Shillong, also known as Scotland of the East, is a beautiful hill station in Northeast India. Situated only 100 kilometers away from Guwahati, the gateway to Northeast, it is one of the most easily accessible destinations in Northeast. With the beautifully paved curvy roads though the pine-filled lush green Khasi hills, it is ideal for hilly road trips on weekends. The unending sprinkling rains, along with the British era architectures, always give the vibe of Scotland.
Apart from the beautiful city itself, the primary things to explore in and around the city of Shillong includes waterfalls, lakes, and parks. The visit to Shillong is greeted with a warm welcome by the panoramic view of the Umiam Lake. In the city, the Ward’s Lake along with its garden gives a vibe of Japanese landscapes during the season of Cherry blossoms. Places like Don Bosco Museum, the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Police Bazaar (the marketplace) are worth checking out. During the days following the monsoon season till fall season, the waterfalls are in their full forms. The pure beauty of waterfalls like Elephant falls could be observed during this time. The Laitlum Canyons offer a grand view of the vistas, where you can enjoy the play of clouds in the green carpets of the Canyons. Adjacent to the canyons, the Mawphlang Sacred Forest offers a serene landscape, when one can go for a peaceful walk in the woods. The Shillong peak, the highest point in the city, offers are wide panoramic view of the entire city.
If you wish to spend your holidays just in the city of Shillong without exploring neaby destinations in Meghalaya) a weekend should be enough for you. But it is worth mentioning here that, you should also visit nearby destinations like Cherrapunji (Sohra), Mawlynnong, Dawki, Cherrapunji as each of these destinations has a unique thing to offer. To cover all of these destinations within Meghalaya, you will need around 7 days. Although you can visit Shillong anytime, the ideal time to visit Shillong is during the monsoon when you can witness the waterfalls in their full forms.
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
Elephant Falls
Laitlum Canyons
Umiam Lake
Shillong is beautiful throughout the year, with each season expressing an unique beauty. But, the waterfalls and lakes are in their most attractive form during summer (monsoon).
The elementary attraction of Shillong is the sprinkling rains along with clean and steep streets that offers the vibe of visiting an European village. This is the reason Shillong is known as the Scotland of the East.
Shillong is about 100 kilometers away from Guwahati. It is nearly 3 hours drive through a beautiful hilly road.
No, there hasn't been any record of snowfall for a long time in Shillong.
No. As of now, no permit is necessary to visit Meghalaya.
The Cherry Blossoms in Shillong start to bloom during the late October and the flowers bloom throughout the November.
Shillong Peak is closed on Wednesdays.
Lady Hydari Park is closed on Mondays.
Don Bosco Museum is closed on Sundays.
