Shillong
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| Shillong | |
|---|---|
| capital | |
 | |
| Nickname(s): Scotland of the East | |
 
Shillong
| |
| Coordinates: 25.5667°N 91.8833°ECoordinates: 25.5667°N 91.8833°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| District | East Khasi Hills |
| Area | |
| • Total | 64.36 km2 (24.85 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,525 m (5,003 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 354,325[1] |
| • Density | 234/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 793 001 – 793 100 |
| Telephone code | 0364 |
| Vehicle registration | ML-05 |
| Website | www.shillong.com |
Shillong (English pronunciation: /ʃɪˈlɔːŋ/;[2][3] Khasi: Shillong) is the capital of Meghalaya, one of the smallest states in India and home to the Khasis. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district and is situated at an average altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496 m) above sea level, with the highest point being Shillong Peak at 6,449 feet (1,966 m). Shillong is the 330th most populous city in India with population of 143,007 according to the 2011 census.[4] It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, Shillong is known as "Scotland of the East." The population density of the state of Meghalaya in the current decade is 342 people per sq mile.
It has steadily grown in size and significance since it was made the civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1864 by the British. In 1874, on the formation of Assam as a Chief Commissioner's Province, it was chosen as the headquarters of the new administration because of its convenient location between the Brahmaputra and Surma valleys and more so because the climate of Shillong was much cooler than tropical India. Shillong remained the capital of undivided Assam until the creation of the new state of Meghalaya on 21 January 1972, when Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya and Assam moved its capital to Dispur inGuwahati.
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[hide]Geography[edit]
Shillong is at 25.57°N 91.88°E. It is on the Shillong Plateau, the only major uplifted structure in the northern Indian shield.[5] The city lies in the centre of the plateau and is surrounded by hills, three of which are revered in Khasi tradition: Lum Sohpetbneng, Lum Diengiei and Lum Shillong.
- Weather conditions: Pleasant, pollution-free; summers: The temperature varies from 23 °C(73 °F); winters: The temperature varies from 4 °C (39 °F).
- Location: Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya is just 55 km (34 mi) from Mawsynram, the world's wettest place. Shillong receives far less precipitation due to the orographic effect.
Climate[edit]
Under Köppen's climate classification the city features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb). Its summers are warm and very rainy, while its winters are cool and dry. Shillong is subject to vagaries of the monsoon. The monsoons arrive in June and it rains almost until the end of August. October–November and March–April are the best months to visit Shillong.
| [hide]Climate data for Shillong | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) | 17 (63) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23.4 (74.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 19 (66) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.05 (69.87) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) | 6.5 (43.7) | 10.7 (51.3) | 13.8 (56.8) | 15.3 (59.5) | 17.3 (63.1) | 18 (64) | 17.7 (63.9) | 16.5 (61.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 8.8 (47.8) | 5.3 (41.5) | 12.3 (54.09) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 13.6 (0.535) | 22.7 (0.894) | 52.8 (2.079) | 129.8 (5.11) | 273.1 (10.752) | 468.2 (18.433) | 395.1 (15.555) | 316.8 (12.472) | 294.1 (11.579) | 193 (7.6) | 38.6 (1.52) | 9.2 (0.362) | 2,207 (86.891) |
| Avg. rainy days | 2.9 | 3.3 | 6.9 | 13.1 | 21.4 | 24.2 | 24.5 | 23.5 | 22.1 | 12.5 | 4.4 | 2.1 | 160.9 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization[6] | |||||||||||||
Connectivity[edit]
Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport has only limited flights.
Roadways[edit]
Shillong is well connected by roads with all major northeastern states. Two major National Highways pass through:
- National Highway 40 (India) – Connected to Guwahati
- National Highway 44 (India) – Connected to Tripura & Mizoram(NH 44A)
Private bus operators as well as state transport buses from other states ply to and from Shillong daily. Taxi service is also available to destination like Guwahati, Agartala, Dimapur and other northeastern towns and cities.
Demographics[edit]
As of 2011 India census[7] Shillong City urban/metropolitan population is 354,325 of which 176,591 are males and 177,734 are females. Males constitute 46% of the population and females 54%. Average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 63.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 92.34%.13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Khasis make up the majority of the population though the percentage of Khasi people in the city continues to fall as a result of the large number of migrants from other Indian states. All the other North-East tribes are represented here as well as significant numbers of Bengali, Nepali, Assamese, Biharis and Marwaris making it a fairly cosmopolitan city. Christianity is the dominant religion in the city. Presbyterianism and other denominations of Protestants and Roman Catholics make up the Christian population. A sizeable proportion of the population follow the original Khasi religion: Niam Khasi and Niamtre. Other religions found in India are represented in significant numbers in the city.
Places of interest[edit]
These are locations in and around Shillong which are tourist spots.[8] These include:
- Elephant Falls: 12 km on the outskirts of the city, the mountain stream descends through two successive falls set in dells of fern covered rocks.
- Lady Hydari Park: The park stretches over a kilometre and has an adjacent mini zoo.
- Wards Lake: Known locally as Nan-Polok. Its an artificial lake with garden and boating facilities.
- Shillong Golf Course: Shillong has one of the largest golf courses (the world's wettest) in Asia: Gleneagles of the East. It enjoys the rare distinction of being one of the few natural golf courses in Asia. Not only is the Shillong Golf Course scenic and enjoyable, it is also challenging. A group of British civil service officers introduced golf to Shillong in 1898 by constructing a nine-hole course. The present 18-hole course was inaugurated in 1924. The course is set in a valley covered with pine and rhododendron trees. The tight fairways, carpeted with a local grass which hardens the soil, are difficult to negotiate. The number of out-of-bounds streams that criss-cross every fairway makes it all the more trying. Obstructions come in the form of bunkers, trees and rain. The longest hole is the 6th, which is a gruelling 594 yards. Shillong Golf Course is considered to be the "Glen Eagle of the East" at the United States Golf Association Museum. It was set in a valley at an altitude of 5200 ft in 1898 as a nine-hole course and later converted into a 18-hole course in 1924 by Captain Jackson and C. K. Rhodes.
- Motphran: The “Stone of France” which is locally known as "Motphran" was erected in memory of the 26th Khasi Labour Corps who served under the British in France during World War I. It bears the words of the famous Latin poet Horace "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" which can be roughly translated as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country."
- Shillong Peak: A picnic spot, 10 km from the city, 1965 m above sea level, offers a panoramic view of the scenic countryside and is the highest point in the state. Obeisance is paid to U Shulong at the sanctum sanctorum at the peak's summit every springtime, by the religious priest of Mylliem State.
- Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum: For those interested in ethnic tribal culture and tradition this government museum offers insights to the lifestyle of the people. This museum is in the State Central Library complex where monuments for the great patriots of the state were erected besides the statue of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures: The Don Bosco Museum is part of DBCIC (Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures). DBCIC comprises research on cultures, publications, training, animation programmes and the museum, which is a place of knowledge-sharing on the cultures of the northeast in particular, and of culture in general. DBCIC with its Don Bosco Museum is situated at Mawlai, Shillong.
- Entomological Museum (Butterfly Museum): A privately owned museum of M/s Wankhar, Riatsamthiah, Shillong about 2 km from Police Bazar is the only known museum in India devoted to moths and butterflies.
- Air Force Museum at Upper Shillong
- Forest Museum in Lady Hydari Park
- Rhino Heritage Museum at Shillong
- Zoological Museum in Risa Colony
- Anthropological museum at Mawblei
- Botanical Museum at 4th Furlong
- Arunachal Museum at the Cantonment Area
- Chrysalis the Gallery: This art gallery is on the second floor of Salonsar Mansion at Police Bazaar, the commercial hub of Shillong. Chrysalis has flexible spacing to display paintings (canvases), sculpture, photography and handicrafts. Run by a local artist, Jaya Kalra, the gallery caters to exhibitions of artists and artisans especially from the northeast and also from the rest of India.
- State Museum: Located at the State Central Library complex.
- Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians is in Don Bosco Square.
- Bishop and Beadon Falls: Both cascade down the same escarpment into a deep valley.
- Spread Eagle Falls: 3 km from Polo Grounds.
- Sweet Falls: Sweet Falls (also called “Weitden,” in the native dialect) is the most beautiful of all the waterfalls in Shillong. It lies about 5 km from the Happy Valley and is about 96 m in height.
- Crinoline Falls: Near Lady Hydari Park.
Sports[edit]
Although relatively unknown in the field of sports, Shillong recently got into the limelight because of Shillong Lajong FC, a football club based here which has taken the Indian football scene by storm in the recent Indian leagues.
Shillong Golf Course is one of the oldest golf course of the country and is surrounded by scenic pine and rhododendron trees.
Locals are adept in archery. Shillong is also famous for its daily dose of archery gambling where people predict scores of an archery game played near Polo Ground, Shillong.
Binningstar Lyngkhoi from Shillong is a national marathon runner and represented India in the last 2010 Commonwealth Games. He is currently the fastest marathoner in India with a timing of 2:18 hours.
Education[edit]
Shillong is fast emerging as an education hub for the entire northeastern region. Important educational institutes like the Indian Institute of Management, National Institute of Technology Meghalaya, University of Technology and Management, Northeastern Hill University (NEHU), Martin Luther Christian University, Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong andNorth Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, English and Foreign Languages University, Shillong Campus, St. Edmund's College, St. Anthony's College, Shillong and several others college and engineering institution have been established here.
St. Edmund's is a century-old educational institute which has produced many eminent personalities in different spheres. UPES Deradun has come up with its sister university in UTM-The Lifestyle University which offers courses like Bachelor in Journalism & Mass Communication,B.Tech in Petroleum Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Civil Engineeing with specialisation in Infrastructure Developments, MBA in Sports Management and Fashion and Retail Management
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