THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN 15 October and 16 October 2020
Irrespective of the date when the map was made and
the blogged, It has been published backdated, to maintain historical sequence.
These backdated blogs are written as much to record our travels and
places seen all those years in the past, as they are to present a photographic
record of the growth of Ajeet and Anuj through those early years.
Shillong View Point,
Shillong View Point,
This is a screenshot of the Shillong Viewpoint map. This Screenshot is just to give you an overall picture of the relative positions of Shillong Viewpoint and SP 110/4, our home. Normal functions of maps are not available in this map. Those are available in an interactive map.
For an interactive map go here
We stayed in SP 110/4 at the Peak for more than one year. Weather was cold. In winters temperatures used to drop to 2 to 4 degrees. During met briefings at Command, we were told "grass temperature" as well, it used to be minus 3-4 degrees C.
These, of course, were minimum temperatures at night. A time when we were cosily tucked in the bed, in rooms warmed by fireplaces.
Day temperatures were 16 degrees plus. So it was quite OK. It was only when day temperatures dropped to 10 or lower that we felt discomfort due to cold.
Even on such days, as long as there was Sunshine it was quite pleasant in the sun.
There was no TV. There were no smartphones. Those were the days there was a lot of interaction between family members.
Invariably on the sunny weekends and holidays all of us used to get out of the house and go to either Shillong view Point, Liatkor Peak or go around the Khasi village which was further down and reached by a footpath.
Those were wonderful times spent in open fresh air by the whole family together. Term "quality time" with family or children was not coined. Today I proudly say that YES, we did spend plenty of "quality time".
Shillong Viewpoint was the closest and within walking distance of our house. It was a place visited most often or at any odd time of the day.
The view from there was always spectacular.
It was some distance from the sub guard room, a place where I had gone for help on our arrival.
Shillong Viewpoint was a vantage point near a sheer drop of 30 – 40 feet, from where complete Shillong city was visible in all its glory. A small rectangular area and a narrow path were made of paved cement. Near the edge of the drop, a simple safety railing was installed to prevent any accident.
Even though its official name is Shillong View Point at Liatkor peak, we the Air Force crowd and most of the locals simply called it View Point. It was considered a tourist spot but we never saw any tourist whenever we visited the place. Almost always we were the only people around.
There was salience, a calm and serene atmosphere.
The hills, forested slopes and Shillong looked beautiful. Enjoyed every moment we spent there.
There were times when we could not see Shillong at all as the complete valley was totally covered in clouds.
Then there were days with visibility so clear that I swear we could see, Himalayan Range. At those times Shillong houses appeared very close.
Simply fantastic almost a spiritual experience.
Photos taken during our visits in those days are given in a shared album.
To see the album go here
We did visit Shilling viewpoint on 12 March 2020. This time with Jayati and Leela as well.
