Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya, one of the smallest states in India and home to the Khasis. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district and is situated at an average altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496 m)
above sea level, with the highest point being Shillong Peak at 6,449 feet
(1,966 m). Shillong is the 330th most populous city in
India with population of 143,007 according to the 2011 census. It is said that
the rolling hills around the town reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, Shillong is known as "Scotland
of the East".
These are
locations in and around Shillong which are tourist spots. These include:
Elephant
Falls:
12 km on the outskirts of the city, the mountain
stream descends through two successive falls set in dells of fern covered
rocks.
Lady
Hydari Park:
The park stretches over a kilometre and has
an adjacent mini zoo.
Wards
Lake:
Known locally as Nan-Polok. Its an artificial lake with
garden and boating facilities.
Shillong
Golf Course:
Shillong has one of the largest golf
courses (the world's wettest) in Asia: Gleneagles of the East. It enjoys the
rare distinction of being one of the few natural golf courses in Asia. Not only
is the Shillong Golf Course scenic and enjoyable, it is also challenging. A
group of British civil service officers introduced golf to Shillong in 1898 by
constructing a nine-hole course. The present 18-hole course was inaugurated in
1924. The course is set in a valley covered with pine and rhododendron trees.
The tight fairways, carpeted with a local grass which hardens the soil, are
difficult to negotiate. The number of out-of-bounds streams that criss-cross
every fairway makes it all the more trying. Obstructions come in the form of
bunkers, trees and rain. The longest hole is the 6th, which is a grueling 594
yards. Shillong Golf Course is considered to be the "Glen Eagle of
the East" at the United States Golf Association Museum. It
was set in a valley at an altitude of 5200 ft in 1898 as a nine-hole
course and later converted into an 18-hole course in 1924 by Captain Jackson and C. K. Rhodes.
Motphran:
The
“Stone of France” which is locally known as "Motphran" was erected in
memory of the 26th Khasi Labour Corps who served under the British in France
during World War I. It bears the words of the famous Latin poet Horace "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"
which can be roughly translated as "It is sweet and fitting to die for
one's country."
Shillong Peak:
A picnic spot, 10 km
from the city, 1965 m above sea level, offers a panoramic view of the scenic
countryside and is the highest point in the state. Obeisance is paid to U
Shulong at the sanctum sanctorum at the peak's summit every springtime, by the
religious priest of Mylliem State.
Capt. Williamson Sangma
State Museum:
For those interested in ethnic tribal culture and tradition this government
museum offers insights to the lifestyle of the people. This museum is in the
State Central Library complex where monuments for the great patriots of the
state were erected besides the statue of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose.
Don Bosco Centre for
Indigenous Cultures:
The Don Bosco Museum is part of DBCIC (Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous
Cultures). DBCIC comprises research on cultures, publications, training,
animation programmes and the museum, which is a place of knowledge-sharing on
the cultures of the northeast in particular, and of culture in general. DBCIC
with its Don Bosco Museum is situated at Mawlai, Shillong.
Entomological Museum (Butterfly Museum):
A
privately owned museum of M/s Wankhar, Riatsamthiah, Shillong about 2 km
from Police Bazaar is the only known museum in India devoted to moths and
butterflies.
Air Force Museum at Upper Shillong
Forest Museum in Lady Hydari Park
Rhino Heritage Museum at Shillong
Zoological Museum in Risa Colony
Anthropological museum at Mawblei
Botanical Museum at 4th Furlong
Arunachal Museum at the Cantonment Area
Chrysalis the Gallery:
This art gallery is on
the second floor of Salonsar Mansion at Police Bazaar, the commercial hub of
Shillong. Chrysalis has flexible spacing to display paintings (canvases),
sculpture, photography and handicrafts. Run by a local artist, Jaya Kalra, the
gallery caters to exhibitions of artists and artisans especially from the
northeast and also from the rest of India.
State Museum:
Located at the State
Central Library complex.
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians is in Don Bosco Square.
Bishop and Beadon Falls:
Both cascade down the
same escarpment into a deep valley.
Spread Eagle Falls:
3 km from Polo
Grounds.
Sweet Falls:
Sweet Falls (also called
“Weitden,” in the native dialect) is the most beautiful of all the waterfalls
in Shillong. It lies about 5 km from the Happy Valley and is about 96 m in
height.
Crinoline Falls:
Near Lady Hydari Park.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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