Tourism

Located in the heart of the civil-station of Shillong of yore, there stands in a beautiful lake better known as Ward’s Lake, in memory of Sir William Ward, then Chief Commissioner of Assam who caused its construction. The actual construction of the lake was however carried out by Colonel Hopkinson during 1894 and the lake was for many years, thereafter, known as Hopkinson’s Tank. The local people however preferred it to call it Nan Polok or Polok’s Lake, after an executive engineer named Mr. Polock who executed the civil works connected with the construction of the Lake.
The Lake and its gradually undulating grounds are hemmed in by the lush green rolling campuses of the Shillong Raj Bhavan, the Shillong Club, Hotel Pinewood Ashok, the State Legislative assembly and the Shillong Botanical Garden. It has a most pleasant, winding walk-a-way all around its parameter set in cobbled sand stone, in the midst of picturesque, rolling flower-beds and fairyland lighting. The Lake has a striking arched bridge over it, providing an exhilarating view of the picicultural wealth of its clear, deep waters, which are full of shoals of golden-yellow carp of varying hue and size.
Boats of all sizes and shapes are available from the lake boat-house, while refreshing Cola and other Goodies are ever available off its cafeteria’s laden shelves. The Ward’s Lake has provided the backdrop for the shooting of many of Indian Bollywood’s box-office hits. Shillong would never be the same sans Ward’s Lake.

SHILLONG PEAK
Towering over the scenic southern limits of Shillong—the Scotland of the East, stands Shillong Peak with an elevation of 6445 feet above sea-level. It is the legendary abode of the Khasi deity U Blei Shillong—the creator and protector of the Kingdom. Shillong Peak along with the Diengiei Peak or Lum-Diengiei to its north-west and Sohpetbneng Peak or Lum-Sohpetbneng to its north-east stand proud, as eternal sentinels of the Shillong plateau, in tripod formation.
A magnificent view of the Himalayas is available to viewers atop these peaks, when the skies are not veiled with dust.

SHILLONG CENTENARY MONUMENT
Shillong—often referred to as the educational and cultural capital of north-east India was made the seat of the British administration of Assam in 1874. Its spacious layout was originally designed by its founder, Colonel Henry Hopkinson, Commissioner of Assam and Agent to the Governor General of India. He planned Shillong with its cool salubrious climate to be a little England for the British in eastern India, away from the dust and the sweltering heat of the plains. A century later, giving vent to her deep attachment to Shillong, Mrs. Indira Gandhi stated: while Shillong grows, as it must, we should ensure that it does not lose its special beauty and its tranquil harmony.

As a part of its Centenary Celebration, the Shillong Centenary Monument was erected as a neat triangle of graceful monoliths and a large aluminium-globe with an arrow pointed out towards the sky, as if to exclaim-the sky is the limit! The monument is cradled in between the imposing and grandiose of State Secretariat Buildings, the artistic state Library premises and the All Saints’ cathedral, reminding the people of an eventful Centenary which saw the transition of Shillong from a seat of colonial glory to the cradle of a vibrant capital of growing new State.

SWEET FALLS
Located off Happy Valley at a distance of about eight kilometers from Shillong, lies a waterfall well known for its simple elegance. Perhaps, the sweetness of its simplicity more than justifies the name by which it is known—Sweet Falls.
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. The bed of the rivulet on which the fall is located is deep and narrow upstream of the fall. The chasm into which it falls is straight, wide and open. Downstream of the falls, the rivulet has a wide and comparatively shallower bed. At the feet of the fall, there is a wide but deep pool. The seclusion and solitude at the base of the falls makes it an ideal site for natural relaxation. It is frequented by adventurous picnickers who have to trek a considerable distance to reach the site. Sweet Falls—a well known place of interest, about Shillong.

IEWDUH
The largest traditional market place of the Khasis situated in the heart of Shillong, is known as Iewduh. It is to Shillong what Chandni Chowk is to the metropolis of Delhi. It is said that when Iewduh throbs, one can virtually feel Shillong being energized like a well-bred colt, dashing and racing against the wind, towards its destination. Every eighth day is the main Market-Day at Iewduh. On this day, the produces from the length and breadth of Khasi and Jaintia Hills are rushed by all possible means of transport to Iewduh, for retail as well as wholesale. Much of such merchandise is agricultural. Likewise all sorts of textiles, hardware and consumer goods, besides essential commodities, are marketed at Iewduh by the trading community. Iewduh is run and managed by the Syiem of Mylliem, head of the traditional democratic institution of Syiemship. The most distinctive feature of this ancient market is the total domination of its retail trade by the Khasi women, who are everywhere, all over Iewduh, full of smiles but with remarkable acumen for trade and commerce. Even as Iewduh Khasi-Pnar Association is a women dominated organization, reflecting the matrilineal character of the Khasis. The popular annual Shad Nongkrem festival of Nongkrem Syiemship, at smit, will not be complete in its religious rituals unless some sol from Iewduh is taken to Smit as a token of unity of the ancient past, when the present Mylliem Syiemship and the present Nongkrem Syiemship were one, then known as Shillong Syiemship. Since such times Iewduh continues to be the religious market of the Khasi people.
The Syiem of Mylliem has his own police force for policing of Iewduh in so far as matters controlled by the Syiem are concerned.

LADY HYDARI PARK
Nestled in between the expansive grounds of Pine Mount School on one side, the Shillong Rose Garden and the Shillong Civil Hospital campus on the other, the Lady Hydari Park which extends for over a kilometre in length, owes its existence to Lady Hydari, the wife of an erstwhile Governor of the composite state of Assam. The park which is replete with roses and flowers of the most exquisite hue and colour, has an excellent mini-zoo-cum-deer park attached to it.
Sans Lady Hydari Park, Shillong would be much poorer inspite of its natural grandeur and beauty.

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. Hence the name Spread Eagle Falls. The falls have fairly steep cliffs on three sides with a very deep pool beneath. The falls is locally known as Urkaliar or the falls into which Ka Liar slipped. Ancient folklore has it that a maiden named Ka Liar while wondering in the pine grove along side the steep cliffs missed her steps to meet her watery end. Thus the name Urkaliar. Spread Eagle Falls is well frequented by streams of tourists, lovers of nature and picnickers.

BOTANICAL GARDEN
Located downstream of the main dyke of the Ward’s Lake, the Shillong Botanical Garden set up during the early days of the century has a rich and varied collection of exotic as well as indigenous plants and trees. It also houses a mini-aviary with rare and colourful species of birds, particulary Tragopan, Pheasant and Wildfowl. The secluded setting of the Botanical Garden with its well laid paved walks makes it a favourite resort for city dwellers as well as tourists who desire to exercise their limbs in conducive natural environs, away from th din and bustle of busy streets and frequented parks.
Botanical Garden—a place worth knowing in Shillong: the Scotland of the East.

OLD STATE ASSEMBLY PREMISES
The imposing State Assembly Premises is located at the focal center of downtown Shillong. It was constructed during the early 1920’s. It housed the Legislative Assembly of the composite state of Assam till 1972, when the capital of the reorganized state of Assam was shifted down to Dispur. It has been used to house the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, thereafter.
The State Assembly premises has its distinctive style of architecture. The Assembly chamber has intricate woodwork, done in the beauty of Burma teak. It bears testimony to the superb craftsmanship of Chinese master carpenters of yesteryear. The State Assembly has a very well-appointed Library and a unique Orchid-house which houses a wide range of the north-east’s rare orchid species.
The Meghalaya State legislative Assembly premises—certainly the soul of the State.

STATE CENTRAL LIBRARY
The premises of the Central Library opposite the State secretariat Building is the central landmark of the city of Shillong. Its spacious lawns add beauty and grace to the city. The library has a very rich and varied collection of reference books on North-Eastern India.
A spacious and well appointed auditorium forms a part of the Library premises. All important regional and State-level functions are held in this auditorium. The State Museum is also located in the State Central Library premises with a good collection of artifacts of north-eastern India in general and Meghalaya in particular. Martyrs’ Column dedicated to the sacred memory of the State’s immortal martyrs—U Tirot Singh, U Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma also stands within the State Central Library Campus adding to its hallowed beauty.
An imposing larger-than-life bronze statue of Shrimati Indira Gandhi with an outstretched arm symbolizing benevolent maternal blessing, has recently been erected at the centre of the Library lawns, further enhancing the gracious charm of this centre-piece of the State Capital.

GOLF COURSE
Nestled within tall and elegant whispering pines, at an altitude of 4750 feet above sea-level, the eighteen-hole Shillong Golf course finds mention in international directories of Golf Courses of repute.
Golf was introduced here by the Europeans stationed at Shillong at the turn of the century. The present Golf Club and Golf-links were established in 1924 adding beauty and grace to the already beautiful hill resort of Shillong. The wide and open course is a panoramically beautiful place for relaxation and recreation of people of all ages, throughout the year.

CRINOLINE SWIMMING POOL
At a stone’s throw from Lady Hydari Park lies the premier swimming pool of the state. Being located near the base of the Crinoline Falls, the swimming pool is known as the Crinoline Swimming Pool. The tiny but perennial Crinoline Falls forms a natural but romantic background for the pool, which was initially developed for the relaxation of convalescing soldiers, during the Second World War times. After the war, it was thrown open for the use of the people of Shillong and run by a private agency, for some decades.
It was later taken over by the State Sports’ Authority and further developed and improved to conform to set swimming standards. Swimming is a favourite sporting activity of Shillongites and the Crinoline Swimming Pool is a much frequented place-of-interest at Shillong.

ELEPHANT FALLS
An exquisitely beautiful waterfall is located about three hundred metres off the Shillong-Mawphlang Road, about ten kilometers off Shillong. It is one of the most frequented of the several waterfalls and tourist spots in and around Shillong. 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.
The surrounding of the Elephant Falls and its subsidiary falls are lush green and the rivulet has thick moss, lichens and ferns covering its stony banks. Beautiful red Rhododendrons and myriad species of ever chirping birds make the place an enchanting one.

CHURCHES
As if to justify the desire of the British founding fathers of the city of Shillong to make it a little England, churches and cathedrals, large and small, have come up everywhere in the city. Some of these churches and cathedrals are so spacious and large that they can easily accommodate a few thousand worshippers, at a time. Among such large churches of Shillong, mention can be made of the Shillong Cathedral, the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church, the Jaiaw Presbyterian Church, the Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Church and the < Saints’>, as prominent landmarks of the city, be it from the observation points located on the neighbouring hilltops, or from the air. All such churches are functional ones and are found to be packed to capacity during Sunday services. Churches of Shillong—a measure of the religiousity of the Shillongites.

DISTRICT COURT
All roads in Shillong converge on to the District Copurt campus where the office and courts of the Deputy Commissioner are located. The stately erstwhile district-court premises were built over a hundred years ago, around 1876. Proliferation of the district officer’s functions made it necessary to replace the old premises with a larger one. The present District Court building at Shillong, which was recently built, over the same site, is elegant and spacious. It has a distinctive style and architecture. Certainly, a landmark by itself.

HIGH COURT PREMISES
The Shillong Bench of the Guwahati High Court is housed in the magnificent splendor pf the premises of the erstwhile Assam State Legislative Council. These premises are located adjacent to the State Assembly premises in downtown Shillong. Before the adoption of the Constitution of India, the state of Assam had a bicameral legislature with the Legislative Council as the Upper House. With the adoption of our constitution the Upper House ceased to exist in the composite state of Assam. The Legislative Council premise was then used to house the Shillong Station of All India Radio for four decades. The beautiful premises are now utilized as the seat of the Shillong Bench of the Guwahati High Court—a use highly befitting the aura and glory of the building during its earlier decades of existence.

SHILLONG CLUB
The well known Shillong Club is as old as the township of Shillong. It was established during the last century by the British officers and Planters of Assam and served as their principal centre of relaxation and social-interaction. Located on a hillock overlooking the beautiful Ward’s Lake, the Club has excellent tennis-courts besides a host of other facilities. The grand old premises of the Club were destroyed in a fire during the recent seventies. A modest but spacious and homely new houses the Club and provides usual facilities as all other Clubs do.

Surviving erstwhile residents of Shillong of yesteryear, in all parts of the world, never fail to enquire of the health and progress of the Club, whenever they cross the path of Shillongite—an indication of their love and esteem for the Club.

POLO GROUND
The well-known Polo Ground at Shillong was set up resident British sports enthusiasts at the turn of the century. The Polo Ground has been carved out of the Umkhrah valley by diversion of the Umkhrah Stream for a considerable length of its course. Polo was a novelty for the people of Shillong but it soon gained popularity and drew considerable interest among the Shillong gentry. The second World War dampened the general enthusiasm in sports, particulary in polo, during the forties. With the departure of the British residents of Shillong, soon after the war, as a sequel to India’s independence, active interest in the game of polo had a set-back and it ceased to be played. The polo ground has since been utilized for soccer and hockey. The Jawaharlal Nehru Complex has been set up on a part of the lovely and expansive Polo Grounds.
The Polo Ground used to be encircled by the captivating turf of the Shillong Race-course. Races too, were introduced by the British and soon became popular,drawing large, eager crowds, every week-end, Races outlived polo and thrived till the mid-sixtoes. The race-course remains, but races are no longer held—perhaps a reminder of the ineveitable change of the times.

DON BOSCO SQUARE
Shillong is a sprawling hill station of many localities, some of which are much larger than smaller hill-stations, elsewhere. A number of these localities are towns with their own identity, local-body, market place and educational institutions. Of such localities, Laitumkhrah is one of the largest and best known in Shillong.Laitumkhrah is often known as the educational district of the city of Shillong, as the most prestigious educational institutions are all located in and around Laitumkhrah. The well-known St. Edmund’s College, St. Anthony’s College, St. Mary’s College, Loreto Covent and Don Bosco’s are all located here. The central plaza of the area in and around which these famed centers of learning are located in known as Don Bosco Square. A graceful statue of Don Bosco in the company of admiring children, set on a high pedestal is located at the centre of Don Bosco Square—a fitting tribute to the saintly patron of intellectual pursuits.
It is Don Bosco Square and the centers-of–learning located in its environs which has given Shillong the enviable status of the educational capital of north-eastern India.

LAITKOR PEAK
Located on the same range and close to Shillong Peak stands Laitkor Peak, on which the Shillong View-Point is located. A breathtaking view of the length and breadth of Shillong including the adjoining Shillong-Cantonment area, Happy Valley and Assam regimental Centre is available to viewers from the View-Point. When darkness descends upon the Shillong plateau, the myriad city lights transform it into a veritable fairyland for all viewers on Laitkor Peak. Well connected by all weather motorable roads, Laitkor Peak is a compulsive part of any first time visitor’s itinerary to Shillong—the educational and cultural capital of North-East India.

ROBERTS’ HOSPITAL
Dr.H.Gordon Roberts, a Welsh Presbyterian Missionary set up the first organised hospital with surgical facilities, at Shillong, during 1922. Apart from being the best known hospital, east of Calcutta, the hospital was the only centre of surgery in north-easten India which constituted the then composite state of Assam. People from all parts of the region flocked to this hospital which came to be known as Roberts’ Hospital, to experience the healing charisma of Dr. Roberts, whose name became a household word, everywhere in the north-east. His professional expertise with the surgical-scalpel, coupled with his innate warmth and tender care brought painless relief to the sick and the suffering.
Roberts’ Hospital also took up training of nurses and soon turned out scores of trained nurses, who spread to remote dispensaries and first-aid centres spread throughout the length and breath of this region.
Roberts’ Hospital has come a long way during the over seventy years of its existence, while sophisticated centres of medical care with modern equipment and facilities have sprung up elsewhere. The hospital is now managed by the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod and is known as Mission-Hospital, although most people would still like to call it Roberts’ Hospital with a deep sense of nostalgia and pride. Roberts’ Hospital, Shillong—a well- known centre of medicare and surgery

KING EDWARD VII MEMORIAL PASTEUR INSTITUTE
On the northern flank of Shillong stands the Pasteur Institute, established at the turn of the century. The Institute was named King Edward VII Memorial Pasteur Institute to perpetuate the memory of King Edward VII, Emperor of British India. Although the original structure of the Institute has been recently replaced by a posh modern building, it continues to bear its original name and style.
The Institute is equipped for general medical research and analysis. It specialises in the production of anti-rabies vaccine and meets such vaccine requirements of Eastern India. Located within the premises of the Pasteur Institute is the Shillong Blood-Bank with facilities for detecting HIV syndrome.

UMIAM WATER SPORTS COMPLEX
The Water Sports Complex has been developed upon the mighty reservoir of the Umiam Hydro Electric Project, at Umiam, eighteen kilometres before reaching Shillong , along side the Guwahati-Shillong Road(NH-40). The Complex consists of the Orchid Lake Resort, the Nehru Park and Water Sports facilities. The majestic lake with its surrounding sylvan hills clothed in the beauty of the myriad emerald green khasi-pines, and, the azure blue skies reflected from its clear water, have a hypnotising effect not only on casual visitors but upon all who can afford the luxury of unfolding themselves in its idyllic setting.
The Orchid Lake Resort offers decent accommodation besides local, Continental and Chinese cuisines. The Water Sports Complex provides a choice of row-boats, paddle-boats, cruise-boats, saling-boats, water-scooters, speed-boats and a floating restaurant with ferry services. The adjoining Nehru Park has a towering statue of Jawaharlalji surrounded by endless kilometres of walks which takes a visitor up hill and down dale, till one is content. The ‘walks’ have been beautifully planned out and are shaded with assortments of extensive plantations, hedges, ferns and other creeping foliage. Tastefully lighted and interspersed with well designed shades and shelters, Nehru Park provides seekers of nature relaxation and all that one could normally desire. Close to the complex is the well-appointed State Institute of Research & Training on Rural Development. Across the lake is located the well known Union Christian College.

SENG KHASI HILL
Located at Mawkhar, Shillong, the Seng Khasi Hall was established by the Seng Khasi, an organisation of the Khasis founded in 1899 by sixteen members of the Khasi-elite of the day, for the preservation, protection and promotion of Khasi culture. The Shad Suk Mynsiem, the annual Thanksgiving Festival of the Khasis celebrated at spring time every year, which was almost forgotten at the turn of the century, owes its regeneration and present popularity to the admirable efforts of the Seng Khasi. The present awakening of the Khasis to all that is good, true and noble in their tradition and institutions is largely due to the ceaseless work and endeavours of the Seng Khasi.