Hill capital
Shillong spreads over the pine-covered hills of the Khasi plateau, about 1,500 metres up, with winding roads, steep lanes and houses stepping down the slopes. Police Bazaar is the busy centre, ringed by older neighbourhoods like Laitumkhrah, Laban, Jail Road and Mawkhar. Newer housing has spread towards Mawpat, Mawlai, Nongthymmai and Upper Shillong.
When you ask for a quote, give the exact address, a map pin and how the house is reached from the road.
Carrying on the slopes
Many Shillong homes are reached by narrow lanes or flights of steps where a truck can't go. Goods are often moved to a smaller vehicle or carried by hand, which takes time. Tell your mover how many steps there are, whether large furniture will fit through the doors, and ask for any carrying charges to be in the quote.
Rain and fog
Shillong is wet from May to September, and the nearby Sohra area is one of the rainiest places on Earth. Fog can roll in quickly, roads get slippery, and things left in boxes go damp. Ask for waterproof wrapping, keep a buffer day, and air everything after unpacking. Our guide to moving in the monsoon has more tips.
Cool all year
Summers are mild and winters are cold, with chilly nights from November to February. Most homes don't have fans, but many have heaters. Unpack warm clothes and bedding first. October to April is usually the best time to move.
Students and institutes
NEHU, IIM Shillong, NIT Meghalaya, the medical institute and many old schools and colleges draw students from across the North-East. A student's room usually goes as a few-items move; check the hostel's dates first.
Festivals
Christmas and New Year are the biggest celebrations, with the city lit up and crowded, and Shad Suk Mynsiem in spring, the Nongkrem dance and Durga Puja draw crowds too. Book early if your date falls near one.
Local moves
Many local moves go across the city or out to Mawphlang, Sohra, Mawlai, Umiam and the villages on the Guwahati road. Share both exact addresses when you ask for a quote.
Common moves out of Shillong
Common moves from Shillong go down to Guwahati and south-east to Silchar in the Barak Valley. Our route guides cover both.
Defence and government postings
The Air Force's Eastern Air Command at Upper Shillong, the cantonment at Happy Valley, central government offices and the state secretariat bring staff on transfers. Service and government quarters need a vacating notice and an inspection. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Old houses
Older Shillong homes are often Assam-type houses with wooden floors, sloping tin roofs and narrow staircases. Heavy furniture may need to be dismantled, and wooden floors protected while the crew works. Tell your mover about the house when you book.
Traffic in the centre
Roads around Police Bazaar, Laitumkhrah and the main junctions jam badly during office and school hours. An early-morning start makes loading and the drive out much quicker.
First weeks in a Shillong home
Ask how the water supply works, since many homes store water in tanks and supply can be irregular in the dry months, check the heating, and book internet early. Our guide to address changes after moving lists the official records to update.
Packing against damp
Ask for mattresses, fabrics and books in sealed covers, wooden furniture in blankets, and electronics in their own cartons with moisture absorbers. Don't leave cartons sealed for weeks in a damp house.
Umiam and the Guwahati road
Umiam lake and the villages along the road to Guwahati have new homes and institutions. Roads there are wider than in the city but still hilly. Give the exact address and a landmark.
Police Bazaar
Police Bazaar, Shillong's main market, is a tangle of crowded, sloping streets, and a truck can't stand there for long. Moves from homes nearby should be loaded early in the morning, and goods may need to be carried up or down steps to the nearest road.
Sohra and the wettest places
Sohra, also called Cherrapunji, and Mawsynram, south of Shillong, are among the wettest places on earth, and the road down to them is often in cloud. Families posted there should expect damp homes and pack accordingly.
Umroi or Guwahati for flights
Shillong's own airport at Umroi has a few flights, but most families fly from Guwahati, about three hours away by road.
Shad Suk Mynsiem
Shad Suk Mynsiem, the Khasi spring dance festival, is held in April at Weiking, and the roads around the grounds are crowded for the days of the dance.
Jowai and the Jaintia hills
Jowai, east of Shillong in the Jaintia hills, is a district town where staff are posted, and the road there winds through pine forest.
Iewduh, the Bara Bazaar
Iewduh, Shillong's huge traditional market, is a maze of lanes where trucks can't go, and it's packed on its market days. Homes and shops near it are best reached early in the morning, with goods carried to the nearest road.
New Shillong at Mawdiangdiang
New Shillong, at Mawdiangdiang on the city's south-eastern side, is where the new assembly building and government offices are coming up, with new housing around them.
Laitumkhrah's schools and colleges
Laitumkhrah, east of Police Bazaar, has many of Shillong's old schools and colleges, and its roads are jammed at school times.
NEHU's campus
The North-Eastern Hill University campus, on Shillong's northern side, has hostels and staff quarters, and students move in and out each year.
Cherry blossoms in November
In November, Shillong's cherry trees flower and the city fills with visitors, and hotels and roads are busy.
Moving down to Guwahati
A common Shillong move is down the hill to Guwahati, about three hours away by road. The highway is wide but winding, and landslides can close stretches in the monsoon. Pack fragile things well, as the truck will sway on the bends.
Rented homes in old Assam-type houses
Many Shillong rentals are old Assam-type houses with wooden floors, tin roofs and steep steps down from the road. Wooden floors can be uneven, so heavy almirahs need to be moved on boards, and damp can get into cartons left on the floor. Ask the landlord about leaks before the monsoon, and keep a dehumidifier or a few silica packs in wardrobes.