Shillong ,”Scotland of the East” and my hometown.
This beautiful hill station in north-east India is the capital of Meghalaya,”‘The abode of clouds” and is situated 4908 ft above sea level. The state got its name from Megh= clouds, alaya= abode. The famous poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore suggested this name on his first visit in the year 1919. Many of his famous works like ‘Raktakarobi (Red Oleander) and “Shillonger Chithi” (A letter from Shillong ) were penned during his stay at Shillong in the year 1923.
This beautiful hill station in north-east India is the capital of Meghalaya,”‘The abode of clouds” and is situated 4908 ft above sea level. The state got its name from Megh= clouds, alaya= abode. The famous poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore suggested this name on his first visit in the year 1919. Many of his famous works like ‘Raktakarobi (Red Oleander) and “Shillonger Chithi” (A letter from Shillong ) were penned during his stay at Shillong in the year 1923.
Tagore’s home during his stay at Shillong
Every year I visit Shillong during Durga Puja, it gives me an opportunity to reconnect with my family and friends. My family has been living there since it was a part of undivided Assam.
The distance between Mumbai and Shillong is 2846 kms approximately. It takes almost 48hrs by train or 2hrs and 30 mins by flight to reach Guwahati and then a drive of 3-4 hours to finally reach home.
The distance between Mumbai and Shillong is 2846 kms approximately. It takes almost 48hrs by train or 2hrs and 30 mins by flight to reach Guwahati and then a drive of 3-4 hours to finally reach home.
Outskirts of the city
A Kong (lady) selling fresh fruitsThe Guwahati – Shillong drive is about 100 kms and the experience is extremely pleasing; the fresh and cool breeze brushing over your face, the greenery, the faint sound of a stream flowing alongside the road, the “kuay” (beetel nut and beetel leaf with a small piece of ginger) to keep u warm from inside, and of course the fresh fruits from the roadside stalls.
The beautiful Umiam lake
Boatride on the Umiam lakeThe first glimpse of Umiam lake ! This is a beautiful man-made lake, popularly known as Barapani (big water), 30 kms away from the city… Umkiang, Mawiong, Mawlai and finally Shillong !
The Abode of clouds...
Lesser known facts:
Swami Vivekananda spent many years of his life in Shillong.
John Shepherd-Barron, inventor of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) was born in Shillong.
Victor Bannerjee, an actor studied in St. Edmund's School Shillong.
Arundhati Roy, noted writer and Booker Prize winner was born in the KJP Synnod Hospital in Shillong. (I was born in the same hospital)
Utpal Dutt, the prominent actor of Bengali and Hindi cinema, was born in Shillong.
V.informative Nandini!! Sounds like a lot of fun and frollic!!
ReplyDeleteOne cannot stop oneself from imagining all that you have so well described in your post :)
Keep at it - AMAZING!!
I loved the post Nandini....thanks so much for introducing us to a beautiful city in our own country....i havent been to shillong yet...but reading this post makes me wana go there and enjoy the natural beauty...looks sooooo peaceful :)
ReplyDeleteShillong sounds like the best place to commune with Nature. Lucky you to call Shillong your home!
ReplyDeletehey this place looks like heaven!!! i want visit shillong... :)
ReplyDeleteHey Nandu, would love to visit Shillong with you...:)
ReplyDelete