Shillong

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, evolved from a Khasi hill landscape into one of North-East India’s most significant administrative and cultural towns. The area has long been home to the Khasi people, organised under local chiefs (Syiems) and village councils, with sacred groves, seasonal farming, and trade routes linking the hills to the plains. After the Anglo-Khasi conflicts in the early nineteenth century, British influence expanded, and officials looked for a healthier, cooler headquarters than the rain-soaked station of Cherrapunji.

In 1864 the British shifted the Assam administration from Cherrapunji to Shillong, and the town grew with cantonments, churches, government offices, and roads. The great 1897 Assam earthquake damaged many buildings, yet the town was rebuilt and steadily remained a gateway to the Khasi-Jaintia hills. Education spread through missionary and local initiatives, turning Shillong into a major centre for learning in the region. After Indian Independence, Shillong continued as Assam’s capital until the creation of Meghalaya; in 1972 it became the new state’s capital, symbolising regional autonomy. Over time, Shillong blended indigenous traditions—Khasi language, matrilineal social structures, and festivals—with colonial-era institutions and a diverse population. Today, its layered history is visible in its architecture, markets, music scene, and civic life.