Shillong (English: /ʃɪˈlɒŋ/,[5][6] Khasi: [ʃɨlːɔːŋ]) is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India.

[8] Shillong has steadily grown in size since it was made the civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1864 by the British.

Shillong was the capital of composite Assam during the British regime and later until a separate State of Meghalaya was formed.

During the First Anglo-Burmese War the British authorities felt the need for a road to connect Sylhet and Assam.

David Scott overcame the difficulties his administration faced from the opposition of the Khasi Syiems – their chiefs and people.

Impressed by the favourable cool climate of Khasi Hills, they negotiated with the Syiem of Sohra in 1829 for a sanatorium for the British.

But by January 1833, their leader Tirot Sing surrendered to David Scott and was detained to Dacca (present-day Dhaka).

Shillong was the capital of composite Assam till 1969 when the autonomous state of Meghalaya was formed.

Shillong is just 100 km (62 mi) from Guwahati, which can be accessed by road along NH 40, a journey of about 2 hours 30 minutes through lush green hills and the Umiam lake in between.

Taxi services are also available to destination like Guwahati, Agartala, Kohima, Dimapur, Aizawl and other North Eastern towns and cities.

The Shillong Bypass (pictured) is a two lane road which stretches across 47.06 kilometres (29.2 miles) connecting Umiam (NH-40) to Jorabat (NH-44) which then leads to other northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Tripura.

[22][23] Teteliya-Byrnihat line, 22 km (14 mi) long, from Guwahati's suburb Tetelia to Byrnihat near Shillong in Meghalaya is likely to be completed by March 2026.

Among people of the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, archery has been both a sport, a form of defence for several centuries and gambling (teer).

While modern customs have replaced many of traditional aspects of the culture here, a pervasive fascination for archery remains.

Shillong teer is an authorised game that is subject to regulations established by the Meghalaya Amusement and Betting Tax Act.

[34] Binningstar Lyngkhoi from Shillong is a national marathon runner and represented India in the last 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Shillong is also often called as "India's Rock Capital" due to its inhabitants' great passion for music, hosting concerts featuring a number of western artists.

There are magazines like "Iing Khristan" (100 years of publication), "Pateng Mynta" in Khasi and "Youth Today" and "Eastern Panorama" in English.

It is also well covered in mobile networks with all major cellular providers like Airtel, Vodafone Idea, BSNL and Jio are available here.

Several banks operate in Shillong, providing a range of financial services to the city's residents and businesses.

[44] Historic neighbourhoods of Shillong include Mawkhar, Jaiaw, Riatsamthiah, Umsohsun, Wahingdoh, Khyndailad (Police Bazar), Mawlai, Laitumkhrah, Laban, Malki, Nongthymmai and Polo.