(Puja Edition)
Gabriella Nongtdu
B.A Sem 1
“The town was a small one, but it carried within it
the echoes of a wider world.” Wrote Siddhartha Deb in his book The Point of
Return, speaking of his time growing up in Shillong. Just like him, a large
number of people who have visited Shillong if not all, have had lovely
experiences exploring the city. How could anyone not? Shillong, a city in the
state of Meghalaya is known for its immaculate weather all year round, magnificent
sightseeing locations, bustling markets, terrific local cuisine and many travelers
have said that people of this city are the calmest and kindest. Shillong is
popularly known for its outskirt locations and rightfully so, the never-ending
sight of evergreen hills and giant cascades allures people quite like no other.
However, that is not only what the city offers.
There are still numerous traditional and old tourist
attractions and activities to experience in the city, like visiting the market and
Ward’s Lake located in Police Bazaar, Lady Hyderi Park in Lower Lachumiere, Don
Bosco Museum in Mawlai, the golf course in Golf Links, the Cathedral in
Laitumkhrah and so on. However, many travelers visit Shillong often and the
common tourist attractions are limited in the city, or some travelers want to
experience the authentic lifestyle of a local. Café culture is a growing trend
in Shillong. Some of the cafés and eateries that are worth visiting are Roma
Eatery, The Grub, Suburb, Shillong Café, Dylan’s Café, and Fika all located in
Laitumkhrah, Farraway and Kynjai Cloud Kitchen in Motinagar, Cherry Bean and Trifle
in Police Bazaar. As of fine dining there is the Heritage Club, Acropolis, The
Ambience, The White Rock, Bistro 16, The Mango Tree, City Hut Family Dhaba, all
located well within the city with great ambiance and music. And as for local
cuisines, Rynsan in Laitumkhrah, and Agapae in Police Bazaar are the popular
spots although the city is sprawled out with small local food stalls. Shillong is
also known as the Rock Capital of India therefore music is at the heart of
Shillong’s evenings. Venues like Cloud 9, Pinewood Hotel, Evening Club, and
Café Shillong are popular spots for live gigs.
Now, if you want authentic local experience then
Iewduh is just the right place. Iewduh, also known as Bara Bazaar is a market
built almost entirely for locals unlike Police Bazaar which is quite tourist-oriented.
Walking through Iewduh is an experience for all the senses as the market is segregated
into sections as per their items. When you enter the market from the north, the
section is called Khlieh Iew (Head of the market) and it’s the oldest part. Here
you will encounter vendors selling livestock especially chicken, and as you go
down further to the right of the narrow lanes you will arrive at the section of
vendors selling vegetables and an infinite amount of spices. Various kinds of
vegetables would be sprawled out on each side with a huge variety of common and
even local vegetables namely swathang (a bitter vegetable), sohkhia-khlaw (wild
cucumber-like leafy green), etc. Moving down the small and narrow steps you
will reach the fish vendors selling all kinds of fresh, frozen, and dried fish.
Describing each detail of this market would be next to impossible as its core
area alone has over 5,000 permanent stalls/shops and hundreds of temporary
vendors who come daily, under approximately 2km distance. While you would not
walk a 2km stretch, the market feels endless because its made of interconnected
alleys and courtyards where you could easily spend hours exploring and still
not see every section. To list out the other sections, there is the spices and
betel nut section, ritual and household items section, textile and clothing
section, livestock corner, and many more.
Shillong is not just a gateway to Meghalaya’s beauty,
it is a destination in its own right. Within the city every corner tells a
story. For those who wander through its streets, Shillong offers more than
sights, it offers experiences. The city may be small on the map, but within its
hills and streets lies a world that lingers long after you have left.
Moumita De Das, Associate Professor, ASCO
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