with natural light coming in from direction across the windows here in Shillong. Also the room walls are painted with bright colors and also decorated with beautiful paintings that provide a very aesthetic view from the rooms here at this property in Shillong. The place is surrounded by lush greenery that makes your stay experience very peaceful and pleasant.
Another very nice stay option at Shillong in Meghalaya is the Arbour Inn that is located at the Mawkasang area in Shillong and this is a nice place to enjoy your stay and also get to enjoy the luxury at budget prices. This has been provided a rating of excellent by guests coming to visit the place and the place is known to be very good for sightseeing, recreation, shopping and getting around. The place is supervised and managed by the owners of the house who are a lovely couple and they ensure that there is no space for delay in service to all guests here. The interiors of the hotel is splendid and it is a very soothing experience to be here on your visit to Shillong and the owners of the place will take time to guide you how to explore the places of tourist interest across Shillong as well. The Arbour Inn at Shillong has an inhouse restaurant as well and the place serves delicious meals to its guests. The rooms are big and spacious so that you feel at comfort and the owners of the place take care of the guests just like their family members and so one is sure to enjoy their time spent here.
A good and comfortable stay experience in Shillong is the New Infinite Homestay that is a decent stay experience for all visitors coming to Shillong. This beautiful property is located at the prime hub of the Police Bazar area in Shillong and it is known to provide accommodation to guests with free Wi-Fi and flat screen TVs. Guests coming to this place in Shillong can enjoy their stay and get to enjoy the continental and buffet breakfast and the double rooms at the place have an electric kettle, flat screen TV and tea/coffee maker. This is basically a property that has been leased out to guests and the place is a cozy property that provides complete privacy to its guests. The place is known to provide a host of facilities to guests like pet friendly environment, Cable TV, Free Wi-Fi, AC, fitness center, etc. The place doesn’t have an inhouse restaurant but it is not much of a worry as being located at the prime tourist hub of the Police bazar area in Shillong, there are various local restaurants at the place that are known to provide guests with a wide variety of cuisine that are from the local cuisine as well as Chinese and North Indian as well.
Another popular stay option at Shillong is the New Imperial Homestay that is located at the Mawroh Mortar road in Umshing in Meghalaya. This is a nice homestay property that is located towards the North of Shillong City and this is a great location as well. The place is very neat and clean and the environment is serene and the place offers healthy breakfast to its guests as well. The staff members at this homestay in Shillong are young and very energetic and they cater to the needs of the various guests. This place is also good for backpackers coming to Shillong as well as it offers stay in dorm as well and the dorm is quite neat and clean along with the washroom and this is a fantastic place to stay at budget prices. This is one of the very amazing budget places to stay in Shillong and the guest house offers complimentary breakfast that is a very nice breakfast along with hard boiled eggs. It is located near the NEHU campus area in Shillong and close to the Polo Grounds in Shillong as well.
Another famed place to stay in Shillong that is also a budget category hotel is the Island Park Residency that is located near the Police Station, Thana Road at Shillong in Meghalaya. The place is located in the heart of Shillong city and so it has a great location and it is at close proximity to the various restaurants and cafes at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The place is known to provide free parking, complimentary breakfast, great location, free Wi-Fi on campus as well. This is one of the very neat and well maintained property in Shillong. It is a short 10 minute walk from the Police Bazar area and so you will have access to all the properties that are located at close proximity to the place. The hotel offers parking that is a great thing to be found here in Shillong and also room service as well. The place in Shillong has an inhouse restaurant at the place and it is known to serve guests with some of the very nice and delicious cuisine that are served hot and fresh.
Another very popular stay option in Shillong is the Shillong Guest House that is located at the Laban area in Shillong. This is a budget priced guest house and it offers basic modern amenities to all guests and in case you are not bent on luxury on your stay here then this is the place to be. The Laban area in Shillong is home to various other communities who stay in Shillong and this is why this is a cosmopolitan area of Shillong that has allowed the feasibility of the various food stalls by the people of various ethnic groups who have come from all across India many years back and they settled here in Shillong. So in case you are planning to halt at Shillong Guest House in Shillong then you need not worry about food at the place because you will have many options to choose from on your visit here In case you do not want to step out of the comfort of your rooms at the Guest House then this is not a problem as well as you have the option to get the food delivered to your rooms with the prompt service of the staff of the Shillong Guest House.
Another popular stay option for guests near Shillong is located at Umbir area near the Umiam Lake and this is none other than the Roinam Retreat. This is a very nice place for socializing, events and dining and the view of the Umiam Lake looks spectacular across this place. The Roinam Retreat near Shillong provides guests with various stay options that range from cottages to tents and guests can book their stay at either and the entire ambiance of the place looks serene and beautiful. The rooms at the place are spacious and having all the luxury amenities and also the bathroom at the place are very neat and well maintained at the same time. This place is situated across the slope of a hills and the cottages and tents are set amidst trees that provides a green area here at the place near Shillong. The place has provision of a swimming pool as well and guests have access to the pool and they can spend their time in peace and calm at the place far away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life. The staff here are very hardworking at the place and they are always on their toes catering to the needs of the guests.
Another popular stay option here in Shillong is the Fortune Guest House that is located at the Upper Lumpoding area in Shillong and this is a preferred among the various families who come to Shillong for their vacation. This place in Shillong provides accommodation to guests across the standard and deluxe room categories and the place provides free Wi-Fi, Room Service and complimentary breakfast to guests at truly budget prices. The other facilities offered to guests at this guest house in Shillong are front desk, balcony view, baggage storage, wake up calls, children friendly, etc. This is a good property for family as there are only 5 rooms at the place that can accommodate 10 guests at a time so in case you are a family you can get to stay comfortably at the place having the place in Shillong to yourself. The bathrooms at the place are very neat and clean and well maintained at the same time and the suite rooms here come at a price of only INR 2700 that is tough to find in Shillong that is known as a very popular tourist destination.
Another very nice property to halt at Shillong is the Hotel Lake View Inn that is located opp. the State Bank of India at the MG Road in Shillong. This is a very fantastic property that provides the facilities of an International Restaurant along with a terrace and lake views that is located at the heart of Shillong city and it offers the panaromic view of the Wards lake in Shillong. This beautiful property is located just close to the Police Bazar area and also 3km away from the Don Bosco museum in Shillong as well. This place offers to its guests down to earth rooms that have elegant furniture, flat screen TVs and even the upgraded rooms have additional sitting areas and lake views as well. There is however no Airconditioning provisions in the rooms here as this is not needed in Shillong because it has a moderate climate across the year. The place offers complimentary breakfast and parking to its guests as well. Being conveniently located near the State Bank of India you will have access to all banking facilities here in Shillong as well.
The Sha Ri Loum is another fine property located at the Mawroh area in Shillong and this place is known to offer World Class Amenities to its guests. The place is far away from the maddening city life and noise and pollution of the city environment. A beautiful village property, this is nestled in the hills that is surrounded by the evergreen pine trees and the serene environment of Shillong. Sha Ri Loum is a perfect getaway to enjoy the environment in Shillong and the escape the busy city life. The villa has four aesthetically designed rooms that are having king sized beds and attached bath with all the modern amenities. Each bedroom opens up to a private balcony and it provide the grand natural view of the surroundings as well. The guests at the place have access to cozy living rooms that has a fire place and it is ideal for living with friends and families. Meals are served fresh at the place and to dine there is a large dining hall area that provides a grand dining environment.
All the rooms have a wooden in closet, electric kettle that have complimentary tea bags and coffee sachets, 32 inch flat screen TVs and DTH connection with Free Wi-Fi. This place in Shillong offers geysers and room heaters in each room and fresh towels are provided to guests in every bathroom The inhouse cook at this place in Shillong is specialized in home style cooking be it the veg or non-veg cuisine and the meal preparations are very good and yet simple being low on spices. The breakfast is complimentary and dinner can be made as per your preference. The Holy Lady Guest House is situated in Shillong and the accommodation with a grandeur and free Wi-Fi as well as the private parking area. There are the presence of triple rooms featuring balcony and electric kettle. The various amenities at this guest house are balcony, child friendly, cot, fitness center, smoke free, cable TV, free parking, Free Wi-Fi, etc. One of the budget places to stay in Shillong and it is known to provide budget stay options and this is known to accommodate guests in a homely environment.
Another nice place to stay in Shillong is the Shillong Homestay that is located at the Laban area in Shillong. Known to be a budget homestay for guests coming to stay at the Scotland of the East, this place offers accommodation to guests in various room categories that are ranging from budget standard rooms to deluxe rooms. Conveniently located near the Lady Hydari Park area in Shillong, the homestay offers its guests various amenities to make their stay fruitful on their visit to Shillong. The Homestay is known to host guests from all across the World and it is easily found on various hotel booking websites like booking.com and AirBnB and this allows guests to easily check and make their reservations at the Shillong homestay. The staff at this place are very cooperative and they look forward to welcoming guests at their homestay with a smile on their face. The homestay has an inhouse restaurant that is known to offers its guests with various local delicacies and also the other choice of Chinese, North India and Bengali cuisine recipes as well.
You will not have a single moment to stay idle at this place as the market area is easily accessible and so you can take your time to take a stroll across the market place and go to visit the places of interest at the place. You can take your time to go to visit the Police Bazar area in Shillong from this place and even if you do not bring your vehicle you do not need to worry as the public transportation in Shillong is very easy. There are several Maruti 800 vehicles that are owned and driven by the local youth and they keep plying across various routes in Shillong and they charge a nominal fare as well and you can stop one such taxi and drive across Shillong city easily. So you can go to explore the various places of tourist interest in Shillong and so you cannot miss out to explore these places of interest in Shillong. This is one of the best budget properties to halt on your visit to Shillong.
The Ladybird Hotel is another popular stay option in Shillong and this beautiful hotel is set in a convenient area that is good for exploring across Shillong. It is just less than a km from the NH6 and 2km away from the Don Bosco museum in Shillong and about 11km from the Elephant falls. The beautiful rooms at the Ladybird hotel in Shillong have complimentary TV, Wi-Fi, Flat Screen TV, tea coffee maker, etc. The breakfast and parking are complimentary for guests booked at this hotel and this is located at the Umsohsun area in Shillong. This plus point of this hotel is the hotel location as it is at close proximity to the Police bazar area and the rooms are spacious, neat and clean that provides various facilities and amenities to its guests. The staff here are very courteous and they welcome guests with a smile on their face. There is an inhouse restaurant that serves guests with various choice of food that are cooked fresh and hot.
Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Urban Flavour that is known to offer stay to guests in deluxe double rooms with attached bath. This beautiful place is set about 3.6km away from the main Shillong city and the Urban Flavour offers accommodation to guests in neat and clean deluxe double rooms that offer free Wi-Fi and free private parking. Some of the room here even offer private seating area and a balcony as well. The bed and breakfast even offers a terrace to its guests here in Shillong as well. The double room have a sofa, seating area and an electric kettle. This is a budget priced accommodation in Shillong and guests who are not opting for a fancy living experience can choose to halt at this place. The place has an inhouse kitchen and it is known to serve the guests with various homely food preparation that are low in oil and spices and so the meal is perfectly blended with all the natural ingredients and this is why the guests who come here love the place.
Another popular hotel to halt at Shillong is the Hotel Abode Shillong that is located at the Keating road above the Royal Enfield Showroom at Shillong in Meghalaya. This is a budget category hotel with room prices starting from INR 2500 onwards and it is a great place for sightseeing, recreation and getting around in Shillong. This hotel in Shillong is known to offer its guests room service, front desk, full service laundry, kitchen, security, etc. This place in Shillong is again close to the Police Bazar area that is a famed market place in Shillong and even though the hotel is located on a busy street yet it is pretty quiet inside the rooms. The staff are known to be very good here and the location is near the market area and you are easily accessible to the market place that will allow to order things from your room itself. The inhouse kitchen is known to churn out very nice delicacies of the local, Chinese and Bengali cuisine recipes.
The Pumpkin Abode is another of the popular stay options in Shillong that is located at the centre of Shillong city. The Pumpkin Abode provides accommodation to guests in deluxe rooms with private parking. There is a fully equipped private bathroom with shower and toiletries. The double room features an electric kettle and flat screen TVs and the rooms are also smoke free and offer satellite TV to guess who can spend their time at relaxation at this prominent hotel in Shillong. This is a very beautiful location and so you will love to explore across the place. Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Phoenix Residency that is a superior class stay in the city and it is located at the Nongkhyriem area in Shillong. This is an ultra modern building that is located off NH6 and it is 3km from the Lady Hydari Park and 5km from the Wards Lake area in Shillong. This ultra modern hotel in Shillong is known to feature warm wood flooring and furnishings and the streamlined rooms come with TV and ensuite bathroom that have the complimentary toiletries and other requisites.
There is also the presence of a restaurant that serves International cuisine including Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes as well. The hotel being a ultra luxury property in Shillong it has enhanced decors, personal protection and enhanced safety as well. The popular amenities at the hotel are free parking, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi. The Phoenix Residency is perhaps one among the few hotels in Shillong that provide Air conditioning to guests. Other facilities to guests here are grocery shops, laundry service, lifts, wake up call, housekeeping, EV charging station, airport shuttle, local shuttle, lift, meeting rooms, AC in rooms, kitchen in few rooms, coffee maker, mini bar, etc. This is arguably one of the ultra modern hotels in Shillong that has kept in the future of travel in mind in its design and offerings.
Another very nice property in Shillong is the Living Roof that is located at the Bomfyle Road that is a premier category hotel here in Shillong. This hotel serves complimentary breakfast and provides free parking to its guests on premises. There is a restaurant that is known to churn out very delightful local Khasi cuisine of Shillong for its guests along with a choice of North Indian and Chinese cuisine on A-La-Carte menu. The hotel offers room service, complimentary breakfast, front desk, laundry service and a host of other amenities to guests coming to Shillong. The USP of the place is the restaurant and the chef here is well known and trained to churn out some of the very fine Chinese cuisine recipes here in Shillong. The restaurant is very elegantly designed and so you do not get bored when you await your food and you can get your pictures clicked here. The owner of the place is very welcoming and responsive and the staff members are very courteous and eager as well.
Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Hotel Getaway that is located at the Keating road near the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The Hotel Gateway offers simple rooms and suites that offer a restaurant, a lounge bar and complimentary breakfast. Being located at the prime hub of Shillong city near the Police Bazar area so there are numerous shops to be seen across the streets from this hotel that is located about 12km from the elephant falls and the panoramic vistas at the Shillong view point and 32 km from the Umroi Airport in Shillong. The well furnished rooms at the Hotel Getaway in Shillong have Wi-Fi and flat screen TVs and some rooms even feature big windows. The upgraded rooms at this beautiful hotel in Shillong offer air-conditioning while the suites have a separate lounge area as well. Breakfast is complimentary and other amenities are lounge bar and restaurant. The vehicles of guests are offered complimentary parking space within the premises of the hotel area.
Some rooms have balconies, terraces, dining tables and separate living area. The amenities at this hotel include bar, restaurants, meeting and event spaces as well. Other amenities at the place are a bar, restaurant and meeting space as well as a lounge along with complimentary breakfast and parking for guests coming to this hotel in Shillong. This hotel is known to provide very clean and neat rooms and also good service as well and the place is located not in a busy crowded area in Shillong city. A very budget stay option in Shillong with room tariffs starting at INR 1500 onwards is the Ri Lum Homestay that offers double rooms to guests with a garden view as well. This pleasant homestay I located at the Mylliem area in Upper Shillong and it is onwards the route to Cherrapunji. The Ri Lum Homestay offers accommodation to visitors with a privare parking and a lovely vegetarian cuisine breakfast is available every morning to guests at the homestay and the room size at the place is quite decent at 10 sq. m. A luxury retreat that is located at the heart of Shillong city that is located off the Golf Link at the Mawpun area in Shillong. This beautiful Hotel is located just off the 18 hole Shillong Golf Course and this unpretentious hotel is just 3km from the Don Bosco museum and Spread Eagle Falls in Shillong. This luxury hotel in Shillong, features laid back rooms and suites that feature Wi-Fi and tea and coffee makers in each room.
Perhaps one of the very posh areas to halt in Shillong is the Laimukrah area and the Lachuimere area is home to several renowned hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts here in Shillong. One name that surely comes to the minds of the visitors for luxury stay is that of Café Shillong Bed and Breakfast that is a heritage Bungalow that has been converted to a Bed and Breakfast and the entire area of the place speaks of the ancient British heritage here in Shillong. This bed and breakfast is located about 12 minutes walk from the Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum and also 13 minutes walk away from the Lady Hydari Park and 6km away from the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong. This beautiful Bed and Breakfast offers casual rooms with Wi-Fi access, flat Screen TVs and tea/coffee maker in rooms as well as mini bars. While some rooms at the place also have sitting areas and balconies as well. Breakfast to guests is served in the kitchen dining area that has a dining table and also there is a garden area as well as a lounge area.
The Café Shillong Bed and Breakfast is a very well known stay experience for guests as it allows guests to enjoy their stay in cozy rooms that offer various amenities and room service. The staff of the place are very warm and polite and the place offers spectacular views of the mountain landscapes of Shillong. The breakfast served here is very good and it is recommended 5 Star by most guests who come to stay here at the Café Shillong Bed and Breakfast in Shillong. It is a very nice experience to stay here in Shillong away from the bustling life at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Hotel Lake View Inn that is located Opp. to the State Bank of India at the MG Road in Shillong. This beautiful place overlooks the Ward’s Lake area in Shillong and it is a relaxed hotel that is 3 km away from the Don Bosco Museum and 20km away from the Umroi Airport in Shillong. This place offers down to earth rooms to guests that feature fans and flat screen TVs.
The upgraded rooms add seating area and lake views as well. Few of the rooms offers air-conditioning as well because this might be needed in the summer season in Shillong. There is a restaurant at the hotel as well that serves International Cuisine and also a terrace and complimentary breakfast and parking is made available for all guests coming to the Hotel Lake View Inn in Shillong. Being close to the Wards Lake area in Shillong, this place is highly recommended for guests who come to Shillong to enjoy their stay and vacation. A good option for backpackers to stay in Shillong is the Isabella traveler’s hostel that is located at the Laitumkhrah main road area in Shillong. This is a very homely environment that is good for solo travelers who come and stay here at budget prices and enjoy the friendly environment. The rooms are cozy that have bunker beds available. Bike rental services are also available at the place and the guests who prefer to stay here at budget prices are sure to enjoy the atmosphere here in Shillong.
Another budget category stay in Shillong where guest can get the feel of a homely environment is that of the Holy Lodge Guest House in Shillong that is located at the Nongthymai area. A simple budget stay experience with neat and clean rooms where visitors can get to avail the services of Wi-Fi, Parking, Airport transfers, private bath, 24×7 security, etc. The place is located at the center of Shillong city and yet the noisy environment around doesn’t feel you and you are in a secluded cover that allows you to enjoy a comfortable stay experience. The rooms are nice and cozy and strict adherence to cleanliness is followed that is absent in certain deluxe hotels in Shillong as well. The prime USP of this stay in Shillong are the staff members and the services at the place that is very prompt and responsive. You are just a doorbell away and you will see a warm and smiling face at your door who will get you your food and any other requirements to make your stay comfortable.
When you want to beat the crowd and the hustle and bustle of Shillong city, you can surely try your stay at the La Tngenlang Homestay that is located in the Upper Shillong area here in Shillong. This place is located near the Elephant Falls area in Upper Shillong and it is a beautiful, well maintained and tastefully decorated with paintings and artefacts. Also there is a fine place that adds to the beauty of the place and the décor is very interesting. The place is hosted by Ian and the caretakers are always there to cater to your requirements. The kitchen is open to guests and by paying a nominal amount of money you can avail to cook your own meals at the place as well. The view of the landscapes from across the place looks absolutely breathtaking and you are sure to be left in awe of the landscapes of Shillong. The place is located at a place that is away from the city and yet you have easy access with the local taxis of Shillong offer you a ride to the place.
Another beautiful place to stay here in Shillong is the Pear Tree Hotel Shillong that is located at the Lower Lachumiere area in Shillong and the place speaks of warmly decorated rooms and suites with free Wi-fi and Flat Screen TVs. This location of the hotel is great for visitors and it is located at an area off the NH6 and it is a laid back hotel with 5 minutes distance from the various shops and eateries and 7 minutes walk from the Shillong Upper Forest and the scenic views of the Spread Eagle Falls. This is one of the new age B&B hotels and Shillong that is located about 10 minutes walk from the Police Bazar area. The cleanliness and hygiene of the hotel in Shillong is very up to the mark nd the washrooms, toilets and linen at the place are spotless. Certain rooms com with a balcony and the place is perfect to enjoy your breakfast when you are in Shillong city.
Another great place to stay on your visit to Meghalaya is the Woodland Hill Homestay that is located at the Upper Lachuimere area in Shillong and this is a beautiful place to stay in the heart of Shillong city. This place is a beautiful campus that offers a rooftop restaurant and complimentary breakfast to guests as well. The place offers beautiful views of the mountains of the Shillong forest and this informal hotel lies off the NH6 and it is an area of the various government buildings of Shillong. The hotel is located about 5 km from the Bishop Falls and 10km from the Shillong View Point and the Laitkor peak. The rooms at this hotel offer free Wi-Fi and flat screen TVs along with Tea/Coffee maker. Some rooms have mini bars that can be upgraded to sofabeds and mountain views. The room service is also available at the hotel that is a prime USP. The place offers complimentary breakfast to its guests and there is also a rooftop restaurant that serves Chinese and other regional cuisine as well.
The various amenities of the place include TV, lounge and garden along with table service, laundry facilities, public internet available, front desk, baggage storage, etc. This Woodland Hill Stay is a very nice place to enjoy your holiday in Shillong and it is set at a good location in case you want to avoid the rush of the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The place offers nice big and clean rooms with a garden and an open air restaurant as well. The service offered by the staff is superb and the food at the place is absolutely delicious. The surroundings of the place is quite calm and beautiful and the cleanliness around the place is top notch. The property is managed by the able staff of the hotel who are quite young and energetic and you can see the boys and girls running across the place and they attend to the needs of the guests of the place.
Another popular stay option in Shillong is the New Infinite Homestay that is a perfect stay option for guests coming to Shillong who get to enjoy their stay across Double Rooms. This homestay property is located withing 300m of Shillong City and around 10km from the Barapani area near Shillong and it offers accommodation to guests with free Wi-Fi and Flat Screen TVs. The guests coming to stay here at this property in Shillong can get to enjoy a continental Buffet breakfast and the double rooms at the place offer a scenic view, tea/coffee makers along with electric kettle facilities. Another wonderful property to halt in Shillong is that of the Phoenix Residency that is known to be a budget stay guest house in Shillong and the place offers its guests stay in neat and clean rooms that offer free Wi-Fi to guests. This is located awa from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life and it is located on the outskirts of Shillong city towards Cherrapunji at the Mylliem area.
Another popular property to halt on your visit to Shillong that is located away from the city at the Mylliem area in Upper Shillong is the Meera Holiday Villa. This is a place that is a guest house cum hotel with all the basic and yet modern facilities. The rooms here are adequate to accommodate three guests and the room are fitted with TV, Geyser, Almirah and overall it is a wonderful place. The weather across the year is pleasant and so you do not need Air-conditioning here. The place is known for its quick service and the staff are very prompt and they cater to the various needs of the guests coming here. The staff are friendly and they welcome guests with a smile on their face and the rooms offer heater and geyser to beat the cold weather of Shillong in the winter season. If you are looking for a very pleasant stay experience here in Shillong then this is the place to be and you are sure to leave the place with fond memories.
Another popular hotel for guests in Shillong is the Shillong Tavern that is a deluxe property to halt that is located at the Dhankheti area in Shillong. At the Shillong Tavern you can get to discover the moods of Shillong and the place offers a host of amenities to guests coming here. The guests coming here are sure to find their stay to be a very pleasant and comfortable one and the service minded staff will welcome and guide you at the Shillong Tavern. Each guestroom is elegantly designed, furnished and equipped with nice amenities to make your stay here in Shillong comfortable. This hotel offers various recreational opportunities and the place allows you to discover the place around Shillong making this hotel as your base. Another budget stay option is the Hotel Magnum that is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The rooms are nice and cosy and the staff members here are very polite who help you to make our stay comfortable here in Shillong.
Another popular stay option near Shillong is the Orange Homestay that is located at the Pomlum Laitkor area in Shillong and this place speaks of cleanliness and hygiene for guests coming to stay here. The place is known to offer various facilities to its guests like complimentary breakfast, room service, front desk, full service laundry, child friendly, airport shuttle services, etc. The rooms at the Orange Homestay in Shillong are known to provide a picturesque views from the terrace and the hills the beautiful view of the sunrise as well. The terrace at this homestay in Shillong has a common room where various events and small parties can be organized that can accommodate upto 15 people. The homestay staff are very good and they cater to the requirements of the guests with ease and it is known to be a place that is kept very neat and clean and tidy by the management. The homestay in Shillong offers a restaurant that is known to serve delicious cuisine to its guests and various cuisine specialties are offered to its guests at this homestay in Shillong.
Another popular homestay category stay option at the Dhankheti area in Shillong is the Baron Homestay that is another of the fairly new properties in Shillong that is known to provide very neat and clean rooms to its guests. This homestay property is known to provide breakfast, Wi-Fi, Room Service, Front Desk and it is also child friendly as well. The surroundings at the place are beautiful and one gets to see the picturesque of the surroundings of the place and it is known for its customer service. The service staff at this homestay in Shillong are very quick in responding to the needs of the guests and also it is a very clean and neat place to stay with clean linen, clean bathrooms, etc. The lobby at the homestay is decorated with wall hangings of the information about the local Khasi tribes of Shillong that provides information about the place to its guests. Being located close to the main road you have accessibility to all the major shops that are present here.
Another popular stay option in Shillong is the Hotel Golden Peak that is under the operations of the Oyo Rooms and this hotel is located at the Laimukrah point towards the New Colony area at Malki in Shillong. This hotel is located at a bustling stretch of the NH6 road lined with informal eateries and café and this is a no nonsense budget hotel that is 7 minutes away from the Lady Hydari Park and 2km away from the Wards Lake area in Shillong. The nice rooms at this budget hotel in Shillong come with flat screen TVs and ensuite wet rooms and some rooms feature floor to ceiling windows with city views. At this place there is a breakfast, lunch and inner easily available. This is a place that provides air conditioning, breakfast and Wi-Fi, Lift, front desk, etc. You get to witness this beautiful view of Shillong city from the hotel and the food is available at a local restaurant nearby. The rooms are located at the second floor and so you can get to climb a fleet of stairs.
Another budget stay property to halt at the prime location of Police Bazar in Shillong city is that of the Anant Homestay that is a budget priced stay option offering various amenities to guests who come to Shillong. This is a place that offers prime location to the guests along with room service, front desk, full service laundry, kitchen, etc. This is a place in Shillong that is known to earn great reviews from its guests and so a stay here is surely recommended on your visit to Shillong. The food id churned out at the local kitchen of the Anant Homestay in Shillong and the chef is known to prepare various delicacies that are designed to suit the taste buds of the various people coming here to Shillong. The staff are known to be very accommodating and they will welcome you with a warm smile even if you arrive late for check in at the Anant Homestay in Shillong.
Another property that is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong that has been hosting guests for the past several years is that of the Hotel Monsoon that is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong. The Hotel Monsoon is located about 9 min walk away from the Botanical Garden at the Ward’s Lake and this is also 3km from the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong and about 15km from the mountains of the Shillong view point. The laid back rooms at this hotel in Shillong offer flat screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities, etc. Upgraded rooms add mini fridge and suites with sitting rooms and balconies as well. There is a casual restaurant at the hotel and also a lounge as well and a meeting and event space as well. Breakfast and parking area is also available and this is a good hotel to stay on the visit to Shillong that is known for the very nice behavior of its staff and the manager. The rooms are quite neat and clean and you can enjoy your stay here for sure.
The city Palace Inn at Shillong is known to be a place that is a sure to leave any visitor to Shillong mesmerized due to its lovely ambiance and location of the place. This beautiful property is located at the Rynjah, Lapalang area in Shillong and the amenities at the place include parking, room service, front desk, full service laundry, local shuttle, kitchen, etc. The rooms at the place are well maintained, neat and tidy and the service of the staff at this hotel in Shillong is top notch. For your meals you have to place the order to the staff of the hotel before hand and they will arrange it for you quickly. The staff behavior is outstanding and it is recommended for stay for most guests coming to Shillong and Cherrapunji to stay at the City Palace Inn in Shillong. The staff are very quick in their response and they ensure to provide the best of the services to their clients who later become patrons and ensure to stay here on their next visit to Shillong.
Another new and popular stay option that is present at the Pine Mount Ridge, near the Lady Hydari Park in Shillong is the Highwinds that is a very beautiful property to halt here in Shillong. This is a very beautiful house of a married couple that has now been converted into a holiday home for guests coming to Shillong and the place is a very beautiful place to halt in Shillong as well. The front area of the hotel is having a beautiful lawn that has places to sit where guests can enjoy their time in calm. The various amenities offered to guess at this hotel in Shillong are free parking, complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, restaurant, table service, room service, credit cards accepted, front desk, baggage storage, full service laundry, housekeeping, etc. The staff at this hotel are very professional and they ensure to attend to their customers with utmost care and this is why visitors come to this place due to the prompt response of the people and the staff.
Another popular stay option is the Meera Holiday Home that is located at the Mylliem area that is along the route to Cherrapunji from Shillong at the Upper Shillong area. This is a guest house cum hotel that has come up due to the ever growing demand for rooms in Shillong as people from all across the World come to Shillong to enjoy their stay experience at the place. The place being away from the city and at a further elevation has a pleasant climate across the year and so AC facility is not needed at this hotel. You will love the thrill to enjoy your stay at this place and it is known to be a thrilling destination to stay in Shillong. The place doesn’t have an inhouse restaurant and instead the food for guests is served fresh from the nearby restaurant and so you can have a detailed choice of meals at the place. The front desk staff are very polite who cater to the needs of the customers.
The hotel Island residency is located at the Police Station area near the Thana Road in Shillong and it is a 2 Star category hotel that is known to have very good reviews from its guests and it is known to have various amenities for its guests. The place offers complimentary breakfast, free parking, free Wi-Fi to its guests. The other facilities are front desk, baggage storage, full service laundry, service lift, housekeeping, child friendly, pet friendly, etc. Coming to the rooms for the guests at this hotel in Shillong, these are some of the very neat and clean rooms for guests to halt. The rooms are neat and clean and well maintained and the staff are highly professional and well mannered. Even though it is located at the Police Bazar area in Shillong yet it is away from the hustle and bustle of the market area. The food is reasonably priced an good and you can taste a variety of cuisine at the place including the local Khasi food as well.
