Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya takes its name from the deity Shyllong or Lei Shyllong.

This city used to be the capital of Assam for over century since 1874 till Meghalaya became a separate state. The city is based on an elevated swathe which lays almost 1500 meter above the sea level. The city is picturesquely located within the Umiam ravine from north and the Diengiei hills from the north-west making this city a prey to natural blessings as well as vagaries (incessant rains during June- September). One such incident almost wiped out Shillong from the face of earth in 1897 when a strong earthquake destroyed the city. The hard working people of Meghalaya reconstructed the city completely. Shillong was born in the laps of nature and offers every one of its bequeathed element for exploration to the wanderlust. The amazing series of waterfalls, the mystic mountain peaks, crystal clear water lakes, breathtakingly beautiful golf courses, museums and zoo; Shillong has a different faade for everyone. Though the weathers Gods remain aloof during peak winters and summers the region offers its best face in March, April, September and October not necessarily in that sequence. The itchy feet may decide to venture a little farther and discover the limestone caves the oldest Presbyterian Church. If a 4.5-kmlong limestone cave and the wettest place on the planet do not satisfy you then chances are that nothing else would ever do so. The People of Meghalaya are extremely courteous and friendly and any interaction with them is bound to end in a laughter riot. These wonderful people are full of life and the same is reflected in the products they offer. The hand-woven shawls, cane works, handicraft decoration and the special orange flower honey; each one of these offerings is special and unique.

Scotland Of The East Perched at an altitude of 1,496 m, this lesser known hill station is also called the "Scotland of the east". What exactly it has in common with Scotland maybe a matter of discussion but the majority of the population - the Khasis and the Jaintias boats of a clan system that would any day outrival the Scottish clans!

About Shillong shortly: State: Meghalaya District: East Khasi Hills Famous for/as: Hill Station Languages: English, Hindi, Khasi, Assamese Best Season: Throughout the year Weather: Summer 15-30C, winter 4-24C Altitude: 1525 m Pin code: 793xxx STD code: 0364 Overview & Best Season of Shillong: Shillong has a cool climate all through the year. Summers (March to June) experience a maximum temperature of 24C and a minimum temperature of 15C. Winters during November to February are freezing and minimum temperature reaches 2C. Snowfalls and fog formations are common here during winter. Monsoons during June to September are accompanied by heavy winds and average to heavy rainfalls. Diwali (October), New Year and Christmas (December) are important festivals celebrated here. Shillong can be visited any time in a year, keep off heavy cold winter days in December and January. The attractive places of shilong: Beadon falls: The normal trends of Indian waterfalls do not apply to the unique waterfalls in Meghalaya. These waterfalls are almost always at their full glory and rarely dry up or become a trickle as is the case with rest of the waterfalls. The Beadon waterfall is surrounded by verdant forests from every side and the sight of the creamy torrent gushing down almost a 100 feet and crush the resilient rocks below is awe inspiring. The clear water stream and the picturesque surroundings make for a memorable sight. The sight is always in demand and provides an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy a half day trek cum picnic with the entire family. An operational hydroelectric powerhouse is situated at the base of the falls.

Bishop's Waterfall: The Bishop's Waterfall is often referred to as the twin brother of the Beadon Waterfall since both tumble down the same escarpment into a yawning gorge. As the gushing stream of water plunges and crashes into a cavernous lagoon the sprinkled droplets create a mystic rainbow that stretches across the spectrum. The emerald pool formed at the bottom is inviting and it's a fantastic idea to trek up or down the hills along the stream discovering the marvels of nature. Although a few hotels and local vendors offer grub for the famished do not expect a five star spread from these simple souls who are untouched from the mean grasps of bottom lines and profits. Crinoline Falls: Smack in the middle of the Shillong city is another natural splendor. The Crinoline Falls cascading down the luxuriant woodland create a graceful waterfall. The pool created by the fall has been creatively carved out to serve as a well sustained Swimming Pool. A dip in this pool is a foregone conclusion for the allure of the lagoon would drag and float the most ardent watch babies. The pool is perennially abounded with screeching hordes outdoing each other and feasting on the nature's bounty. An attached restaurant provides relief for the tired spirits and the adjacent area nourishes the heart with some soul stirring cultural programmes. Elephant Falls: The Elephant Falls located just outside the Shillong city at a distance of approx 10 kms provides a unique sight wherein the water column carves out its way and surrenders to gravity at two successive locations. The gigantic stream accumulated just at the pinnacle comes crashing down the terrain and rebounds only to cover a short distance and once again leap into a daunting gorge. The very sight of natural pandemonium is enough to make one miss a heartbeat and leap witjoy. The surrounding basin sheltered by the sky like green vegetation provides a perfect backdrop to this enchanting picnic spot. Shillong Peak: The Shillong peak stands at a whopping 2000mtr above sea level. The peak dedicated to the city is also the highest point in the state. An ideal picnic spot, the Shillong Peak offer breathtaking bird's eye view of the city and the scattered villages around the Peak. A sanctum offering curtsy U Shulong is located at the peak's summit. The spiritual pastor of Mylliem State offers prayers at the sanctum during springtime. If the view of the human abode below is breathtaking during daytime, then the view at nighttime in absolutely awe inspiring. The city and other dwelling lights provide the ground below an aura of the night sky.

Spread Eagle Falls: As we move towards the forests from the Polo ground at a distance approximately 3 Km the calmness and peaceful lull of the verdant jungle is broken, initially with a silent hush, and later by a roaring waterfall that breaks out of the dominating green terrain with an aim to carve a niche for itself. Welcome to the Spread Eagle Falls or the Sati Falls. The Spread Eagle Falls can be considered as the widest waterfalls amongst those in and around Shillong. The stream grows wide just near the pinnacle and crashes into a massive pool created by its incessant splash on the rocks below. Sweet Falls: The Sweet Falls (also called Weitden, in the native parlance) apart from the adorable name does not posses any feminine quality. Situated near Happy Valley, the Sweet Falls travel a stomach wrenching dive height of an incredible 96 mtr before it pounds the black rocks in the crevice below. The sweet falls is very popular amongst the local populace and it is common to find a swelling crowd at the Sweet Falls during weekends. The place has been developed as a tourist spot and basic facilities for travelers and tourists are available at affordable prices. Wards Lake:

The story goes like this. A Khasi prisoner, bored with the penitentiary routine requested the warden for some creative release by permitting him to create some construction over the Wards Lake. He was permitted to do so and what stands today is a marvelous site of the Wards Lake or Polok's Lake as the locals prefer to call it. This century old picturesque (horseshoe-shaped) artificial lake lying beneath the Raj Bhavan (Governor's Residence) is located at the heart of the city and is extremely popular for its garden walks and boating. The lake is chock-full of fish it's a common sight to see tourists feeding fish from the bridge. The lake is encircled by a winding walk-way and is inter spread with gently sloping flowerbeds and innovative illumination, edged in by luxuriant greens.

Bara Bazaar (Iewduh Market): The Iewduh market or the Bara Bazar, as many old timers still prefer to term it, is one huge colourful jamboree. Generally recommended to every newcomer as the first place to be visited upon arrival the Lewduh market sees an influx of peddlers across Meghalaya advertising and trading their wares. The market becomes the hub of a million activities on the Iewduh (the very first day of the Khasi week) when populace from the entire spectrum from Meghalaya arrives in vibrant

bunches and enhances the festive atmosphere. The vendors offer some of the best Meghalay products for the most reasonable prices. A quick bargain purchase of some of the handwoven goods and natural resources can be one of the best clinched deals of your life. Shillong Golf Club:

Considered to the first 18 hole Golf Course in India the Shillong Golf Club (an altitude of 5200 ft) is any Putters dream come true. The Shillong Golf Course is sometimes equated with "Glen-eagle Course" in the United States because of its beauty and unique location. The Golf Course has been charted in a surging valley full of thick pine groves and rhododendron trees. The course initiated as a 9 (nine) hole course in 1898 was later converted into a full fledged 18 hole course by Capt Jackson in 1924. This enchanting Golfing paradise is also often visited for the enormous panoramic view it presents of the Shillong city and against the backdrop of snow-covered Himalayan ranges. Butterfly Museum:

One of the most amusing sights even for an adult is to watch a delicate little butterfly land on hands and perform a balancing jig before it takes off again to regale another bystander. The Butterfly Museum at Riatsamthiah presents some of the finest and rarest species of butterflies and moths. The museum, had initiated the breeding program for butterflies with an eye on the mounting commercial market. However, the program has now developed into a full fledged Butterfly and moth anthology. The museum also provides a rare insight into the life cycles and habitat of these fragile mortals. Botanical Survey of India Orchidarium:

The Botanical Garden in the vicinity of the enchanting Ward Lake specializes in preservation and research of various species of vegetation especially those related to the Meghalaya region. The Botanical Garden has been successfully preserving and recreating some of the rare species. The Orchidarium of the Botanical Survey of India boasts of an amazingly rare collection of orchids. These Orchids have been obtained from remote location with an aim to provide a congenial atmosphere for these species to hold and grow their roots once again on the soil of Meghalaya. The Orchids have special glass chambers and even temperature controlled atmosphere and feed for better acclimatization.