11 Heritage Walks in India to Explore History on Foot

11. Shillong Old Town & Police Bazaar: Northeast Echoes and Colonial Shops

Shillong’s compact centre blends colonial-era buildings with Khasi markets and crafts. Start at Police Bazaar, walk toward All Saints Cathedral and then into side streets for shops selling local handicrafts and Khasi textiles. This is a short 1.5–2 hour walk covering one to two kilometres, often at an easy pace thanks to the town’s pleasant hill climate. Best season: dry winter months when mornings are crisp and bright. Surfaces are mostly paved, though some side lanes are narrow. Accessibility: main streets are accessible, but hilly approaches may have slopes. Local shopkeepers are welcoming and usually happy to explain craft techniques. This walk suits travellers who want a gentler hill-station pace with cultural insights and a few good cafés to end the route. For US visitors, Shillong offers a different regional flavour and cooler weather compared with India’s plains.