Shillong is one of the many cities in India. There is no doubt that the north-eastern part of India is beautiful. It’s like pure heaven. Shillong is one of the beautiful hill stations in North-Eastern India. It is one of the popular tourist attractions. This city truly defines the beauty of nature. People who are nature lovers will definitely love this place. It’s a place that will make you fall in love with it. Apart from its scenic beauty, there are a lot of other things to do in Shillong.
An Introduction to Shillong
Shillong was previously known as Yeddo or Lewduh. It is a beautiful hill station. The golf course of this place is well-known throughout the world.
One of the interesting facts about Shillong is that it is also known as the Scotland of India.
It is one of the popular places where tourists love to visit as it is a very relaxing and peaceful place where anyone can spend their time freely.
There are so many things to do in Shillong, but before knowing about them, people need to visit the place first.
What Is Shillong Famous For?
There are so many things for which Shillong is famous. But one of the main beauties Shillong is famous for is its manicured gardens.
As per the reports, it is also popular for its education and is the place in North East India that has the largest number of education hubs.
Rainfall, thunderstorms, landscapes, and all kinds of natural happenings make this place more popular and beautiful.
Things to Do in Shillong
1) East Khasi Hills
It gives a proper overview of Shillong. It also has the highest annual rainfall not only in India but all over the world.
East Khasi Hills is one of the district of Meghalaya and from its name it is clear that it is located in the east part of the Meghalaya.
There are many things to do in Shillong, but one of them should be to visit this location.
2) Elephant Falls
Its name is Elephant Falls, but that doesn’t mean people will get to see elephants falling at this place!!
There is a waterfall in Shillong that is extremely beautiful, and it is one of the most popular waterfalls there.
It is located in upper Shillong and it has a total of 150 steps to walk down. There are also sitting areas there.
2.1) Elephant Falls: The History Behind The Name
This name was not given by the Indians. Actually, this name was given by the British during their era.
The story goes that one of the British noticed a huge and massive rock that resembled an elephant. So from that time, it was known as “Elephant Falls.”
The sad thing about this story is that the rock that was assembled as an elephant was destroyed by the earthquake in 1897.
3) Umiam Lake
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There are so many things to do in Shillong, but visiting Umiam Lake is also one of them because it is one of the popular tourist attractions.
It was created during the 1960s and it is one of the major places for water adventures or boating.
Every place has its own local name, and Umiam Lake has it as well. The people who live there call this lake Dam Sait.
One of the interesting things about Umiam Lake is that it is not a natural lake. It is a beautiful man-made lake.
Overall, Umiam Lake should be on the must-visit list in Shillong because this place is so refreshing and beautiful.
4) Cathedral Catholic Church
“The Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians” – some people get confused by seeing this name, but they should not because it is the other name of this church.
It was founded in 1936 and is situated in Laitumkhrah, Shillong. It is a Roman Catholic church that is extremely beautiful.
The specialty of this church is its structure. Actually, it was built in the wooden colonial style.
There are so many things to do in Shillong. There are so many places to visit here, but visiting this place would give anyone peace and relieve them of sorrow.
5) Lady Hydari Park
This is one of the most popular things for which Shillong is known.
It was named after the lady who was so fond of nature, and it’s obvious that the lady wasn’t Indian. The name was given during the British era.
It is located in Lower Lauchumiere, Shillong. This place is like a combo place because it’s not only a park, it has a zoo as well.
It is a beautiful spot to visit in Shillong. It can be said that it is a manicured, lush green garden that is surrounded by pine trees.
It has a small museum as well, and it’s a park, so it’s obvious that it has a playing section for children.
There are so many things to do in Shillong, but visiting Lady Hydari Park would be one of the greatest things.
6) Shillong Golf Club
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It is one of the oldest golf courses from the British era. It is a very popular Shillong golf course.
There are so many golf courses in Shillong, but one of the finest Shillong golf courses is in the Khasi Hills.
It is also titled “Gleneagle of the East” by the Golf Association. It is surrounded by lush green hills as well, which makes the place more attractive.
Generally, the golf course has 18 holes, but in the beginning, when it was established, it had only 9 holes. In 1924, it was converted into an 18-hole course.
Overall, the Shillong golf course is an amazing place that tourists should also consider as a part of their trip.
7) Nokrek National Park
It is a little far away from Shillong. Actually, it is located in Meghalaya and was established in 1986.
It can be said that it has a large variety of flora and fauna. It has an amazing viewpoint as well, which makes it even more beautiful.
It is popular because here tourists can see different kinds of species, like red pandas, Asian elephants, wild cats, and so on.
8) Botanical Garden
There is no doubt that this garden is full of incredible scenic beauty. The place is full of lush greenery and is one of the great places in North East India.
Its name is Botanical Garden because it has such a huge collection of plants and each plant has its own botanical name.
Tourists can gain some educational knowledge as well from this place, as it has different variations of plant species.
The main objective of this garden is to protect nature’s biodiversity for future generations.
It has wonderful decorative plants that attract the tourists’ attention towards itself, and it also has a breathtaking panoramic view.
There are so many things to do in Shillong, but visiting this place would be great as it is an extremely beautiful place.
The specialty of this place is Ward’s lake and its rarest orchids. Along with this, tourists can also see native plants and trees here.
9) Don Bosco Museum
One of the best things to do in Shillong is to visit this place. It is situated in Mawlai Phudmuri, Shillong.
The Don Bosco Centre is one of the most popular tourist destinations because it reflects the indigenous culture of the people in the North East.
This place is quite informative as it tells you about the history and the culture of that particular place. The view from the top of this place is so satisfactory.
This place should not be missed as it is a gem that has a large number of handicrafts, a few local artifacts, art, etc.
The building is very well-maintained and has a total of 7 floors. Each floor has its own specialty. This museum was opened in 2003.
The Don Bosco Centre is perfect for art lovers or for people who want to know about the North East cultures.
10) Thrills Fun Park
Its name also reflects that it is a thrilling place that is full of fun.
It’s a family-friendly amusement park whose specialty is its go-kart circuit. Anyone can have the best virtual driving experience.
It has a swimming pool where people can have fun, and there is a playground for children as well.
Apart from the adventures, it also offers fun while enjoying exotic drinks with western music.
It has cafes and restaurants as well that have super amazing foods, and people can enjoy their food with lively music.
So, one of the best things to do in Shillong is to visit this park, as it will give tourists a worthwhile experience.
11) Air Force Museum
Visiting this place would be one of the greatest things to do in Shillong as it is an informative place.
It tells us about the history of the air force of India and every Indian should be aware of it. This museum is a sign of tribute to the defense of the Indian nation.
It is a beautiful place to visit in Shillong that has old aircraft, weapons, and some cultural things from that place.
12) Dawki
Shillong is the nearest town to Dawki. This place is quite adventurous as well. Tourists visit here to experience it.
It is popular because of its Dawki River, where people can go on adventures.
One interesting fact about the river is that its water is so clear that it can act as a mirror as well.
Tourists do trekking as well, on the calm and composed trails of Dawki.
So, visiting this place won’t give tourists any regrets for sure.
13) Shillong Peak
Shillong peak is the highest viewpoint in Shillong. It offers an extremely beautiful view of the scenic countryside.
The view from this point is so mesmerizing that an individual would not wish to go away from here.
From this peak, tourists can experience the scenic view of the entire city.
14) Rock Climbing
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It is one of the interesting adventure sports that are filled with fun and joy.
The best place to go rock climbing in Shillong is in the Khasi hills. There are other places as well for this adventurous activity.
Rock climbing is one of the interesting things to do in Shillong.
15) Trekking
Trekking is also one of the activities that can be enjoyed here. People who love doing adventurous activities should try this.
There are so many trekking trails in Shillong, but the best one is the David Scott trail. It covers a total of 100 km of distance.
There are other places as well for trekking, but for the best experience, the David Scott trail should be considered.
16) Water Skiing
It is also one of the great adventure activities. One of the best places for this activity is Wards Lake in Shillong.
Umiam Lake can be considered for this. This activity will give the tourists a worthwhile experience.
One of the things to do in Shillong is Water Skiing.
17) Other Adventure Sports
Archery is one of the activities that can be done in Shillong. If someone is really good at archery, then they should definitely try this.
This activity can be done at the polo ground in Shillong. If someone doesn’t know archery, then they can take the help of the guides as well.
One of the amazing adventure sports in Shillong is mountain biking. It sounds so cool, but it is quite risky as well if someone is not aware of it.
18) Rock Music Tradition
Shillong is also known as the “rock capital of India” because of the bands and musicians.
Shillong’s thriving scene is something that makes people fall in love with its music. Not only is rock music performed here; other kinds of music are also performed.
Nowadays, youngsters have different choices in music. Some like hip-hop, some like jazz, some like rock, etc. As a result, any type of music can be heard here.
19) Sweet Falls
Sweet Falls is one of the mesmerizing waterfalls that are located on the outskirts of Shillong.
The place looks so beautiful and is surrounded by greenery, but it is also said that the place is quite risky.
There is a myth about this place that it is a haunted place because here several suicides have been committed.
But overall, it’s a sweet and one of the cascading waterfalls to visit in Shillong.
20) Local Cuisine of Shillong
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There is no doubt that people really love to explore in terms of food. They want to try every variety of food items.
Each place has its own local food items that taste different from the other places.
Some of the food items that comes in the local cuisines of Shillong are Jadoh, momo, tungrymbai, etc.
There are so many things to do in Shillong but having momos should be one of them.
20.1) Top 5 Restaurants in Shillong
• Cafe Shillong is one of the best restaurants in Shillong and is situated near Don Bosco in Laitumkhrah. It serves really amazing and delicious food items.
• City Hut Family Dhaba is also a great place to eat. The specialty of this place is that it serves amazing North Indian food items to its customers.
• The Work Restaurant is one of the popular restaurants that is situated in Lummawrie. Its service is top-notch and it serves really yummy dishes to its customers.
• Dylan’s Café is also an amazing place that can be considered for having food. Momo is a must-try item at this place.
• Kim Pou Chinese Banquet is another popular restaurant in Shillong. It serves really amazing Chinese cuisine, as can be guessed by its name.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is a Romantic Shillong Tour Good for Couples?
Of course, Shillong is one of the most beautiful places for couples. They can spend their quality time here peacefully.
They can explore the area and embark on adventures. The view here is so blissful and mesmerising that it is not less than heaven.
Couples can also spend their honeymoon in nature. So, it’s definitely a good place to spend the romantic period for couples.
2) Is Shillong a Costly Place to Visit?
Yes, it is quite a costly place to visit, but it is all worth it after exploring this place.
There are so many places to visit and so many things to do in Shillong that will give an individual a memorable experience.
3) How Many Days Are Enough to Explore Shillong?
Exploring any place needs some time. Similar is the case of Shillong. It will take around 4-5 days to cover all the places properly.
There are so many places to visit where tourists can see so many beautiful and interesting things.
4) Is Shillong a Worthwhile Place to Visit?
Yes, of course, Shillong is a worthwhile place to visit, and there is no doubt about it because of its true beauty.
There are so many other things people can experience here. Like, during trekking, they can experience the living root bridge.
Shillong’s guest house is also amazing because it is a sky-view tree house that gives an amazing view.
It has majestic mountain peaks as well, from where tourists can enjoy the extreme beauty of the city.
Shillong is a town that is only a few kilometers away from Cherrapunji. It is also a beautiful place, and tourists visit here as well during their trip to Shillong.
Cherrapunji is known as the wettest place as it is popular because of its rainfall. It also has the Seven Sisters Falls, for which it is famous.
So, not only Shillong, but the places that are near it are also beautiful and interesting.
5) Is Shillong a Cold Place?
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Yes, Shillong is a cold place. So, before visiting here, tourists should pack some winter clothes to protect themselves from the cold because they are not used to it.
It is a cold place because of its climatic changes. Mostly, the weather here is cloudy or rainy.
6) Is It Easy to See Snowfall Here?
It would be shocking, but the answer is no. It is really hard to find snow in Shillong, even during winter.
If someone desperately wants to see snow here, then they should visit the upper Shillong peak. If it does not snow, then at least they can see icicles for sure.
7) What Is the Culture of Shillong?
The majority of the people in Shillong belong to the Khasi tribe, and they follow the culture of the matrilineal society.
The interesting thing about this culture is that the mother is the head of the family, not the father. And children adopt their mother’s surname.
The main languages spoken here are Hindi and English, so for Indian tourists, there is no language barrier.
But, just like all other places, the people of Shillong speak their regional language as well, that is, Khasi, Garo, and Assamese.
8) Is Shopping in Shillong Expensive?
Actually, it depends on the people which kinds of shopping they prefer and at which place they want to shop.
There are malls as well but shopping in the local markets would be great option because tourists can get the handicrafts products.
The main source for local shopping in Shillong is in police bazar but East Khasi hills and Laitumkhrah can be also considered for shopping.
Tourists can buy handmade hanging decor, shawls, traditional Khasi dresses, Tibetan jewelry, and so on.
Conclusion
Overall, Shillong is a beautiful place to visit and it has so many places to explore. There are travel guides as well that help tourists explore the place. The place is full of adventures, and tourists can experience living root bridges as well. There are so many other things to do in Shillong as well.
This place is surrounded by lush green vegetation and rhododendron trees. It’s a beautiful place where people can visit and create a memorable trip with their loved ones. It is one of the best hill stations in India! The place is extremely mesmerizing and beautiful because of its natural beauty. The place is quite informative as well, as it also tells about the history of the defence of the nation. So, it’s a highly recommended place to visit.
Last Updated on by Ishika
