Meghalaya Capital

Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong which is also the Headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district stands 1,496 metres above sea level. It has been the seat of Government since the consolidation of the British administration in this part of India more than a century ago when Meghalaya was still an integral part of Assam.

According to legend, Shillong derived its name from a Deity named “Shyllong” who is believed to make her home in the Shillong Peak.

Well connected with motorable roads, the City’s scenic beauty is showcased in the waterfalls, brooks, pine groves and gardens that pepper the countryside. A well-organized group of hotels and guest-houses, besides offering hospitality, have arrangements for tourists including sports, angling, trekking and hiking.
Shillong is connected by the National Highway 40 with the rest of the country through Assam. It is also well-connected by road with other important towns of the State. Besides being the headquarters of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong is also home to the Eastern Air Command, the frontier headquarters of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Assam Regimental Centre, the 58 Gorkha Training Centre, the North Eastern Hill University, the state-of-the-art North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), the National Institute of Fashion Design and the premier Indian Institute of Management named after Rajiv Gandhi d(RG-IIM).

Important tourist spots in and around Shillong include the Ward’s Lake, botanical garden, an 18-hole golf course, the Shillong Peak, Elephant falls, Sweet falls, Bishop falls and Ka Phan Nonglait Park formerly known as Lady Hydari Park. The Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, is a modern museum dedicated to the culture and heritage of the Seven Sister States of the North Eastern region.