1. Enjoying life with your kids at Lady Hydari Park

Lady Hydari Park is a Japanese garden style park in Shillong. As you enter you will see small ponds, willow trees, rhododendron plants and the leaves of the plants touch the ground, which is unmistakably Japanese inspired. It has a mini zoo and in fact is the only one in Shillong. It attracts big crowds of tourists who are mostly animal lovers and kids around the year.

It is the best children’s theme Park in Shillong. School children come here often in their school uniforms along with their teachers, taking an educational tour at the mini zoo. There are many animals and bird species like jackals, porcupines, Himalayan black bears, leopards, mynah, hornbills, and kites. The garden is impeccably kept with well pruned flower beds and beautiful lawns. There is also a pool with swans.

Lake Hydari

Address: Shillong

Website: Lake Hydari

2. Boating and sightseeing at Ward's Lake

This is a popular tourist destination in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya State in India. Ward’s Lake is a must-visit place and is also called Pollock’s Lake. It is an artificial lake encircled by lush gardens and is in the heart of Shillong City. This horse-shoe shaped lake has a cobble-stone walking track where one can take a cool walk and also smell the flowers in the garden while doing so. It is a popular spot among locals, families, honeymooning couples and also foreign tourists from abroad.

There is a botanical garden near Ward’s Lake which boasts of lovely orchid gardens and also other floral species. There is a wooden bridge at the centre of the lake from where you can enjoy a good view of the lake and feed fish too. Tourists also enjoy boating on the calm waters of Ward’s Lake. You can satisfy your hunger pangs at the cafeteria in the lake complex which has some scrumptious food and beverages.

Ward's Lake

Address: Shillong

Website: Ward’s Lake

3. Worship at the Cathedral Catholic Church Shillong

This Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians Church is located in Shillong and is counted as one of the most magnificent churches in India and is located on a hill in the Laitumkhrah area in Shillong. The highlights of the church are its high arches and stain-painted glass windows. People from other faiths also come to the cathedral church to pray and seek blessings from Mary, the mother of Jesus. Its location on a high hill and also its magnificent building structure has given the church an important landmark in Shillong.

Cathedral Catholic Church Shillong

Address: Shillong

Website: Cathedral Catholic Church Shillong

4. Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum

The Captain Williamson Sangma State Museum is located in the State Central Library complex, in Shillong City. It is run by the Art and Culture Department and it offers a glimpse of ethnic tribal culture and also the traditional lifestyle of the people of Shillong and the Northeast part of India as a whole. It is one of the main centers for study of northeast history and their rich culture, and also serves as a point of preservation of the cultural heritage of the people.

Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum

Address: Shillong

Website: Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum

5. Enjoy a day out at Umiam Lake

The Umiam Lake is synonymous with Shillong, it is a man made lake that covers a huge area almost 4 times the total are of San Marino or Bermuda. It provides Shillong residents with fresh and pure water and also fish. This lake is surrounded by forests and is a real getaway for travelers to Shillong. When you are here you will feel close to nature and you can observe the goings on in lives of villagers living nearby or go on a boat ride on the lake, kayaking or water skiing. Anglers can try their luck here at this lake. Picnickers can have a happy family picnic on the grass near the lake. Loads of tourists come here every year.

Umiam Lake

Address: Shillong

Website: Umiam Lake

6. Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls in Shillong is a must-see natural wonder in the Northeast part of India. It is located close to the Shillong peak and tourists coming here make it a part of their sight-seeing itinerary. It was named Elephant Falls after a British officer named it after seeing an Elephant shaped structure near the waterfalls. Thousands of tourists come here every year and refresh themselves at the waterfalls.

Elephant Falls

Address: Shillong

Website: Elephant Falls

7. Laitlum Canyons

Laitlum Canyons is an unexplored and unpolluted hill top area in the state of Meghalaya. Laitlum means ‘end of hills’ and it literally translates here, where one can see deep gorges and winding roads way down to the lush valley. These hills are in a multitude of colors, from earthy browns to greens and reds at dawn and dusk.

The hilly terrain is difficult to trek but you will surely get some of the most amazing views in the world and fresh air to breathe. The quaint wooden bridge there literally invites tourists to marvel at the beautiful scenery surrounding them. You should get a local lunch packet at an eatery there before you embark to Laitlum Canyons, because if you don’t, then there is just 1 shop there which provides water and snacks.

Laitlum Canyons

Address: Shillong

Website: Laitlum Canyons

8. Mawjymbuin Cave

Mawjymbuin Cave is located in Mawsynram village, in Shillong. Mawjymbuin Cave is made of calcareous sandstones. The quietness and peacefulness of this place draws many visitors here. With years of dripping of mineral enriched liquid and the deposition of Calcium Carbonate, it has caused the formation of many magnificent stalagmites inside the caves. The huge entrance chamber and the inside of the caves is awesome and has attracted geologists from all over the world to conduct researches here. It is also a sacred place for the Hindus and attracts devotees worldwide. It is also a great place for those with a passion for photography.

Mawjymbuin Cave

Address: Mawsynram village

Live, love and pray at Shillong

It’s not for nothing that Shillong is called the ‘Scotland of the East,“ the serene mountains, fresh and unpolluted air, the caves and churches all make this place a remarkable experience for any tourist.