On the final day of the Meghalaya tour, ‘Footlooseinme’ explored some of the places to visit in Shillong. Within the city and around its outskirts, there are quite a few places to visit in Shillong that attract travelers. Among them, one place was specially recommended by my newfound Khasi friend, whom I met on the flight to Shillong. (Read my first post in the series to know the story.) She mentioned it as her favourite sunrise or sunset point, and I immediately added it to my list of places to visit in Shillong.
With my sore calf muscles from the previous day’s Double Decker Living Root Bridge trek, I was almost crippled. (Read my previous post to know more about the trek.) I couldn’t plan to visit the spot during sunrise, so I rescheduled it as the final stop on my last day exploring the places to visit in Shillong.
I began my day tour with a visit to the old and charming All Saints’ Church, located in the city centre. Built in 1877 and consecrated by the then Bishop of Calcutta, the church was destroyed during the Great Earthquake of 1897. It was rebuilt in 1902 on the same site.
My next destination on the list of places to visit in Shillong was Shillong Peak. Located within a military area, private and public vehicles are not allowed inside. I purchased an entry ticket from the counter and also a ticket for designated taxi that takes visitors to the viewpoint. The same ticket is valid for the return journey — just show it to board any taxi heading back.
The panoramic view of the city from this vantage point gives a clear idea of how much Shillong has expanded. Also known as Laitkor Peak, Shillong Peak is closed to visitors on Wednesdays. There are many small shops nearby selling souvenirs and local snacks. I finally tried the bright pink-red Sohsung — a fruit sold at almost every tourist spot. I vaguely remembered it from a childhood visit to Shillong, along with another fruit called Lotka (Baccaurea motleyana), which I couldn’t find despite searching. The Sohsung turned out to be intensely tangy — even extra salt couldn’t mellow out its sourness.
Next on my list of places to visit in Shillong was the famous Elephant Waterfalls. I wanted to see it again, mainly because I have a lovely old photograph of my father — young and smiling — sitting on a rock beside the waterfall. I entered the area with high hopes and descended the steps to view the three levels of the falls. Unfortunately, what I saw didn’t quite match my expectations or the picture from years ago.
Passing by the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians — the serene sky-blue church visible from my hotel — I headed to Ward’s Lake, a must-see among the places to visit in Shillong. Also known as Pollock Lake or Nan Polok, this artificial lake was planned by Sir William Ward, designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok, and built by Colonel Hopkins in 1894. Surrounded by manicured gardens, it’s an ideal place for a relaxed day. As I strolled around, reading plaques about famous visitors to Shillong, I was swept into nostalgia, trying to imagine the lake in colonial times.
The next destination on my list of places to visit in Shillong was the spectacular Don Bosco Museum. A seven-storey building shaped like a hexagon, the museum showcases the diverse cultures and histories of the indigenous tribes of Northeast India. Despite my aching legs from the previous day’s trek, I managed to explore all 17 galleries spread across seven floors — three underground and four above. I was deeply impressed by the architecture and the wealth of information on the region’s people and traditions.
Although the sky was cloudy and chances of a sunset seemed low, I was determined not to miss the spot my friend had recommended — the Mawthei View Point near Umroi Village. Though it lies outside city limits, I included it in my list of places to visit in Shillong for its sheer uniqueness. On the way, I made a quick stop at Umiam Lake, also known as Bara Pani — a serene water body formed by damming the Umiam River in the 1960s.
After visiting the lake, the real adventure began. In the late afternoon, under a dusky sky, I asked my driver to take me to Umroi and find the viewpoint. My friend had described a location atop a hill, marked by a giant cross at the edge of a cliff — she even compared it to Rio de Janeiro. Her photos showed the cross seemingly standing among clouds, and I was completely captivated.
We reached Umroi Village, and I used Google Maps to locate Mawthei View Point. My driver followed the directions until we reached a dead end. There was no road ahead and no trekking path. We asked several locals, but none knew about the place. Just as I was about to give up, a child — no older than eight — saw the photo on my phone and gave us rough directions to head back to the main road and take another turn up the hill.
That gave me hope. We returned to the highway and asked more people along the way, who gave proper directions. Soon, we reached a faded tourism department sign pointing toward Mawthei View Point. We followed the path, ascending steadily for about 12 kilometers. After crossing forested areas, we reached an open area marked as Parking 1. We moved on and there was another open area marked as Parking 2. Further ahead was Parking 3, where the motorable road ended. A steep walking trail began from there. The driver parked the car and waited there.
With a mix of excitement and apprehension, I began the final stretch on foot. The place was eerily quiet. I, curious as well as fearful (of the solitary unknown area), took the narrow walking track. Huffing and panting, I tried to climb up fast. I would not be shy to admit that I was really scared at that point, as there was no one around and there were a few liquor bottles scattered here and there. My fearful mind also heard a metallic clanging sound coming from somewhere far.
After about 500–800 meters of hiking, I reached a tall, walled compound with a large metallic gate. Posters on the gate confirmed this was indeed the Sunrise Point I had been searching for. But the gate was locked, and no one was around. Now, how to reach the cross that I was looking for? The gate was locked from the inside. I fearfully knocked with a lot of anticipation and apprehention. I knocked again and again. But there was no one around. I tried to find another way to enter the spot.
But the area was walled from all sides. Near, yet so far! Anything around me were trees and bushes. I cannot give up like this. But the wall was too high for me to see beyond. Walking a little further along the wall, I found an edge on the wall to climb on. I climbed up on that edge of the wall to get a high vantage point. Still, the upper part of the wall was too high for me. I pulled out my phone from my pocket with one hand while hanging with the support of the other. Through the lens, I could see an open ground within the wall and the cross standing at the edge of the ground overlooking the gorge.
What a sight it must be from up close! I clicked a few quick photos before climbing down, my shoulder aching from the awkward position. With the joy of discovery and the thrill of the unexpected, I rushed back to the car. With no phone signal and a disinterested driver, I kept the moment to myself — quietly relishing the reward of perseverance.
They say, “A good beginning makes a good ending.” For me, it was an adventurous beginning that led to an even more adventurous ending. On the last leg of my trip exploring the places to visit in Shillong, I had a unique and unforgettable experience.
The next day, still anxious about potential flight cancellations, I reached the airport — this time, with a solid backup plan to drive to Guwahati if needed. I even paid my driver extra to wait until the flight took off. Thankfully, the flight did take off. And with that, I bid my final goodbye to Meghalaya — my heart full of memories, adventure, and stories.
Read my previous post on Double Decker Root Bridge trek.
Read my previous post on places to visit in Cherrapunji.
Read my previous post on Dawki.
Read my previous post on Living Root Bridge and Mawlynnong.
Read my introductory post on the Meghalaya Series.
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