Shillong: Scotland of the East

Tucked away at an elevation of 1496 m, Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is set amidst thick pine covered hills. This magnificent hill station is also known as the ‘Abode of the Clouds’. It is said that Shillong’s beautiful lakes, waterfalls and rolling hills of conifers reminded the European settlers of Scotland, hence it had also earned the sobriquet ‘Scotland of the East’. The British legacy is still visible in the architectural design and food habits of the locals.

A miracle called Compassion

In 1995 I was twelve. Keya, my little sister was four. It was the year Keya started school. God! She was so excited. She loved everything about school right down to the homework assigned at the end of the day.

As for me, I was annoyed to be saddled with a little sister even in school. Not that I saw her much, or at all during school hours. It just irked me that my parents expected me to keep an eye on her. Don't get me wrong. I loved her but I rather spent my free time hanging out with my friends than baby sitting even in school!

The Call of the Wild

Kaziranga National Park, the home of the famed One-horned Rhinoceros (also called the Indian Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Assam. This expansive grassland is the home of two-third of the world’s One-horned Rhino population.