Shillong has steadily grown in size since it was made the civil station of theKhasi andJaintia Hills in 1864 by theBritish. In 1874, on the formation ofAssam as the Chief Commissioner's Province, Shillong was chosen as the headquarters of the new administration because of its convenient location between theBrahmaputra andSurma valleys and more so because the climate of Shillong was much cooler than tropical India.[9] Shillong remained the capital ofundivided 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 toDispur inGuwahati.
Shillong was the capital of compositeAssam during the British regime and for a quarter century in independent India until a separate State ofMeghalaya was formed 1972. David Scott, the British civil servant of theEast India Company, was the Agent of the Governor-General North East Frontier. During theFirst Anglo-Burmese War the British authorities felt the need for a road to connectSylhet and Assam. The route was to traverse across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. David Scott overcame the difficulties his administration faced from the opposition of the Khasi Syiems – their chiefs and people. Impressed by the favourable cool climate ofKhasi Hills, they negotiated with the Syiem of Sohra in 1829 for a sanatorium for the British. Thus began the consolidation of British interests in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
In early 1829, aKhasis confederation mounted a serious uprising against British occupation. But by January 1833, their leaderTirot Sing surrendered to David Scott and was detained to Dacca (present-dayDhaka). A political agent was posted in Sohra, also known asCherrapunjee.
But the British did not like the climate and facilities of Sohra and they moved to Shillong. "Ïewduh" is the biggest market in Shillong. The name "Shillong" was later adopted, as the location of the new town was below the Shillong Peak.
In 1874, a separate Chief Commissionership was formed with Shillong as the seat of administration. The new administration includedSylhet, now a part ofBangladesh. Also included in the Chief Commissionership were theNaga Hills (present-dayNagaland),Lushai Hills (present-dayMizoram) as well as Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills. Shillong was the capital of composite Assam till 1969 when the autonomous state of Meghalaya was formed. In January 1972, Meghalaya was made a full-fledged state.[10]
The Shillong Municipal Board dates back to 1878, when a proclamation was issued constituting Shillong and its suburbs, including the villages of Mawkhar and Laban, into a station under the Bengal Municipal Act of 1876. Inclusion of the villages of Mawkhar (S.E. Mawkhar, Jaiaw and part of Jhalupara and Mawprem) and Laban (Lumparing, Madan laban, Kench's Trace and Rilbong) within the Municipality of Shillong was agreed to by Haiñ Manik Syiem of Mylliem under the agreement of 15 November 1878.[11] But, there is no trace of Shillong in the British era maps dating back to 1878, up to 1900.
Shillong is at25°34′N91°53′E / 25.57°N 91.88°E /25.57; 91.88. It lies on theShillong Plateau, the only major uplifted structure in the northern Indian shield.[12] 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 Shyllong.
Shillong is just 100 km (62 mi) fromGuwahati, which can be accessed by road alongNH 40, a journey of about 2 hours 30 minutes through lush green hills and theUmiam lake in between.
Shillong has been selected as the 100th city to receive funding under the centre's flagship "Smart Cities Mission"Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). In January 2016, 20 cities were announced under the Smart Cities Mission, followed by 13 cities in May 2016, 27 cities in September 2016, 30 cities in June 2017, and 9 cities in January this year. The total proposed investment in the finally selected 100 cities under the Smart Cities Mission would be₹ 2,050,180 million. Under the scheme, each city will get₹ 5000 million from the centre for implementing various projects.
Weather conditions in Shillong are typically pleasant, pollution-free. In the summer the temperature varies from 23 °C (73 °F). In the winter the temperature varies from 4 °C (39 °F).
UnderKöppen's climate classification the city features asubtropical highland climate (Cwb). Its summers are cool and very rainy, while its winters are cool yet dry. Shillong is subject to vagaries of themonsoon. The monsoons arrive in June and it rains almost until the end of October.
Shillong is ranked among top 10 Indian cities with the cleanest air and bestAQI in 2024.[13]
Climate data for Shillong (C.S.O) 1991–2020, extremes 1902–present
Although well connected by road, Shillong has neither rail connections nor a proper air connection.Umroi Airport located 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre has only limited flights.
Shillong-Silchar highway - connected toSilchar: 166.8 km (103.6 mi) from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong to Panchgram onNH-6 near Silchar, will cut travel time between the two cities from 8.5 hours to 5 hours and act as a continuation ofKaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project offering a new Rs 22,864 crore high-speed highway between the North-East and Kolkata bypassing Bangladesh, executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and expected to be completed by 2030.[19]
Private bus operators, as well as state transport buses from other states, come to and from Shillong daily. Taxi services are also available to destination likeGuwahati,Agartala,Kohima,Dimapur,Aizawl and other North Eastern towns and cities.
The Shillong Bypass(pictured) is a two lane road which stretches across 47.06 kilometres (29.2 miles) connecting Umiam (NH-40) to Jorabat (NH-44) which then leads to other northeastern Indian states ofMizoram andTripura. The project was estimated to have cost around₹220 crore (US$26 million) and was completed in a span of two years (2011–2013).[20][21]
Teteliya-Byrnihat line, 22 km (14 mi) long, from Guwahati's suburb Tetelia toByrnihat near Shillong in Meghalaya is likely to be completed by March 2026.[26] From Byrnihat it will be extended further to Shillong in future.[26]
As of the2011 Census of India, Shillong had a total population of 143,229, of which 70,135 were males and 73,094 were females. As per 2011 language census report, 67,154 of the city's population speakKhasi as their native language,[28][29] 28,984 speakBengali, 15,559 speakHindi, 14,085 speakNepali, 4,069 speakAssamese, 2,632 speakPunjabi, 3,580 speakGaro, 1,088 speakUrdu and 6,115 speak other languages.[30] 14,317 were aged 0 to 6 years. The literacy rate was 83.5% or 119,642 people: 84.8% for males and 82.3% females. The effectiveliteracy rate of people aged 7 years and older was 92.8%, 94.8% for males and 90.9% for females. TheScheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 1,551 and 73,307, respectively. Shillong had 31,025 households in 2011.[1] As per the 1971 census (before creation of Meghalaya state in 1972), non-tribals constituted 58.53% of the population of Shillong.[31]
According to 2011 census,Christianity is the dominant religion in the city, practised by 46.49% of the population, followed byHinduism at 41.95%,Islam 4.89%, and to a lesser degree, that is, 2.01% includesSikhism,Buddhism andJainism. An ancient indigenous religion of the Khasi and Jaintia tribes is still followed by 4.5% of the population.[27] The Shillong metropolitan region, which includes the towns ofLaitumkhrah,Lawsohtun,Madanrting,Mawlai, Mawpat, Nongkseh,Nongmynsong,Nongthymmai,Pynthorumkhrah,Shillong Cantonment, Umlyngka and Umpling,had a population of 354,759, 12% of which being under six years of age. The literacy rate in the metro region was 91%.[32]
Elephant Falls: 12 km on the outskirts of the city, the mountain stream descends through three successive falls set in dells of fern covered rocks.[34]
Ka Phan Nonglait Park: The park stretches over a kilometre and has an adjacent mini zoo.
Ward's Lake: Known locally as Nan-Polok. It is an artificial lake with garden and boating facilities, built during the colonial era.
Shillong Golf Course: 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. It was set in a valley at an altitude of 5,200 ft in 1898 as a nine-hole course and later converted into an 18-hole course in 1924 by Captain Jackson andC. K. Rhodes.
Motphran: The "Monument 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.
Shillong Peak: A picnic spot, 10 km from the city, 1966 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 Shyllong at the sanctum sanctorum at the peak's summit every springtime, by the religious priest of Khyrim/Mylliem State.
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.
State Museum: Located at the State Central Library complex
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 "Weitdem", in the native dialect) is a waterfall located about 5 km from the Happy Valley and is about 96 m in height.
The Shillong Golf Course is one of the oldest golf course in the country and is surrounded by pine and rhododendron trees.
Among people of the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, archery has been both a sport, a form of defence for several centuries and gambling (teer). While modern customs have replaced many of traditional aspects of the culture here, a pervasive fascination for archery remains. Shillong teer is an authorised game that is subject to regulations established by the Meghalaya Amusement and Betting Tax Act. The Khasi Hills Archery Sports Association is in charge of managing this lottery event.[36]
Binningstar Lyngkhoi from Shillong is a national marathon runner and represented India in the last 2010 Commonwealth Games. He is the fastest marathoner in India with a timing of 2:18 hours.
Newspapers are published for Shillong both in Khasi and English. Prominent English dailies published here includeShillong Times,Meghalaya Guardian,Highland Post,Meghalaya Times andThe Sentinel. Khasi dailies likeU Mawphor,U Nongsaiñ HimaPeitngor,Kynjat Shaiamong others are published here. Weekly newspaper are "Salonsar" and "Dongmusa". There are magazines like "Iing Khristan" (100 years of publication), "Pateng Mynta" in Khasi and "Youth Today" and "Eastern Panorama" in English.
The radio industry has expanded with a number of private and government-owned FM channels being introduced. State-owned Doordarshan transmits terrestrial television channels. Apart from these few weekly news channels like Peitngor Cable News (PCN), Ri Khasi Channel, Batesi and T7 are broadcast weekly on the local cable networks.
Fixed telephone lines are available. Internet services are available both wired and wireless broadband. It is also well covered in mobile networks with all major cellular providers likeAirtel,Vodafone Idea,BSNL andJio are available here.
Headquarters Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force
HQ Eastern Air Command (HQ, EAC) was shifted to Shillong on 10 June 1963 fromKolkata and housed in the old buildings located at Nonglyer village at Upper Shillong, some 10 km (6.2 mi) from (Lower) Shillong, but at a greater altitude of around 1,800 metres (6,000 ft)AMSL. Initially a British military base, it was taken over by No. 58 Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army post Independence in 1947. The Regiment was redeployed after theSino-Indian War of 1962, making way for the IAF to step in. Only helicopters can operate from HQ, EAC, using a 12.7-hectare (31-acre) helipad.[42]
EAC controls air operations in the eastern sector which include West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram and the other eastern states bordering Bangladesh, Burma, and Tibet. EAC comprises permanent airbases at Chabua, Gauhati, Bagdogra, Barrackpore, Hashimara, Jorhat, Kalaikunda and Tezpur with forward airbases at Agartala, Culcutta, Panagarh and Shillong.[43]
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