Essentials
- City
- Shillong, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India
- Population
- Approximately 143,000 (Urban area: 350,000)
- Internet Speed
- 40-100 Mbps on Fiber (JioFiber, Airtel Xstream); 4G/5G is stable in central areas
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 83 INR, 1 EUR ≈ 90 INR. ATMs are plentiful in Police Bazar
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use filtered water or brands like Bisleri (₹20/1L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/D/M sockets. Power cuts occur; most stays have backups
- SIM Card
- Jio and Airtel. Note: Foreigners must provide Passport/Visa at main offices in Police Bazar
- Banking for Expats
- SBI, HDFC, ICICI. Digital payments via UPI (GPay/PhonePe) are used everywhere
- Accommodation
- Boutique stays, Homestays, and Guesthouses (₹2,500 - ₹6,000/night)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, UPI is ubiquitous; Credit Cards accepted in hotels and upscale cafes
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb is popular; look for 'The Heritage Mansion' or 'Midhill Cottage'
- Budget Accommodation
- Silver Brook Hostel (₹800/night) or Isabella Hostel (₹700/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Police Bazar (for convenience) or Laitumkhrah (for cafes and vibes)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Upper Shillong for peace or Laitumkhrah for high-speed internet and cafe access
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Shedex Coworking (Lachumiere) - ₹500/day, ₹7,000/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- ML 05 Cafe (Upper Shillong) or Dylan's Café (Laitumkhrah) - ₹600 avg. spend
- Networking Events
- The Shillong Wine Festival (occasional) or events at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU)
- Social Events for Expats
- Evening music sessions at Evening Club, Police Bazar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber/Ola not available. Use 'Swift' app or local yellow-black shared taxis (₹20-50 per seat)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Himalayan Wheels or local rentals near Laitumkhrah (₹800 - ₹1,200/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- No beaches; closest water body is Umiam Lake (Barapani), 15km north
- Top Regional Airline
- IndiGo (Direct flights from Umroi Airport/SHL to Kolkata/Guwahati)
- Top International Airline
- Air India or Qatar Airways (via Guwahati International Airport - 3 hours away)
- Highway Access
- NH6 connects Shillong to Guwahati (3-hour scenic drive)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Guwahati Railway Station (100km away; no railway in Shillong hill station)
- Public Transport Passes
- No digital passes; MTDC (Meghalaya Tourism) buses for sightseeing (₹500/day)
- Regional Travel
- Shared Sumos to Cherrapunji (So hra) or Dawki from Anjali Taxi Stand (₹150-300)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- NEIGRIHMS (Mawdiangdiang) or Bethany Hospital (Laitumkhrah)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Art of Living Center (Lachumiere) or wellness retreats in Upper Shillong
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Reborn Fitness Studio (Laitumkhrah) - ₹2,500/month
- Laundry Services
- U-Clean (Laitumkhrah) - professional dry cleaning and laundry by weight
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Swiggy and Zomato are fully operational in Shillong center
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Jadoh (Red rice with pork) and Dohneiiong at Trattoria (Police Bazar)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Grub (Laitumkhrah) or Jiva Sizzlers (Police Bazar)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bread Café (Laitumkhrah) - try the blueberry cheesecake (₹150)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Iew Duh (Bara Bazar) for local produce and traditional Khasi items
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.in and Flipkart (Delivery might take 2-4 days longer than metros)
- Grocery Delivery
- BigBasket (limited) or local delivery via Swiggy Instamart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Laitumkhrah for indie bars; The Evening Club for live blues/rock music
- Local Brewery
- No commercial breweries; local rice beer (Kiad) found in rural areas
- Wine Bars
- Cloud 9 at Hotel Centre Point (Police Bazar)
- Street Food Stalls
- Police Bazar street for momos, spicy boiled eggs, and chowmein (₹50-150)
- Popular International Cuisine
- City Hut Family Dhaba (Indian/Chinese/Continental) - Police Bazar
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Shillong Peak (Laitkor Peak), Elephant Falls, and Ward's Lake
- Museums & Art Venues
- Don Bosco Museum (Mawlai) - multi-floor heritage of Northeast India
- Historical Sites
- All Saints' Cathedral (Colonial era wooden architecture)
- Religious Sites
- Mary Help of Christians Cathedral (Laitumkhrah)
- Annual Events
- Cherry Blossom Festival (November), NH7 Weekender (Music)
- Cultural Districts
- Mawphlang Sacred Grove (25km away) for Khasi mythology
- Theater Venues
- State Central Library Auditorium
- Local Markets
- Police Bazar (Modern), Iew Duh (Traditional Khasi Market)
- Music Scene
- Known as 'Rock Capital of India'; Cafe Shillong often has live acoustic sets
- Street Art
- Murals near St. Anthony’s College and Laitumkhrah alleyways
- Cooking Classes
- Inquire at 'The Heritage' for Khasi culinary workshops
- Art Galleries
- Riti Academy of Visual Arts
- Historic Buildings
- The North Eastern Council building and Pine Wood Hotel
- Local Heritage
- Matrilineal society structure where lineage is passed through the mother
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Laitlum Canyons (The 'End of Hills') - 22km from city
- National Parks Nearby
- Nokrek National Park (requires a long drive to Garo Hills)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Upper Shillong forest trails or the walk around Lady Hydari Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Shillong Peak (View of the entire valley - Entry ₹50)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Umiam Lake banks and Lumparing forests
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Most homestays in Upper Shillong and outskirts like Mylliem
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- India Post (GPO Police Bazar), DHL Express (Laitumkhrah)
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple authorized service center in Police Bazar; local shops in Glory's Plaza
- Table Tennis Spots
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex
- Language Classes
- Khasi language basics at Thomas Jones College
- Libraries & Study Spots
- State Central Library (Secretariat Hills)
- Community Centers
- Khasi Students Union (KSU) centers or local Dorbar Shnong offices
- Gaming Lounges
- Local small gaming parlors in Police Bazar (limited options)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not permitted in Meghalaya state
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹65,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹2,600,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹45,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹1,800,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹60,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹3,600,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹40,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹2,400,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹55,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹4,400,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹35,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹2,800,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% for domestic companies (plus surcharge/cess)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to DTAA)
- Tax System
- Residents taxed on worldwide income; Progressive slabs (0% to 30%)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (plus surcharge for income above ₹5M)
- VAT
- Replaced by GST (5%, 12%, 18%, 28% depending on goods)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Applicable under Place of Effective Management (POEM) rules
- Property Tax
- Yes, administered by Shillong Municipal Board
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty approx. 5-8% depending on transaction type
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard Indian tax laws apply after 182 days residency