| Shillong City Tour Guide - Meghalaya |
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Shillong Facts:
• Altitude 1496 meters
• Best time to Go Oct -Nov & March-April
• STD Code- 0364
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Nestled among hills, Shillong the capital of Meghalaya looks like a cluster of red roofs from the sky. This picturesque city throbs with life from dawn to dusk. Narrow hill roads skirted by tall pine trees are lined with cottages made of wood. Shillong is blessed with temperate climate all year long, which makes it an ideal holiday destination. Although modernization has taken its toll and traffic jams are the order of the day, this is an ideal place to unwind amidst simplicity and natural beauty.
History
Shillong was a small village until 1864, when it became the new civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia hills. It remained the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam for many years. In 1874, on the formation of Assam as a Chief Commissioner’s Province, it was chosen as the capital of the new administration. An earthquake destroyed the city in 1897, necessitating its complete rebuilding. In January 1972, Shillong became the capital of the newly formed state of Meghalaya.
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How to get there
Air
Borjhar Airport in Guwahati, Assam, is the nearest airport. You can get to Shillong in four hours from there in a hired taxi or a chartered bus.
Train
There are no railway lines inside Meghalaya. The nearest railhead is Guwahati, 128 km from Shillong. Regular buses and taxis ply to Shillong. It takes about 4 hrs from Guwahati Railway Station to Shillong.
Road
The drive from Guwahati to Shillong takes 4 hours and Silchar to Shillong 9 hours. Roads are well maintained though narrow in certain parts. Guwahati is connected by National Highway 40 while Silchar is via National Highway 44.
Best time to visit
Shillong is subject to vagaries of the monsoon. The monsoons arrive in June and it rains almost until the end of August. The climate is hot and humid during summers but quite cold during winters. October-November and March-April are the best months to visit Shillong.
Dining Out
There aren’t too may choices of cuisine, though Chinese food is widely available. The best option is to stick to the hotel you are staying in. The south Indian "dosa" and "idli", north Indian "chola" and "bhatura" and Indian snacks are available in small restaurants in the Police Bazaar area. For authentic local cuisine, venture out to Mawkhar Main Road and eat at the small-unnamed shacks.
Shopping
The main shopping areas are Police Bazaar, Bara Bazaar and Laitumukhrah. On Iewduh, the first day of the eight-day long Khasi week, people from all over eastern Meghalaya come to sell their products here. In the centre of Police Bazar, on the corner of Kacheri road, there are shops selling finely woven baskets of all sizes. For hand-woven shawls, handicrafts, orange flower honey and cane work, one can visit the various emporia like Meghalaya Handicrafts, Khadi Gramodyog and Purbashree.
Tourist Offices
Directorate of Tourism, Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Orchid Hotel Polo Road Shillong- 793001
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