My Shillong, the queen of Hill Stations

 ---   Debarati Bhattacharjee

        

Yes, it was my home, my abode during the tender years of my life.

 The quiet hill station of Shillong is located in the North Eastern part of India and is the capital of Meghalaya. The British had found here a home away from home and had named the city “Scotland of the East”.

Till 1972, Shillong had been the Head Quarter of undivided Assam. The state of Meghalaya was formed in the year 1972 and Shillong became its capital city. The kings of Tripura had also built their Summer Palaces here. Shillong was fortunate to have hosted noted personalities like Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and many more.

Jit-Bhumi

Shillong is well connected by NH40 with Guwahati, the nearest railway station. Shillong also has a small airport at Umroi, although it is better to opt for Guwahati airport when visiting the city.

The city of Shillong has a cosmopolitan flavour. Though the majority of population consists of indigenous tribes of Khasi, Jantia and Garo, the city has inhabitants from almost all communities of India who are no less Shillongnites. During the end of the British period and after independence, many government offices were set up in Shillong and people from across India had migrated here for a living and settled here ever since.

The society here is matrilineal. Women run the family and do all sorts of chores which are otherwise done by men elsewhere. Women are much more safe here than the rest of the country.

The winding roads

The essence of Shillong can be felt in its winding roads, valleys of pines, green hills, flowing streams and overall romance. Music lies in the air here. In every nook and corner, a local band can be found singing western music. Shillong is also fondly called as the rock capital of India. One more thing that is in the heart of every person apart from music is football. Every house here boasts of colourful flowers and sparkling window panes. The city is also the seat of premier educational institutions including national institutes.

The winters in Shillong are chilling and the temperature falls down to 2-3 degrees. In the last week of December, the whole city is decked up for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Christmas carols are sung in all places. Santa visits homes and distributes chocolates to the kids. Stars are hung in every verandah and Christmas tree in all sizes sits pretty in the corner of every living room. During winters, the small streams which run down the hillocks are frozen in the morning. In the early morning, the glass panes are covered with mist. The water pipes are frozen and are required to be heated to dissolve the ice. The tap water is icy cold and a huge pan of hot water is always kept on the kitchen heater for use in all the household chores. Of course, now the winters in Shillong are less cold thanks to the menace of deforestation that came with development.

After the winters, springs arrive when small green leaves come up on the barren trees. And winds come with the onset of springs and the weather is so dry during this time that every other person has a red dry cheek. Summers came when the winds subside in the end of March and this is the best time to visit Shillong. In the summers, the temperature remains around 25 degrees and the weather is very comfortable. Rains in Shillong arrive like unforeseen guests. Rains are unpredictable and sometimes last for days and months without stopping. Autumn is brief here and is most celebrated with autumn festivals held everywhere.

Umiam lake

Shillong is just 55 km from Mawsynram, the wettest place on earth. Mawlynnong, the cleanest village in Asia is located 90 km from Shillong. Other places of interest include the Shillong peak, Lady Hydari Park, Ward’s lake, Motphran, Shillong Golf Course etc. Many water falls also add to the beauty of the city viz., Elephant Falls, Beadon-Bishop Falls, Spread Eagle Falls, Sweet Falls, Crinoline Falls etc. Adventure lovers can also find their own interests in various sports.

Shillong occupies a very special place in my heart. I can never detach myself from those flat nosed and red cheeked kids, the old lady in the fish market, the guitarist who plays in the corner of the road, the small stream that used to run down the hill behind my window, the sound of rain on the tin roof, night view of the lit up hills, the drawings I used to make with fingers on the frosted window panes in winter mornings, the first pout of rose in garden, the sunset over Umiam lake, the long walks in the winding roads, the hills where I learned to live and love.

I wind up here and now. The city of Shillong and its surroundings still remain largely unexplored and is a must on your travel list. Come and feel the romance and beauty of the place.

As for me, once a Shillongnite, always a Shillongnite.

KHUBLEI.

A photo blog on Shillong http://travelshillong.blogspot.in/2009/04/1.html