Shillong

Shillong is often referred to as the Scotland of the east. A hill station situated at an altitude of 4900 ft., Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. Built by the British, it was the erstwhile administrative capital of Assam till 1972, when Meghalaya was declared a separate state and Dispur became the capital of Assam. Headquarters were shifted from Cherrapunjee to Shillong in 1866. It is named after U Shyllong, the Supreme Being or the creator.

Places of tourist interest: (1) Shillong Peak 6433 ft (2) Bara Bazaar: biggest bazaar in the Northeast. Village folks come here to sell their wares. Women run most of the stalls. Very colourful. (3) Archery held at polo grounds everyday except Sundays. Bets are legal (1:80 odds – most lucrative in the world) (4) Elephant falls – 11 km from Shillon.