Don Bosco museum and the old town
The Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures at Mawlai is run by the Salesian order and sits in a hexagonal tower overlooking the city. Its galleries cover the tribes and communities of the eight North Eastern states: their houses, dress, weapons, musical instruments, food and religious life, with good models and labels. If you are travelling on to Nagaland or Arunachal, this is the place to learn the difference between a Naga morung and a Monpa house before you see them.
Allow about two hours, and finish on the rooftop walkway, which gives a full view across Shillong's ridges. From there we drive to the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, a large brick church in Laitumkhrah, and on to Ward's Lake, a Victorian garden lake in the centre of the former British station.
The last stop is a slow drive or walk through the quieter lanes of Oakland and Cleve Colony, past the timber bungalows and gardens that once housed officials of the Assam government. We break for coffee at one of Shillong's cafes, many of which have live music in the evening.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is the Don Bosco museum in Shillong worth visiting?
Yes. It is the best single introduction to the cultures of the North East, covering all eight states in well-arranged galleries with models, costumes and artefacts. Allow at least two hours. It is particularly useful at the start of a journey that continues to Nagaland, Arunachal or Assam.
What are the opening hours of the Don Bosco museum?
The museum is generally open from morning to late afternoon and closed on Sundays and some holidays, but hours change. We confirm timings and the entry fee when planning your day. Check current status before you travel, especially around Christmas and Easter.
What else is there to see in Shillong old town?
Ward's Lake, a Victorian lake garden, the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, the Shillong golf course, one of the oldest in India, and the bungalow-lined lanes of Oakland and Cleve Colony. Evenings are best spent in a music cafe, since Shillong is known across India for live blues and rock.
Also in Shillong
More hours to plan around
