Shillong (Ward's Lake, Shillong Peak & Police Bazaar)

Name: Shillong (Ward's Lake, Shillong Peak & Police Bazaar)
Address: Shillong, Meghalaya, IN

Meghalaya's pine-clad capital, with colonial-era lakes, a 1,965 m viewpoint and a buzzing market.

Map

Quick facts

Best season: October – May
Duration: 1–2 days
Altitude: ≈1,500 m (Shillong Peak ≈1,965 m)
Nearest town: Shillong (East Khasi Hills)
Permit: No permit needed for Indian or foreign visitors. Carry photo ID; small village entry/parking fees are common. Shillong Peak is inside an Air Force area — ID checked at the gate.
Timings & fees: Ward's Lake and Shillong Peak have small entry fees; Don Bosco Museum closed on Sundays.

About Shillong

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, spreads over pine-covered hills at around 1,500 m and has long been called the 'Scotland of the East'. Founded as a British hill station and capital of undivided Assam, it is now a lively city with a strong Khasi identity, a celebrated music scene and a mild climate that makes it the base for most Meghalaya tours.

In the city centre, Ward's Lake is a horseshoe-shaped lake built in 1894 under Chief Commissioner Sir William Ward, with a wooden bridge, paddle boats and flower gardens. A short walk away, Police Bazaar is the commercial heart of Shillong, crowded with shops, street-food stalls and hotels — ideal for an evening stroll. Shillong Peak, at about 1,965 m the highest point near the city, offers panoramic views over Shillong and, on clear days, as far as the plains; it lies within an Indian Air Force area, so carry ID.

Other highlights include the Don Bosco Museum of Indigenous Cultures, an outstanding seven-storey museum on Northeast India's peoples, the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Lady Hydari Park and the Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum. Elephant Falls and Umiam Lake are close by.