Top 5 places to visit in Shillong

Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya is one of the more popular destinations for Indian and foreign travellers opting for Northeast India tourism packages. Meghalaya is known as the “abode of clouds” and Shillong is referred to as the “Scotland of the East”

Shillong Golf Course

Shillong has one of the largest natural 18-hole golf courses in Asia and has been called the “Gleneagle of the East” by the United States Golf Association. It is located at an altitude of 5200 ft, in a valley covered with greenery.

Developed in 1898, as a 9 Holes Course, it was later converted to 18 Holes in 1924 by Capt. Jackson and C.K Rhodes – both did a remarkable job in preserving its natural beauty and carved out the course among pine trees and gentle undulating land. It is the third oldest Golf Course in India and was first surveyed in 1933.

General information about the Golf Course:

Year of foundation: 1898 – 9 Holes, 1924 – 18 Holes Course.
Altitude: 1,496 metres from the sea level.
Open: Round the year
No. of holes: 18
Distance Ladies: 5,321
Distance Gentlemen: 5,873
Par: 70

Shillong Peak

It is the highest point of Meghalaya located 10kms away from the city at 1965 mts above the sea level. The panoramic view of the countryside from the high altitude is breathtaking and a must see!

Obeisance is paid to U Shulong at the sanctum at the peak’s summit every springtime, by the religious priest of Mylliem State. In the evening the city lights below appear like a star-studded abyss.

The Wards Lake

It’s a horseshoe-shaped artificial lake, known as ‘nan-polok’, locally. The lake is surrounded by a beautiful garden. Boating facilities are also available and there’s a cafeteria to grab a quick bite. Feeding fishes in the lake from above the bridge is a major amusement for travellers.

The lake is named after the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, Sir William Ward, who started the plan for the establishment of this lake. It was later on constructed in the year 1894 by Colonel Hopkins.

One of the associated stories is that a Khasi prisoner developed the area around the Lake to change the monotony is his daily routine.

It is said that the Lake is around 100 years old. Ward’s lake is also called Pollock’s Lake, because of a popular engineer during the pre-independence era.

Timings:

November – February- 8:30 am till 5:30 pm

March – October- 8:30 am till 7:00 pm

Don Bosco Centre For Indigenous Culture

There is no better place for tourists to get to know about north-eastern culture than this. It is a research institute as well as publication centre with training and animation programmes. Situated in Mawlai, Shillong, the centre is making efforts to preserve and spread the cultural heritage of the north east globally.

A three-in-one Institution combining a museum with a research and publication centre, for promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of North East India -a unique fusion of all the sister states under one roof.

With seven stories, 56,000 square feet of floor space and 15,154 square feet of display wall space, it ranks among the top 36 or so cultural centres of its kind in the Salesian world. Museums/ Cultural Centres in practice appear to be a significant aspect of the Salesian mission

Even in terms of design the DBCIC is startling: built in hexagonal shape, its seven floors represent the seven states of North East India. The building rises to form a flame, expressing the reality that if cultures are understood well, they can form a communion of cultures for a better society.

DBCIC contains seventeen galleries displaying cultural artefacts and paintings. It offers study and research facilities throughout its specialised library of 10,000 volumes, a media hall and a conference hall. It is frequented by school students and older research students and anthropologists, since this area of India is an anthropologist’s paradise.

Waterfalls

Bishop and Beadon Falls, Spread Eagle Falls, Sweet Falls and Crinoline Falls are some of the famous waterfalls situated near Shillong and should be in the bucket list for all travellers. Among these, the Sweet Falls is regarded as the most beautiful waterfall in Shillong, located near Happy Valley. It is 96 mts in height and a treat for your eyes, if you are searching for unmatched natural beauty. And we think that every Northeast India travel operator should include these waterfalls in their tour packages.

Shillong is surrounded by numerous stunning lakes, hills and gardens. It is also a hub for knowledge as various famous educational and research institutions and museums are located here. Hence, your North East India travel plans are incomplete without a visit to this paradise.

• Spread Eagle Falls

Location: East Khasi Hills District, Shillong

Located within the Shillong Cantonment, on the outskirts of the city, lies a sparkling waterfall which looks like an eagle with wings spread. Hence the name Spread Eagle Falls. The falls is locally known as Umkaliar or the falls into which Ka Liar slipped. A soothing setting amidst the calmness of nature – a treat to the eyes.

• Sweet Falls

Location: East Khasi Hills District, Shillong

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. Most suitable for a day’s outing and picnic, Explore it!

• Elephant Falls:

2 kms away, on the outskirts of the city, this mountain stream descends through two successive falls set in dells of fern-covered rocks. At a short distance beyond the falls, there are two smaller falls which are none the less beautiful and captivating. These are the Wei Iaplam Falls and the Wir Phang Falls. A well paved footpath and a small wooden bridge facilitate access to these falls.

• Bishop and Beadon Falls

Bishop and Beadon Falls are twin waterfalls that will make any traveler fall in love with the city of Shillong. The waterfalls cascading from the emerald green hill, forested with different varieties of flora, is quite an unparalleled sight. Of the two falls, Beadon Falls is a little bit disjointed and you will see rocky hills and stones, which seem to disconnect the flow. On the other hand, the Bishop Falls is quite popular as the cascading water looks like a white ribbon, flowing down the greenery of the hill. Bishop Waterfall is around 450 ft in height, which is the 22nd highest in the country.

• Crinoline Falls

Quaint and aesthetic, Crinoline Falls gushes from a height of approximately 13 metres. It forms a natural swimming pool at the bottom which is surrounded by abundant greenery. Located in the heart of Shillong, the pristine beauty of this attraction attracts numerous tourists round the year. You can click fabulous photographs at this place while taking a dip in the natural water of the pool. Various events and cultural programmes are organized near Crinoline Falls to promote it as a tourist spot. A small zoo also lies nearby which makes this place popular with kids