Mountains have always beckoned me and it was with absolute delight that I hopped on to the Calcutta-Guwahati flight — the first leg of my journey to Shillong — with my aunt.

The second leg of the journey — a four-hour drive from Gopinath Bordoloi Airport to Shillong — was interesting as I passed through the city and took the Guwahati-Shillong Road, crossed the Assam-Meghalaya border and had tea at Nongpoh, which is midway between Guwahati and Shillong — about 50 km from each.

We were now amid verdant hills, negotiating mountain curves. The winding road and the difference in air were the first notes to the music of the mountains that awaited me. I was, however, disappointed at the sight of denuded hills in some places and the not-so-fresh mountain air, caused by traffic pollution.

As we passed Umiam lake, locally called Barapani, we learnt that we were just 19km from Shillong. I was later told that when the sluice gates are opened, it is a sight to behold. It’s an event for an outing even for the Shillongites.

Finally, we were in Shillong and what I saw of it and its surroundings in the next few days was enchanting.

The next day, we went on a tour of Shillong and its surrounding tourist attractions - the Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Wards Lake and Lady Hydari Park.

The relatives we were staying with also managed to arrange a tour of the Raj Bhavan, as I was keen on it. The governor was out but his aide-de-camp very kindly showed us around and treated us to tea.

First we went to Elephant Falls in Upper Shillong. It was a fine road, lined with tall conifers. Along the way we passed the sprawling Eastern Air Command headquarters and even stopped at a small nursery where bright flowers were in bloom. We also took a walk amid the tall pines, enjoying the sun peeping down from the green canopy above and the carpet of light and shade that it formed below. The rustle of the wind and the crunch of dried twigs and cones sounded inviting.

My next destination was viewpoint near Shillong Peak, which is the highest point in Meghalaya. From here I got a panoramic view of Shillong. It was a bright sunny morning. The wind sang on a high note around me and the trees joined in the merriment, madly nodding their heads to the music. Even as I walked from one end of the viewpoint to another, I found clouds descending and one even brushed me by.

Next, we visited Wards Lake and Lady Hydari Park. I strolled on the wooden bridge that joins the lake’s banks. The manicured lawns of Lady Hydari Park and the delightful blooms were a feast for the eyes. The park also houses a small zoo.

Another treasured memory is a trip to Tripura Castle, which had played host to Rabindranath Tagore. It has now been turned into a heritage hotel and the room where the Nobel laureate stayed is still well preserved.

The major part of the day spent sightseeing, I decided to take a stroll around town in the afternoon.

Since I was staying near Police Bazar, I decided to take a look around the bustling market. From walking aimlessly to buying handicrafts and shawls to eyeing the bright flowers and strawberries being sold by women on the streets, it was a delight.

I also had some of the best momos I had ever tasted in my life in a hotel on GS Road in Police Bazar.

The third day, we visited Mawsynram. This village in the Khasi Hills, 56km from Shillong, rivals Cherrapunjee as the wettest place on earth. The road was good and we sped through rolling green hills, punctuated by lakes and waterfalls. The faraway hills, however, took on a hazy blue hue.

In Mawsynram, we visited a cave called Mawjymbuin. Inside is a massive stalagmite shaped into a Shivling. Though I did not witness it during that visit, I was told that water always falls on the Shivling.

On the fourth and final day, we visited the government’s strawberry farm in Ri Bhoi district, about 30km from Shillong.

The real delight came when I saw big, red luscious strawberries hanging out of the plants and bit into one oversized fruit after feasting my eyes on them for a while.

The same farm also grows lilies — rows and rows of fresh-faced white, red and peach flowers, which would make any flower-lover ecstatic.

This trip took up the better part of the day. It was rather late when we started for the sacred grove in Mawphlang, 24km from Shillong. We passed several quaint villages and a green hillside on the way. This was no season for orchids, but I believe it is a beautiful sight when they do grow. It was so silent here — all I could hear was the occasional call of the birds.

By the time we turned back, darkness had descended on the hills and the clouds had come to rest in their abode. The countryside had an altogether different look now. The night, dimly lit by the moon, spun an enchanting, dream-like web as I journeyed back in silence and peace.

Going

Shillong is 100km from Guwahati. It is about three hours journey from Guwahati and four hours from the Guwahati airport. Buses, shared cars and cars-on-rent are easily available from Paltan Bazar.

Staying

There are good hotels in Shillong like the Pinewood, Royal Heritage, Hotel Polo Towers, Centre Point. Budget hotels are available in the Police Bazar area.