Shillong
Shillong (English: /ʃɪˈlɒŋ/, Khasi: [ʃɨlːɔːŋ]) is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the 330th most populous city in India with a population of 143,229 according to the 2011 census. It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the British of Scotland. Hence, they would also refer to it as the "Scotland of the East".
Shillong | |
|---|---|
Capital city | |
Clockwise from top left to right: Elephant Falls, Laitlum Canyon, Ward's Lake, Panorama of Police Bazar in Shillong, The Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, A view of Shillong | |
| Nickname: Scotland of the East | |
Shillong Location of Shillong in Meghalaya Shillong Shillong (India) | |
| Coordinates: 25°34′56″N 91°53′40″E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| District | East Khasi Hills |
| Named for | Lei Shyllong (Deity) |
| Government | |
| • Body | Shillong Municipal Board |
| • Director | B. S. Sohliya |
| • MP | Vincent Pala (INC) |
| Area | |
| • Capital city | 64.36 km2 (24.85 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,495−1,965 m (4,908−6,449 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Capital city | 143,229 |
| • Density | 234/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 354,759 |
| Demonym(s) | Shillongite and Nongsor |
| Language | |
| • Official | English |
| • Associate official | Khasi, Garo |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 793 001 – 793 102 |
| Telephone code | 0364 |
| Vehicle registration | ML-05 |
| Climate | Cwb |
| Website | eastkhasihills |
Shillong has steadily grown in size since it was made the civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1864 by the British. In 1874, on the formation of Assam as the Chief Commissioner's Province, it was chosen as the headquarters of the new administration because of its convenient location between the Brahmaputra and Surma valleys and more so because the climate of Shillong was much cooler than tropical India. Shillong remained the capital of undivided Assam until the creation of the new state of Meghalaya on 21 January 1972, when Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya, and Assam moved its capital to Dispur in Guwahati.