Nobody wants to be part of England any more nbut piece of England is still a compliment. And that’s what Shillong was a chip off the British Isles that description is a bit of an exaggeration now. In the last tow decades, attempts to save the forests have reduced the numbers of the traditional wooden structures here, which had their won charm. The polo and the weekly races have also almost vanished, along with the horses. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of beauy in Shillong and, thanks to great roads, most of it is easily accessible.

English Homes

As the district headquarters, shillong was carefully planned for the resident and itinerant Englishman. The military authorities established their cantonment mostly in Upper Shillong, and in the remaining portion of this flat land, the civil station was laid out. This was British Shillong, the enclave of the Raj in the Khasi Hills. European pensioners, serving officers, tea planters, businessmen all built their cottages here, naming them after places in England Stratmore, now the BK Bajoria School, Bonny Brae housing the Survey of India today, Crowborouh, where a hotel is now under construction, Radlands and La Chatelet in the cantonment to name a few.

Indian Manors

The station gradually extended itself beyond the limits of British Shillong. Both Europeans and Indians began to buy land and build their houses. Indian princely families also started their establishments. Tripura, charkhari, Manipur and even Nepal built imposing houses. Mayurbhanj House, built by the Mayurbhanj princely family is now the city property of the North Eastern Hill University.

Lakes and Waterfalls

You will cross your first lake even before you reach shillong. Umiam Lake, aka Barapani, lies 16 km before shillong on NH40. Umiam in Kashi means water of the eyes. The lake is the source of the Umiam River, which has been transformed into a reservoir to produce electricity. The Orchid Lake Resort offers a pleasant stay near the lake, boasting water sports facilities such as speed boating. Water-skiing and rowing. The hills and the meadow around the lake are a good place to hang out. Sadly, the floating restaurant run by the state tourism department has been shut down.

The waterfalls are also spread out all over Shillong. The Swet Falls is located near Happy Valley which spread eagle falls near the polo ground has been named rather aptly looking exactly like an eagle with its wings spread out.

Shillong Attractions

Shillong Peak at a height of about 6,433 ft, offers a wonderful view of the city and countryside, broken intermittently by drifting clouds. On a clear day one can see the eastern Himalaya, including Gorichen 22,000 ft, the highest peak in Arunachal Pradesh. Lady Haydari Park, with a mini zoo inside, stands near Pine mount school. The state museum not particularly exciting, displays the lifestyle of the khasis with life-size statues.

Around Shillong

Smit 15 km

Five Kilometres off the Jowai Road on NH44 lies Smit, the palace of Hima Khyrim the erstwhile Raja of Khyrim. It is here that the famous Nongkrem dance so often depicted in tourism brochures aws a Khasi dance is held, usually every November. The place is worth a visit even if one misses the event. The dance is held in the courtyard of a house called ka Ing Saad, belonging to the high priestess of khyrim. It is one of the few examples of a traditional khasi house still standing and is in an excellent state of repair.

Cherrapunjee 51 km

The district headquarters for the British from 1835 until 1864 no visit to shillong can be complete without a trip to Cherrapunjee, known to every school child for receiving the highest rainfall in the world atitle now taken overy by the nearby mawsynram though.

About 2 km south of the circuit house is mawsmai village, on the edge of a deep gorge. There is a wonderfaul view of the nearly 1,000 ft high Nohsnglthiag Falls. There are many other falls close by the most spectacular being Nohkalikai. There are some lovely limestone caves nearby too. For the overnight visitor, there is the well main tained cherrapunjee holiday resort 16 km from the town.

Thadlaskein Lake 56 km

You will again take NH44 driving through some absolutely stunning landscape. Thadlaskein has it that the rectangular Thadlaskeing Lake was dug with the help of arrowheads, but it is fed by perennial underground springs. If you start early you can even cover nartiang the seat of an ancient kingdom and see a cluster of megaliths there the Stonehenge of the Jaintia Hills. A private lodge is expected to come up here soon.

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