Shillong
Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya, one of the smallest states in India. It is
also the district headquarters of the East Khasi Hills District and is situated
at an average altitude of 4,908 ft (1,496 m) above sea level, with the highest
point being "lum shyllong" at 1965 m. The city has a population of approximately
260,000 according to the 2001 census. Shillong has steadily grown in size and
significance in its own traditional way from a mere village as it used to be
when it was made the new civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1864 by
the British. It remained the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam for many
years. In 1874, on the formation of Assam as a Chief Commissioner's Province, it
was chosen as the headquarters of the new administration because of its
convenient location between the Brahmaputra and Surma Valley and more so because
the climate of Shillong was much cooler than tropical India. Shillong remained
the capital of undivided Assam until the creation of the new state of Meghalaya
on January 21, 1972 when Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya and Assam
moved its capital to Dispur.
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