Shillong

Shillong derives its name from Lei Shyllong, a powerful deity believed to reside on the Shillong Peak, which overlooks the city.

Shillong was the capital of composite Assam during the British regime and for 25 years in independent India until a separate State of Meghalaya was formed in 1972. David Scott, the British civil servant of the East India Company, was the Agent of the Governor-General for North East Frontier. During the First Anglo-Burmese War, the British authorities felt the need for a road to connect Sylhet and Assam. The route was to traverse across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. David Scott overcame the difficulties his administration faced due to opposition from the Khasi Syiems, their chiefs, and the people. Impressed by the favorable cool climate of Khasi Hills, they negotiated with the Syiem of Sohra in 1829 for a sanatorium for the British. It was then that the consolidation of British interests in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills began. …

Shillong is at 25.57°N 91.88°E / 25.57; 91.88. It lies on the Shillong Plateau, the only major uplifted structure in the northern Indian shield. The city lies in the center 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) from Guwahati, accessible by road along NH 40. The journey is of about 2 hours and 30 minutes through lush green hills and the Umiam Lake in between. Shillong has been selected as the 100th city to receive funding under the center'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 in May 2016, 27 in September 2016, 30 in June 2017, nine in January 2018, and one in June 2018. …

The popular tourist sites in and around the city include: 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. 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 and C. K. Rhodes. …

Shillong is well-connected by road, but it neither has rail connections nor a proper air connection. Umroi Airport located 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre has limited flights only. There are road connections to Shillong from all major northeastern states. The three major National Highways that pass through are: National Highway 6 (India) – Connected to Guwahati, Tripura and Mizoram National Highway 106 (India) - Connected to Nongstoin National Highway 206 (India) - Connected to Dawki Shillong–Silchar High-Speed Corridor - connected to Silchar: 166.8 km (103.6 mi) from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong to Panchgram on NH-6 near Silchar, will cut travel time between the two cities from 8. …

As of the 2011 Census of India, Shillong had a total population of 143,229, of which 70,135 were males, and 73,094 were females. As per the 2011 language census report, 67,154 of the city's population speak Khasi as their native language, 28,984 speak Bengali, 15,559 speak Hindi, 14,085 speak Nepali, 4,069 speak Assamese, 2,632 speak Punjabi, 3,580 speak Garo, 1,088 speak Urdu, and 6,115 speak other languages. 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% for females. The effective literacy rate of people aged 7 years and older was 92.8%, 94.8% for males, and 90.9% for females. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes populations were 1,551 and 73,307, respectively. Shillong had 31,025 households in 2011. As per the 1971 census (before the creation of Meghalaya state in 1972), non-tribals constituted 58. …