Shillong the Scotland of the East

PLACES TO VISIT:

Shillong Peak: 1965 metres above sea level and 10 km from the city, offers a panoramic view of entire Shillong, and is also the highest point in the State.

Ward's Lake: A century old picturesque lake. Located in the heart of the city, popular for short garden walks and boating.

Umiam Water Sports Complex: Developed upon the mighty reservoir of the Umiam Hydro Electric Project, at Umiam, 16 km before reaching Shillong. The campus consists of a beautiful Orchid Lake Resort, the Nehru Park. Besides it offers a wide choice of exciting water sports activities.

Botanical Garden: Located just below the Ward's Lake, this garden has a plethora of indigenous and exotic plants. It also houses rare and colourful species of birds.

Lady Hydari Park: Lady Hydari Park, stretching over a km is replete with roses and blossoms of exquisite hues and colours. Owes its existence to Lady Hydari, the wife of an erstwhile Governor of Assam. It has an excellent mini zoo cum deer park.

Golf Course:
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 9 (nine)hole course and later converted into a 18 (eighteen) hole course in 1924 by Captain Jackson and C. K. Rhodes.

State Museum: The State Museum is located in the state central library premises with a good collection of artifacts of North Eastern India in general and Meghalaya in particular.

Bishop and Beadon Falls: Both cascade down the same escarpment into a deep valley, the mass of water dissolving into misty sparks.

Elephant Falls: 12 km on the outskirts of the city the mountain stream descends through two successive falls set . A well paved footpath and a small wooden bridge connect to two smaller falls which are equally beautiful and captivating. These are the Wei Iaplam Falls and the Wir Phang Falls.

Spread Eagle Falls: Located within the Shillong Cantonment, on the outskirts of the city, lies a sparkling waterfall which looks like an eagle with wings spread.

Don Bosco Museum:
Acclaimed as the finest museum in Asia on indigenous and tribal cultures, Don Bosco Museum or Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture (DBCIC) in Mawlai, Shillong (Meghalaya) is a major tourist destination as it provides a snapshot glimpse of the rich and multi-colour cultures, lifestyles, history and traditions of the indigenous peoples of North East India by showcasing many galleries thereby giving an insight into the beautiful and diverse cultural richness of the eight States of India's North East under one roof. To know more about the museum you can also visit the official website at www.dbcic.org.

Sweet Falls:
Situated near Happy Valley at a distance of about eight kilometers from Shillong. It resembles a straight pencil of water emerging from a large size water pipe, as it drops vertically over a distance exceeding two hundred feet.

Kyllang Rock: Located about 11 km off Mairang, is a several million years old steep dome of red granite rising to an elevation of about 5400 feet above sea level.

Sacred Forest Mawphlang: One of the most celebrated sacred-groves of the State is the grove at Mawphlang about 25 km off Shillong. Preserved since time immemorial, these sacred groves have wide range of flora, thick cushion of humus on the grounds accumulated over the centuries, and trees heavily loaded with epiphytic growth of aroids, pipers, ferns, fern-allies and orchids.

Cherrapunjee (Sohra): Better known as Sohra, Cherrapunjee is situated 56 Kms from Shillong and 1300 metres above sea level and is known all over the world as the rainiest place on the planet. Besides a number of roaring water falls, including the famous Nohsngithiang falls the lovely town is also famous for its limestone caves, orange, honey, a headquarter of the Syiem of Sohra and a Centre of the Khasi Culture and literature.

Nohkalikai Falls: A few km to the west of Sohra (Cherrapunjee), this waterfall is a breathtaking beauty.

Kshaid Dainthlen Falls: Located near Sohra, meaning the falls where the mythical monster of Khasi legend was finally butchered. The axe-marks made on the rocks where Thlen was butchered are still intact and visible.

Mawsynram: 56 Kms from Shillong and is known for the Giant Stalagmite formation shaped into a "Shivalinga" and found inside a cave known locally as 'Mawsymbuin'.
Jakrem: 64 Kms from Shillong, a potential health resort having gushing hot-spring of sulphur water, believed to have curative medicinal properties.

Ranikor: 140 Kms from Shillong, a place of scenic beauty. Ranikor is one of Meghalaya's most popular spots for angling, with an abundance of carp and other fresh water fish.

Dawki: 96 Kms from Shillong, is a border town, where one can have a glimpse of the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. The colourful annual boat race during spring at the Umngot river is an added attraction.

Nongkhnum island: Nongkhnum Island is the biggest River Island in Meghalaya and the second biggest island in Asia, after MajuliIsland in Assam. Located about 14 Kms from Nongstoin, the district hqs. of West Khasi Hills, it is 20 to 25 sq. km area. Within the Island, there are big trees and areas of grassland and natural playground suitable for playing football and golf and plenty of fishing pools.