Shillong is the capital and hill station of Meghalaya, also known as "The Abode of Clouds", one of the smallest states in India. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district and is situated at an average altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496 m) above sea level, with the highest point being Shillong Peak at 6,449 feet (1,966 m).It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, they would also refer to it as the "Scotland of the East". Cherrapunji/ Cherrapunjee, the historic name Sohra is more commonly used, is a subdivisional town in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is credited as being the wettest place on Earth, but nearby Mawsynram currently holds that record. Cherrapunji still holds the all-time record for the most rainfall in a calendar month and in a year: it received 9,300 mm (366 in) in July 1861 and 26,461 mm (1,041.75 in) between 1 August 1860 and 31 July 1861. Cherrapunji is the traditional capital of the Nongkhlaw hima (Khasi tribal chieftainship constituting a petty state) known as Sohra or Churra. Guwahati is the largest city of Assam, a major riverine port city and one of the fastest growing cities in India, situated in the South Bank of river Brahmaputra . Guwahati lies between the banks of the Brahmaputra River and the foothills of the Shillong plateau, with LGB International Airport to the west and the town of Narengi to the east. It is gradually being expanded as North Guwahati to the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river in Asia. It is also one of the major rivers of Asia that cuts through 4 countries: China, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. As such, it is known by various names in the region. In (Assamese: Brahmaputra; Tibetan: ་, Wylie: and the Jamuna River in Bangladesh)
Umiam Lake / Barapani ( Recently featured in Airtel 4G Ad) is a reservoir located in the hills 15 km to the North of Shillong in the state of Meghalaya, India. It was created by damming the Umiam river in the early 1960s. The principal catchment area of the lake and dam is spread over 220 square km.
The beautiful Umiam Lake will wake you up to the beauty of Shillong. For a first timer it will come as a sweet surprise. Just 15km north of Shillong, on the Shillong-Guwahati highway, this manmade lake is a great treat and an eye opener to the possibilities, this State can offer in terms of its scenic beauty. What a way to introduce Shillong, also fondly called, ‘Scotland of the East’!
According to myths, ‘two sisters from the heavens made their way to Meghalaya; however, one sister has been successful in doing so. The other sister cannot make it. So the first sister cried for her unsuccessful sister and the lake has been formed with the help of her tears.
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