Page 340 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

338  EASTERN INDIA

mini zoo, which includes fauna
native to Meghalaya’s forests, such
as hornbills, leopard cats and the
aptly named slow loris, a ferret-
like creature that crawls around
as though heavily drugged.
Environs
The beautiful Bishop and
Beadon Falls are 3 km (2 miles)
north of Shillong, just off the
Guwahati-Shillong Highway.
Along the same route, 17 km
Locally made bamboo baskets on sale in Shillong’s Bara Bazaar (11 miles) north of Shillong, is
Umiam Lake, a large artificial
q Shillong E Museum of Entomology reservoir set among forested
Umsohsun Rd. Open 10am–5pm hills. It offers facilities for angling,
East Khasi Hills district. 127 km Mon–Sat. &
(79 miles) S of Guwahati. * 143,200. kayaking and water-skiing,
@ n Meghalaya Tourism, 3rd This small private museum, and has an orchidarium in
Secretariat, Lower Lachumiere, situated north of Bara Bazaar, the adjacent park. The scenic
(0364) 250 0736. _ Weiking was established in the 1930s by Elephant Falls are 11 km
Dance (Apr/May). the Wankhar family, and boasts (7 miles) south of Shillong. The
a collection of rare butterflies road to Mawphlang, 24 km
Capital of the tiny state of and insects found in Meghalaya. (15 miles) southwest of Shillong,
Meghalaya, Shillong, with its Among them are huge stick is richly forested with pine and
mist-shrouded hills, pine forests, insects, iridescent beetles, oak and is a good place to see
lakes and waterfalls, is sometimes and the giant yellow-and-black some of Meghalaya’s rare species
described as the “Scotland of birdwing butterfly, which cloaks of orchids in their natural habitat.
the East”. Lying at an altitude of itself in a deadly poison to
1,496 m (4,908 ft), it was chosen protect itself from predatory
as the headquarters of the birds. The family also runs a
British administration in Assam breeding centre for rare species.
in 1874. It soon developed into
a popular hill station, providing Y Ward Lake &
refuge from the searing heat of Lady Hydari Park
the plains. Park: Open daily. & Extra charges
The town still retains a for photography.
distinctly colonial ambience, In the centre of town, the
with its mock-Tudor bungalows, horseshoe-shaped Ward Lake
churches, polo ground and has pleasant promenade paths
beautiful 18-hole golf course. around it, paddle boats for hire
It is also the home of the and a café. A short distance to
matrilineal Khasi tribe. its south is Lady Hydari Park, with The Elephant Falls, flowing over ferns
The idyllic countryside a pretty Japanese garden and a and rocks
around the town can be easily
explored in short excursions.
The Khasis
= Bara Bazaar The Khasis are the predominant tribe in the Shillong area. Believed
Bara Bazaar Rd. Open Mon–Sat. to have originated in Southeast Asia, their language belongs to
This sprawling market offers the Mon-Khmer group. It is not known when they migrated
a vivid glimpse of Khasi tribal to this region. Today, the majority of Khasis are Christians, their
society. The stalls are piled ancestors converted by British
high with produce from the missionaries in the 19th
surrounding villages – honey, century. Nevertheless, they
pineapples, piglets, dried fish, retain many of their tribal
wild mushrooms, raw betel customs. Chief among these
is their matrilineal social
nut and bamboo baskets. The structure, which dictates that
market is dominated by Khasi landed property can only be
women, who run most of inherited by females, with the
the stalls. Dressed in their youngest daughter given a
traditional tunic-like jainsems special position as custodian
and tartan-checked shawls, of the family house and the Khasi matriarch at her stall in Shillong’s
these cheerful matriarchs can clan’s traditional rituals. main market
drive a hard bargain.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp698–9 and p712

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm