A City Draped in Rain, Rhythm & Roots

“Shillong doesn’t show off—it draws you in, gently, like an old friend with a story to tell.”

Shillong is a stunning location. It’s situated in Meghalaya’s rolling hills, and it is art in itself with emerald valleys, foggy dawns, and laughter ringing out across waterfalls.  It calls itself the “Scotland of the East,” but Shillong is not just just eye candy. It is a real and full life of food, song, and the ways of life. Shillong is one of a kind because it shows old way of life with new customs. Old cobblestone roads take you to weird shops where you buy woven shawls and wood carvings. Loud rock bands from roadside cafes mix with Khasi folk tunes from local artists. You sense the spirit of being joyful—of youth, aspiration, and discovery of something different.

Another thing about Shillong is that it doesn’t. The air feels fresher and scents like pine and wild flowers as you drive up to the city. Hills roll into waves, and on every one of them, waterfalls dance with mist. Shillong is not like overpopulated hill stations because it provides enough room to breathe. It is old and new, noisy and silent.

When you stroll along Police Bazaar, the center of Shillong, you can see many stalls, street food stalls with momos and bhut jolokia chilies, and “Cafes in Shillong” notices. It is in the sound of rain on tin roofs, sun-dried terraces where one sits and discusses over mugs of strong Shillong coffee, and in the laughter of family groups who have stopped at hill-tops vantage points.

There is living history too in Shillong. The Don Bosco Museum tells a haunting story of Northeast India’s tribes.The sound of kids feeding koi fish can be heard around Ward’s Lake and is surrounded by fine gardens and walkways. In a split second you can be in the middle of busy markets or at calm Elephant Falls, where water falls down moss-covered rocks and are grand.

What makes Shillong different is how nice its folk are. In this place Khasi, Garo and Jaintia ways mix well. The welcome is kind; every smile and “dong kambad” (thank you) is true goodwill. And when the sun sets behind the hills, Shillong springs to life. A soft wind carries the thrum of guitar chords, poetry readings, and coffee grinders from afar, particularly in Shillong’s top cafes.

Shillong is unique among others because it boasts the best combination of nature, culture, and warm café nooks. As rain lightly drums on your windowpane, you would be inclined to trail such as steaming hot momos, locally made pineapple jams, or perfect coffee from Shillong cafes.

Let us look at the cafés that turn Shillong into a foodie paradise: a place where all the drinks are a blend of Shillong food, culture, and chat.