Shillong, Meghalaya State

Shillong is high in the hills of Megahalaya. In fact, almost from the moment our shared Sumo ( a model of 4wheel drive about the size of a Toyota Landcruiser) started out from Guwahati, we climbed slowl, continuously up a very winding and crowded road. Along the way we passed through heavy rain and hail - not uncommon, so it was just as well we were not motorcycling as originally planned!!
Shillong was the capital of Assam state when it encompassed all the "seven sister states" that now make up the North east of India. So it is full of pieces of British colonial legacy: lots of army camps (with manicured gardens), schools, Christians, and churches, and other interesting pieces of architecture. Many of the old houses seem to be part brick, and part wattle and daub construction, in a fairly standard form. However many of these are decaying, and cement cube-shaped houses/hotels etc seem to be swamping the place.
Every building seems to be in some state of decay or construction...perhaps this reflects the Indian familiarity with the impermanence of things, or perhaps it's just a matter of a developing country dealing with growth and a growing population.
Many of the locals belong to the Khasi tribe...and older women wear the traditional long dress, long pinafore, and shawl. But globalisation is here too, and all young women wear either saris, or more often, western jeans and tops .

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