Shillong INDIA: The Hidden City -The Most Undiscovered City on Earth?
By Saihun Phanbuh - Saihun is a freelance writer and was raised in Shillong. She is a young entrepreneur and an good example of the bright young people in North East India.
Seated at an elevation of approximately 1496 m above sea level, Shillong has been named after a legendary deity "Shyllong".
A naturalist's haven, Shillong has within it a green belt of endemic pine forests, various species of mushrooms, orchids, butterflies and insects. Rocks for the rock-climbing enthusiasts, a lake close by to the town, the rain and yes a walk in the clouds as the monsoon sets in. Yet all this is undiscovered by the outside world since this area has been restricted until recently.
Shillong's hospitable climate and people is an invitation to many. Basham, the author of "The wonder that is India", Verrier Elwin, the anthropologist of all times, Nigel Jenkins, the author of "Through the green Doors", Rabindranath Tagore to name a few witnessed the hospitality of the erstwhile town and resided for a number of years.
From a small village, Shillong has grown to a town. Like a child, this town has grown through the years and is growing to a city at a very fast rate offering traditional to modern facilities to its 200, 000 inhabitants who are mostly some of the one million Khasi tribals known for their matrilineal culture.
Walking through the streets of Shillong, one will find churches and temples, mosques and other places of worship, homes across the streets mainly of the British architecture with wooden frame windows wearing lace curtains- a Welsh influence but lately concrete buildings are on the rise- traditional khasi houses at this point of time can be found only in the suburbs of the town. Educational institutions, hospitals, parks, the Ward's Lake, shops all around, cars and taxis and people eating betel nut are a common sight.
Police bazaar, the mall road of the town is familiar to most people who have been here and has the most activity throughout the day. Walk through this 3 block market and be prepared for a walk packed with people shopping at the small shops selling 'kwai' or betelnut, branded showrooms or anything between.
"Ka Iewduh" is the biggest marketing place in Shillong where one gets all essential commodities this place also has a sanctuary where rituals are performed annually depicting the belief of the inhabitants to work honestly and respect the place of trade. Many foreigners claim that this is the most interesting market in the world.
Shillong has won many laurels for itself being the seat of the best educational institutes of the north eastern region, for being such an unknown and isolated city it is surprisingly cosmopolitan with English in common use.
From cuisine to attire, architecture to lifestyle, Shillong is one of the most distinctive place on earth. With so many assets, Shillong has a potential of growing more in the coming years building up on its strengths of climate, unique culture, human capital, strong social capital and the captivating unspoiled beauty of nature.
Is Shillong a typical Indian hill town?
Yes.
Shillong is a typical Indian hill town with a colonial past its bungalows, churches and clubs are a reminder of the British legacy. It is popularly known as the 'Scotland of the East' the weather, location and topography reminded the Britons of home and they named it such. It is the capital of 'abode of clouds' Meghalaya.
How important is Shillong in the NE region?
Shillong is the administrative headquarters of the North East Council, the central agency responsible for socio economic development of the region. It is an educational center for schooling and university education for the people of the region. Plans are on anvil to make it the cyber capital for North East. Strategically, it is an important center of the Indian army.
What is special about Shillong?
Shillong has some spectacular environs for adventure, hiking, and eco tourism. It has altitude, rainfall and isolation result in great biodiversity an abundance of orchids and butterflies!
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