The Rhino Heritage Museum Shillong, located near the military hospital in Shillong, is a war museum. It has one of the best tourist places in Shillong and one of the most prominent war museums in North-East India. This museum was built in 1928, and there is also lots of information dedicated to the cultural heritage and courage of Assam rifles, as well as displays the uniforms of the deceased soldiers, medals and some weapons used during World War II that were made in Japan. This museum is also dedicated to conserving the rhinoceros. This museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Thursdays.
Places To Visit Near The Rhino Heritage Museum Shillong
Here are a few places to visit near the Rhino Heritage Museum Shillong to have a memorable experience.
1. Srimata Sankardev Kalakshetra
Image Credit: Bishnu Saikia for Wikipedia
Srimata Sankar Dev Kala Kshetra is a cultural institute in Guwahati that is also known as Kalakshetra. It is named after the mediaeval poet, Srimata Sankardev. This place has a cultural museum, a library, a children’s park and other facilities for preserving, demonstrating and performing cultural arts and history. It is the largest cultural gathering area and a famous tourist spot in Guwahati. The Kalakshetra was built in the 1990s and displays the art of Assam and other northeastern regions.
The museum in this Kalakshetra has various cultural objects from the state. The open theatre here can accommodate up to 2000 people and host big cultural programs like traditional dance and drama performances. The Kalakshetra also has an artist village, which shows the village life of Assam. The library in Kalakshetra has a huge collection of rare books and manuscripts. Lalit Kala Bhavan in this kalakshetra is used for exhibitions and workshops to learn about art and culture. The Heritage Park is the largest part of this Kalakshetra and now there are cable car facilities available to look around the park. This place here is mostly visited by people who are enthusiastic about learning the art and culture of Assam through workshops or visiting the various complexes inside the Kalakshetra. The Kalakshetra is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with an entry fee of RS 30 for adults, 10 rupees for children, Rs 100 for foreigners and 30 rupees for the sound and light show.
Location: Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Panjabari Rd, Batahguli, Guwahati, Assam 781037
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Must Read: Things To Do In Shillong
2. Ever Living Museum
Image Credit: Medhi jyoti for Wikimedia Commons
Ever Living Museum located in Shillong is a private museum and one of the most popular museums in Shillong. This Museum was established in 2015 and operated by the Meghalaya government engineer who has retired. The main museum is an Ethnographic Museum that houses objects of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes. There are also musical instruments that include drums, gongs, pipes, bamboo mouth organs, iron mouth organs and other bamboo instruments of Meghalaya. There are also items like iron kettles, curry-making pots and smoking pipes of the ancient tribes.
There is a handicrafts section in this museum where there are miniature baskets, fish traps and filters, items made of bamboo and miniature depictions of tree houses of the tribes. There are also many dresses, jewellery, currency notes and coins which are centuries old found in this museum. There is a stone museum near the main Museum which has 30 types of stones collected from different parts of Meghalaya. There are various stone tools like stone age tools, sand weathering rocks, graphite and flint stones. The garden in this Museum has 100 varieties of orchids and wildflowers along with 25 varieties of ferns. The Museum is open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and it is closed on Good Friday, Easter and Christmas. The entry fee to the museum is Rs 50 for adults and Rs 20 for children.
Location: HW6M+4RV Ever Living Museum, Mawshbuit-Sweet Falls Rd, Mawshbuit, Meghalaya 793007
Timings: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on Good Friday, Easter and Christmas
3. Elephant Falls
Image Credit: Ishita Singh for Wikipedia
Elephant Falls, located in Shillong, is a two-tier waterfall. The original name of the waterfalls in Khasi is Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew. This name is mostly used by the locals. The English name originated when an Englishman in the British spotted a rock that looked like an elephant near the waterfall. But this giant rock was destroyed by an earthquake in 1897.
The first fall of the elephant falls is like a horsetail punch bowl waterfall, which is very broad and hidden among the trees. The second fall is domesticated, and in the winters it looks inconsequential. The third waterfall is the tallest and has beautiful views with crystal-clear water falling from the sharp rocks and the view of the third waterfall comes suddenly. A sign board near Shillong Peak is marked that leads to the falls. From there, steep and slippery stairs navigate to the east level of the fall. There are benches to relax me at the first and second levels of the fall. The entry to the fall is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays, with an entry fee of Rs 20 and another Rs 20 to bring a camera.
Location: Elephant Falls, Shillong, Upper, Shillong, Meghalaya 793009
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed on Sunday
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Shillong
4. Maha Mrityunjay Temple
Mahamrityunjay Temple, located in Nagaon, Assam, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is famous for its architectural style, as it is built in the form of a Shivling. With 126 feet in height, it is the world’s largest Shiva Linga. The construction of this temple started in 2003 with the initiation of Acharya Bhrigu Giri Maharaj. This was the place where he meditated, and it was also where Guru Shukracharya performed the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.
Even though the construction started in 2003, there were several attempts at the architecture, but Er did the final engineering and design work. Narayan Sharma. The inauguration of the temple was done in 2021 and many government officers visited this place to inaugurate the temple. On the day of inauguration, 108 Yaga Kundas were established and 250 priests from Tamil Nadu came to perform the Prana Pratishtha Yaga. This temple is open from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: 4PFX+G89 Mrityunjaye Shiv Mandir, Lokhra Rd, Dakshingaon, Guwahati, Assam 781034
Timings: 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
5. Wankhar Entomology Museum
The Wankhar Entomology Museum, also known as the Butterfly Museum, is located in Riatsamthiah, Shillong. It is one of the most famous museums in Shillong and was established in the 1930s. It is a private museum owned by the Wankhar family of Shillong. It is believed that Mr Siddharth Kumar Sarkar, who was a Bengali entomologist, went to Shillong and married a Khasi lady with the surname Wankhar. They started collecting various species of insects and birds and now their granddaughter, Ms.Rosalin, takes care of the museum.
This is the only museum in India that is dedicated to marks and butterflies. It has a collection of nearly 1600 types of butterflies and moths from all over the world. Colourful insects and butterflies found nearby are also seen in the museum. This museum has played an important role in conserving rare butterfly and mouth species by initiating a breeding program. This museum also has a few displays that provide insight into the lifespan and habitat of these insects. This museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. The entry fee to this museum is Rs 50 for Indians and Rs 100 for foreigners.
Location: Wankhar Entomology Museum, near Christian Academy School, Riatsamthiah, Shillong, Meghalaya 793001
Timings: From Monday to Friday, 10:00 a,m, to 4:00 p.m., on Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday
Further Read: Adventure Sports In Shillong
Now that you have a list of things to keep in mind while travelling to the Rhino Heritage Museum, what are you waiting for? Embark on an unforgettable journey through the mesmerising beauty of Shillong and uncover all of its secrets. Plan your trip to Shillong today and explore Meghalaya like never before.
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Cover Image Source: Rahulyadav96 for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhino Heritage Museum Shillong
How is the climate in Shillong?
Shillong is a subtropical highland and observed to have a cool climate throughout the year. During winters it is extremely cold and during summers it is cold and has light rainfall.
What are some prominent museums to visit in Shillong?
There are many museums in Shillong, like the Air Force Museum, the Rhino Heritage Museum, the Ever Living Museum, the Don Bosco Museum and the Butterfly Museum also known as the Wankhar Entomology Museum.
Where is the Rhino Heritage Museum located?
This museum is located near the military hospital of Shillong. It is also located near the junction of Guwahati and Shillong roads and near the Shillong bus stand. Tourists can take local transportation from this bus stand to reach the museum.
What is the Rhino Heritage Museum famous for?
This museum is famous for spreading the message about conserving the species of rhinoceros. This museum also has lots of information displayed related to World War II made in Japan.
What is the best time to visit this museum?
The best time to visit this museum is between March to June,except on National holidays, because the climate during these months is pleasant. Tourists can explore other places around this museum and enjoy the beautiful views.
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