Shillong, also known as ‘Scotland Of The East’ is one of the most popular tourist destination in India. The place is located at a height of 1496 meters above sea level. If you are looking for a picturesque hill station to spend your holidays, this is the place that suits your need. Shillong has around 41 tourist places to explore. And a traveller need more than one week to see all those places. If one is visiting for 2-3 days and want to visit only the top tourist destinations, here is the list of must see places in Shillong.
Top 5 Must See Places in Shillong
Elephant Falls
It is a three steps waterfalls located 12km from the city. One can easily reach this place by public transport. The name ‘Elephant Falls’ was given by a British officer. Once there was an elephant shaped rock near the falls which was later destroyed by an earthquake.It is a collection of 3 smaller falls which merged into one. Among all the three falls, the third fall is easily approachable. Local people named it Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew, meaning Three Steps Water Falls. Best time to see falls is between March-October. There is an entry fee of Rs 40. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited this place in May 2016.
Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture
Another must see places in Shillong. It is an excellent museum to get an overview about all the North Eastern states of India. The museum Spreads over 7 floors and a sky walk at the top from where one can see the entire Shillong city. A restaurant is also there to test dishes from all over the North East. Make sure you have at least two and half hours to see the whole museum. You will be charged Rs 100, if you are carrying a camera with you.
Shillong Peak
Shillong Peak is one of the most popular and must visit tourist spots in Shillong. From here, one can get a clear and nice view of the city. It is at an altitude of 1965 meters above the sea level. Don’t forget to bring an ID proof of yourself while visiting this place as it is under IAF station. Visitors can also hire khasi attire to get photographed. The place stays open from 10 AM to 3 PM. The place is best suitable for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts.
Umiam Lake
Also known as Barapani lake. It is a man made lake which is located 17km from the city. The lake is sprawling over an area of 10 sq. km. One can reach the place easily as it is Situated on the highway from Guwahati to Shillong. people visit this place for kayaking, water cycling, scooting and boating. You also need to pay of 20 Rs per head as entry fees.
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Mawjymbuin Caves
One of the most popular attractions among adventure lovers. The cave is located around 56 km from the city. There is a huge stalagmite in the shape of Shiva Linga on which drops of water falls continuously from a stone above. It is situated on the world’s wettest place, Mawsynram.