Strolling Through Shillong – A Solo Traveler’s Guide to Stillness and Warmth

When the Journey Becomes the Destination

There are some places you travel to, and then there are places that haunt you. For me, Shillong was the latter.

Having been a solo traveler for years, I’ve always loved the thought of traveling on my own schedule, deciding spontaneously, and exploring on my own terms. But this trip — this peaceful sojourn into the interior of Meghalaya — proved to be beyond expectations. It was not just about the destination. It was about the way it made me feel.

The First Impressions — Green, Misty, and Gentle

Arriving in Shillong was like entering a slower world. The roads wound through rolling hills, the scent of pine and rain filled the air, and each corner had music playing — either from a local café or the hum of nature itself.

The first thing that hit me was that everything felt so serene. Even the city center, which is not lacking in activity, felt milder than the typical city fray. I got there in the early evening, when a light drizzle had just started to fall and the sky was beginning to transition from day to grey-blue. The patter of raindrops on the cab window was like a consolation.

A Stay That Felt Like It Found Me

I did not want to be in a hotel. This was a personal trip. I wanted something that would suit my mood — quiet, warm, and homely.

That’s when I approached cheQin.ai, a platform I had recently discovered. I did not sift through endless listings or filter-heavy searches. Rather, I just posted my requirements — budget-friendly, cozy, preferably with a balcony or garden, and near local cafés.

Within a short time, I received a handful of direct responses from local homestay owners. One stood out — a cottage-style homestay just outside the main town, run by a soft-spoken couple who loved music and served homemade breakfasts. Booking was easy. But more than that, it felt personal.

When I got there, it was all that I had imagined. A small wooden room with big windows, gentle lighting, and a bookshelf full of books and cassettes. It seemed like the sort of place for leisurely mornings and contemplative evenings.

Slow Days, Simple Joys

Every day in Shillong passed slowly. There was no hurry, no “must-see” list. I wandered about, trailed the aroma of baked treats into neighbourhood bakeries, and allowed the weather to dictate my timetable.

Cafés That Comforted the Soul

Shillong café culture is India’s most underappreciated. I spent hours at joints such as Café Shillong, Dylan’s Café, and a small tea shop crunched between roads near Laitumkhrah. The food was hot, the music soothing, and the atmosphere perfect.

There’s something wonderfully earthy about drinking ginger tea while one reads a book as rain patters softly against the glass next to you. That was most of my afternoons.

Local Discussions and Spontaneous Moments

What gave richness to my experience were the brief, authentic discussions I had — with my hosts, with strangers at coffee shops, and with local store owners who happily told me about their hometown. These weren’t profound philosophical discussions, but little, warm moments of human connection that made me feel less isolated and more a part of something.

Evenings with Rain and Music

Evenings in Shillong have a rhythm of their own. I’d return to the homestay, usually just before sunset. Some evenings, I’d sit on the porch with a cup of tea and watch clouds roll through the hills. On others, I’d sit inside, lights dim, soft music playing, rain dancing on the rooftop.

There was peace in that routine — a kind of silence that filled rather than emptied.

A Brief Escapade In an Escapade — Day Trip to Laitlum

One of the few planned choices I made was to go see Laitlum Canyons, roughly an hour away from Shillong. It was one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever been to — rolling green cliffs that seemed to dissolve into clouds. There weren’t too many people, and for a time, it was just me, the wind, and a sky-stretching wide.

It made me think about why I travel. Not for stories or photos, but for sensations that can’t be expressed all the time.

What Shillong Gave Me That I Didn’t Expect

I expected this trip to be a break. But it became a reset.

There was no plot twist or awakening. Only softening. Being still again. The kind that only happens after you’ve hung around long enough to listen — not just to others, but also to nature, to strangers, and to your own self.

It put me in the mood to crave slow days so much, discover how therapeutic silent mornings can be, and learn how nice a stay can be when it is like a big hug after you have spent long hours.

Travel Tips from My Solo Shillong Trip

. If you are planning to take a solo trip to Shillong, following are a few easy tips:

. Wear layers. Early morning and nighttime temperatures are low even during summer.

. Take local homestays. They provide greater warmth and local information compared to commercial hotels. Platforms such as cheQin.ai allow you to put up your needs and get offers from actual people.

. Walk extensively. Shillong is best walked — whether the streets of Police Bazaar or the quieter fringes.

. Don’t plan too much. Allow weather and mood to dictate your day.

. Engage with locals. Folks here are friendly and courteous. Even a passing conversation can enrich your experience.

. Always carry an umbrella. Shillong showers are enchantingly unpredictable.

Final Thoughts — Not Just a Trip, But a Feeling

In retrospect, this experience wasn’t about filling gaps. It was about discovering aspects of myself that had been drowned out by noise.

From the initial cup of tea on a drizzly morning to the final discussion with my homestay host, every interaction felt authentic. And the ease of arranging a stay via cheQin.ai permitted me to immerse myself entirely in the experience, rather than the arrangements.

Shillong gave me something besides memories. It provided me with calm. It provided me with space. And it provided me with the sort of joy that quietly stays behind, much after the bags are unpacked.