Photo Travelogue :
Last couple of years, I've been on and off to my home state of Assam, and so I thought, it'd be the perfect time to cover some places near it too. There are a host of places, most doable within a day itself ( which I preferred ); so, I was spoilt for choices. Meghalaya, naturally, comes to one's mind first, because, it is the nearest of them all ( with Shillong being merely 2.5 hours away ), plus, unlike some other NE States, it is quite safe too. So, first place I opted to go near Assam was ~ yes, Meghalaya. I've been to Meghalaya twice before ~ in school days, so I hardly remembered anything. First, was an overnight trip with my cousins, with their father going for some official work there, and we had hung around their office flat and garden the entire time, barely visiting anything; other than what we passed by. Second, was a trip for some cultural show, which was an evening cum night affair. So, as you've guessed, I was there, yet still not there, sort off. But this time would be different. I would be recording my trip and blogging about it too, so, my eyes and ears would be open throughout, observing it all in and etching them in my memory forever.
To go to Shillong, one can go by one's own private vehicle, or by public ( mini ) bus and Sumo from both Paltan Bazar as well as Khanapara. I caught a Sumo midway, as it was leaving Paltan Bazar and going towards Khanapara. In Khanapara, though, it halted again to pick more passengers. Start early to reach early; and cover more places and experiences.
by 7.05 am, we started leaving Guwahati in a packed Sumo @200/- per head.
leaving Khanapara in Ghy, we pass by the towns of Jorabat, Bynihat etc
entering Meghalaya...
the roads are good to drive ( till we reach Umium lake later )...
passing by an elephant, it was going to Meghalaya as well...
breath-taking views of the meandering roads far below...
( clicked a mirror selfie in the next trip, by scooty, at the same spot )
We halted at Nongpoh, 40kms from Ghy, for a break and refreshments...
Meghalaya State Tourism Office at Nongpoh, there's a restaurant here as well...
came across women selling jars of pickles, pineapples and other fruits...
it was the month of cold December, so, stretching a bit in the sun...
we get inside the Sumo, and the journey continues again...
passing by some khasi houses...
tiny khasi kids waving at us...
some signs, oh...its the Umiam/Barapani Lake that we are crossing...
passing by some more water-bodies, clouds :p and beautiful landscapes...
views from the top...not reached yet...still miles to go...
After Umium, as we started approaching Shillong, there was a long line of vehicles ahead
of us, and our pace got slower and slower, as the road got bumpy and narrower...
a milestone that says, we've left Jorabat 76kms behind, only 4 kms to main city now!
Welcome to Shillong, the sign-board read, so by 9.25am we arrived!
The Sumo dropped me off at a place, from where I had walk a 10min lane to the city centre.
Meghalaya or "the abode of clouds" in Sanskrit, is a hilly state in northeastern India.
Shillong is a hill station in northeast India and capital of the state of Meghalaya. It’s known for the manicured gardens at Lady Hydari Park. Nearby, Ward’s Lake is surrounded by walking trails. North, the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures features displays on the region’s native people. Waterfalls include the Elephant Falls to the southwest. East of here, forested Shillong Peak offers city views ( wiki ).
Address : Shillong, Meghalaya.
Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
( Images - ©Mine. All rights reserved. )
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