How to reach Shillong
Shillong, lying in the north eastern part of India, lacks on the penetration part. Though there is a small airport at Umroi, that is 35 km from Shillong; cabs are available from Shillong to Umroi and back. In terms of air connectivity, Guwahati would be a better option as it is 128 km away from Shillong. This airport is connected to the rest of the country with regular flights.
The nearest railway station to Shillong is Guwahati. It is situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra and serves as an entry point to this region. It is bustling, hectic with activities and is par with all modern towns in the country. Though from the concrete point of view the city is not all that impressive, but it has its own charm as well. Some of the major tourist attractions of this region are as follows
Manas National Park
It is a 3-hour drive from Guwahati, and you will find yourself at the gate of this tiger reserve. It is a UNESCO heritage site and is a home to reptiles, mammals and birds. As a tourist to this place, you get a change to take part in elephant and jeep safaris to spot some of the exotic animals on view. Due to its location, the landscape is green and picture perfect for some selfies. Much of the forest lies in the region of Bhutan, but the forest is at its best because of the joint effort of conservation of forests of both countries.
The State Museum of Assam
If you are keen to learn about heritage and culture of North East India, then the State museum is the place you have to step in. There is an impressive library with scripts dating back to hundreds of years. The museum is open except second Mondays and fourth Saturdays. A special section is devoted to Mahatma Gandhi along with freedom struggles of India. It throws light on democracy in the country.
Guwahati Planetarium
This is a must visit place when you are in Guwahati. Near Uzaan bazaar on M. G road this planetarium is situated. You can be a part of sky watching sessions as shows are projected on the overhead screen which is a delight for the users. One thing worth mentioning is that the technological wonders of the planetarium have not kept pace with others round the world, but it is a perfect place to come across likeminded people.
Temples as well as Guwahati are hand in glove with each other. A testimony to this fact is that you will come across a host of temples when you visit this part. For Tantric Hinduism Kamakhaya temple is one of the sought out destinations. On personal point of things, my all-time favorite is the Navagraha temple, known as the temple of 9 planets was an ancient astrological center. Nine lingas represent the nine planets and situated inside the main complex. It was because of this temple; Guwahati is also referred to as Pragjyotishpura.