Imagine a beautiful place, surrounded by lush greenery, nestled amongst the mountains, with a view of the clear, blue sky and stately pine trees swaying gently in the cold breeze!

Imagine going to sleep, snuggled under a warm blanket, to the sound of rain beating down on the tin roof and a lovely fire crackling in the fireplace!

Imagine walking down a long and winding road, lined with beautiful flowers of every hue, dotted with gurgling waterfalls, your breath crystallising in the cold, crisp air!

Imagine a leisurely stroll around a lake, with swans idly paddling around, the church steeple rising against the sky, and a group of rosy cheeked, slit eyed children rolling among the soft, springy pine grass!

Are you in paradise or what?

Well.... pretty close. You are in Shillong, the picturesque capital of Meghalaya, (the abode of the clouds), one of the seven states in the north- east of India.

A hill station, which has still managed to preserve its pristine beauty in spite of the various dangers to its environment.

A hill station where people take pride in keeping their surroundings clean and their environment healthy, even at the cost of restricting tourists who don't toe the line when it comes to keeping the town clean.

The Khasis (the local people) were wary of opening the gates of their town to the rest of the world, and rightly so, fearing the invasion of privacy and the pollution that largely follows. But in recent years, efforts have been made to get Shillong on the tourist map.

Known as the 'Scotland of the East', Shillong endears itself to people who long to get away from the 'madding crowd.' Just a three-hour journey by road from Guwahati, there are innumerable buses and taxis waiting to take people to this beautiful town.

The magic of Shillong begins in the journey itself. You can't miss the spectacular scenery, especially the Barapani Lake, the largest man-made lake in India, as you drive through the pine-scented road to Shillong. The journey will not be complete without a stopover in Nongpoh, the midpoint between Guwahati and Shillong, for a delicious cup of hot, ginger tea and tasty samosas.

A stay in Shillong is not a problem. There are quite a few good hotels catering to everybody's purse strings, located in the heart of mainstream Shillong - Police Bazaar.

This idyllic retreat provides for a much-needed getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Days can be spent tramping and hiking up to Shillong peak (the highest viewpoint), or strolling down to Wards Lake to feed the fish and the swans. Or maybe, even take a boat ride for fun.

A drive to Cherrapunjee - the place with the highest rainfall in the world, is a must-visit. On the way to Cherrapunjee are some of Shillong's favourite tourist spots - the Elephant Falls and the Cherrapunjee caves.

The Khasis (the local tribe) are basically nature lovers. Even the smallest of wooden cottages will boast of a flower garden. The people of the town are predominantly Christians and hence, Shillong has lovely Churches. Prominent among them is the Don Bosco Church built on a vast area of land.

The golf course in Shillong is spectacular, set among the pine trees and stretching as far as the eye can see. For women, Shillong poses no threat-even to a woman travelling alone. Shillong is one of those rare places in India where women are treated with respect and courtesy, the Khasi society being matrilineal in nature. But, even in general, People are polite and well mannered. Hospitality is a byword with the Khasis. The ideal time to visit Shillong would be February to April and October to November. The rest of the months would be wet and bitterly cold.

What do you carry back from Shillong? - A bottle of water and a lung full of air. You can't get anything more pure and precious than that. And of course, a bag full of memories - lazy days spent under the sun, lying under the shade of a pine tree till the mist descends and the pine grass gets damp. The sight of peach and orange blossoms that brighten the eye.

The feel of polished wood below your feet smelling of beeswax and lemon. The solace and comfort of reading a book, under a warm blanket with the rain gently beating against the windows. And the view of the mountains-the Khasi Hills, majestic and grand.

For all this and more, Shillong is truly a picture postcard sprung to life. A soul-nourishing experience for those of you who revel in the beauty of nature and the peace and quiet that goes with it.

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