Shillong, Capital city in Meghalaya, India.
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, sits in the East Khasi Hills at an elevation of 1525 meters (5000 feet), surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills. The city spreads across multiple hills and valleys, with residential neighborhoods, markets and places of worship connected by winding roads.
The British administration moved its regional headquarters here in 1864, replacing Cherrapunji as the administrative center. The city grew during the colonial period as an educational and commercial hub, becoming the capital of the newly formed state of Meghalaya in 1972.
Khasi communities here maintain their matrilineal traditions where children carry the mother's surname and daughters manage family inheritance. In the street markets you see women selling fermented soy products and bamboo shoots, ingredients used in the regional cooking.
Police Bazar, where seven roads meet, forms the main commercial district with shops, markets and transport connections. The city sits on multiple levels, so steep climbs and descents are common when exploring on foot.
The Khasi Hills Archery Sports Institute holds daily competitions with 50 archers, linking traditional sport to local betting customs. Results from these contests are announced in tea shops and public squares where people place wagers on the numbers.
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