Police Bazar (Shillong) Travel Guide - Free

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Police Bazar
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Police Bazar in Shillong blends Khasi flavours, central markets, cafés, shopping streets and easy access to Meghalaya’s capital-city sights.

Urban Centre and Meeting Place

Police Bazar, widely known locally as Khyndailad, is Shillong’s most recognisable commercial district: a dense central area of shops, cafés, hotels, food stalls, offices and transport connections. The neighbourhood sits within the city’s main urban core, where roads converge around a busy pedestrian-friendly market area and the pace of daily life is noticeably faster than in Shillong’s quieter residential lanes. For first-time visitors, it is often the practical starting point for discovering the city.
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Markets, Food and Everyday Shillong

The character of Police Bazar comes from movement and variety rather than monumental architecture. Shopfronts sell clothing, shoes, mobile phones, handicrafts, cosmetics and everyday goods, while bakeries, cafés and small restaurants cater to office workers, students, residents and travellers. Khasi, north-eastern Indian, Tibetan-influenced and pan-Indian dishes appear across the local dining scene, alongside familiar snacks and sweets. In the surrounding streets, taxis, pedestrians and delivery vehicles share a compact and sometimes congested environment.

A Convenient Base

Police Bazar is useful for visitors because many parts of central Shillong can be reached on foot or by short taxi ride from here. Ward’s Lake, Shillong’s principal commercial streets and several civic and cultural sites lie nearby, although not every attraction associated with central Shillong is technically within the neighbourhood. The area is liveliest during the day and early evening; after dark, its cafés, restaurants and hotels remain active while the market atmosphere gradually gives way to a more local urban rhythm.

Best landmarks in Police Bazar

The most recognisable landmark within Police Bazar is the central Khyndailad area, whose name is used widely for the principal commercial junction and surrounding market space. Its importance is functional and civic: roads, taxis, shops, food businesses and pedestrian movement meet here, making it one of the clearest reference points in Shillong. The streetscape is a mixture of commercial façades, signs, newer shopfronts and practical urban buildings rather than a single preserved architectural ensemble. The neighbourhood’s significance also comes from its position within the capital’s central network, linking shopping streets with hotels, offices and routes towards other districts. Ward’s Lake is a notable nearby landmark, but it should be treated geographically as a separate attraction outside Police Bazar proper. For visitors interested in Shillong’s older built character, the wider central area contains more historical civic and religious buildings than the market core itself.

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Explore Police Bazar on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Police Bazar, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Police Bazar

Eating in Police Bazar reflects Shillong’s role as a meeting point for local residents, students, office workers and travellers. Small restaurants and cafés around the commercial centre serve Khasi and broader north-eastern dishes alongside Indian staples, Tibetan-influenced meals, noodles, fried snacks, sandwiches, cakes and coffee. Visitors can look for preparations featuring rice, pork, chicken, seasonal vegetables and local spices, while bakery counters and casual cafés provide easy stops between shopping and sightseeing. The dining scene is varied but generally urban and informal: menus, premises and availability change, so asking locally or checking current listings is sensible. Restaurants in the central market area sit close to shops and transport points, whereas quieter cafés may be found on adjoining streets. Police Bazar is particularly useful for comparing several styles of food in one compact area rather than seeking a single defining cuisine or formal dining district.

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Best bars in Police Bazar

Police Bazar is more strongly associated with shopping, cafés and casual dining than with a concentrated nightclub scene. After dark, hotel restaurants, cafés and local bars provide places for conversation, while the central streets remain active with taxis, shoppers and people returning from work or college. Some establishments serve alcohol, but the neighbourhood’s evening character is generally urban and sociable rather than dominated by large clubs or late-night entertainment venues. Shillong’s wider music culture can be encountered in selected bars, cafés and hotels across the city, but events and opening arrangements change, so current local information is important. Visitors should remember that Police Bazar also contains accommodation and residential uses: keep voices low outside venues, avoid blocking pavements and arrange transport before leaving the busier central area. Nearby parts of Shillong may offer a broader choice of music venues than the market streets themselves.

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Best nightclubs in Police Bazar

Police Bazar is more strongly associated with shopping, cafés and casual dining than with a concentrated nightclub scene. After dark, hotel restaurants, cafés and local bars provide places for conversation, while the central streets remain active with taxis, shoppers and people returning from work or college. Some establishments serve alcohol, but the neighbourhood’s evening character is generally urban and sociable rather than dominated by large clubs or late-night entertainment venues. Shillong’s wider music culture can be encountered in selected bars, cafés and hotels across the city, but events and opening arrangements change, so current local information is important. Visitors should remember that Police Bazar also contains accommodation and residential uses: keep voices low outside venues, avoid blocking pavements and arrange transport before leaving the busier central area. Nearby parts of Shillong may offer a broader choice of music venues than the market streets themselves.

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Best shops in Police Bazar

Shopping is central to Police Bazar’s identity, with the main commercial streets and adjoining lanes offering clothing, footwear, cosmetics, mobile phones, electronics, luggage, household goods and small gifts. Visitors will also find shops selling Meghalaya handicrafts and regional products, although stock and authenticity vary, so it is worth asking about materials, makers and local provenance rather than assuming every labelled item was produced nearby. Bakeries, sweet shops and snack counters add edible purchases to the retail mix, while smaller independent businesses occupy side streets away from the busiest junctions. Police Bazar is more a practical city-centre marketplace than a specialist craft quarter, and its appeal rests on the range of everyday shopping available in a compact area. Bargaining may be possible in some independent shops and stalls, but it is best handled politely; fixed-price stores and branded outlets generally follow their own pricing.

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Police Bazar essentials

Getting There
Police Bazar is in central Shillong and is served by local taxis, shared taxis and city buses connecting it with other parts of the capital. Visitors arriving by road from Guwahati generally reach the city through Shillong’s main approach roads and can continue by taxi towards the central commercial area. Shillong Airport at Umroi lies outside the neighbourhood, while the closest major railway access is at Guwahati, so onward road transport is normally required. Ask drivers specifically for Police Bazar or Khyndailad, as both names are used locally.
Getting Around
The central market area is best explored on foot, although pavements can be uneven or interrupted by shopfronts, parked vehicles and heavy pedestrian movement. Short taxi journeys are useful for reaching nearby parts of Shillong, while shared taxis connect the commercial centre with other neighbourhoods. The terrain is hilly, and rain can make routes slippery, so comfortable shoes are advisable. Police Bazar is a useful base for walking towards nearby central sights, but visitors should check the direction of one-way roads and allow space for local traffic at junctions.
Safety
Police Bazar is a busy commercial environment where ordinary urban precautions are appropriate. Keep bags closed and valuables secure in crowded shopping areas, around taxi stands and near busy junctions. Take care when crossing roads, since pedestrians, taxis, buses and delivery vehicles share limited space. At night, remain aware of traffic and use a registered or clearly identified taxi for longer journeys, particularly if unfamiliar with Shillong’s hills. Respect shopkeepers and residents by avoiding blocked entrances, excessive noise and casual photography of people without permission.
Emergency Situations
In India, dial 112 for the integrated emergency response service; 100 is traditionally associated with police, 101 with fire services and 108 with ambulance assistance, although local availability can vary. Give the operator the landmark Police Bazar or Khyndailad and a nearby hotel, shop or junction if you do not know a street address. International visitors should keep passport, insurance and emergency contact details accessible. For urgent medical assistance, ask hotel staff, a taxi driver or local authorities to direct you to the appropriate hospital or clinic rather than relying on an unfamiliar facility.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress comfortably and respectfully, especially when visiting religious or community spaces beyond the market area. Ask before photographing people, shop interiors or stalls, and handle local crafts and produce carefully. Queue patiently at food counters and transport points, and negotiate or confirm taxi arrangements politely before departure. Avoid standing in traffic lanes or blocking narrow pavements while taking photographs. Police Bazar is also a working commercial neighbourhood, so keep noise modest near hotels and homes and do not treat vendors, drivers or residents as part of a staged tourist display.
Local Tips
Learn both names, Police Bazar and Khyndailad, because maps, drivers and residents may use them differently. Use the main market streets for orientation, then look into side lanes for smaller cafés, bakeries, local clothing shops and everyday services. Ward’s Lake is close enough to combine with a central-market visit, although it is a separate nearby attraction rather than part of Police Bazar itself. Rain showers can alter walking conditions quickly, so a compact umbrella and shoes with good grip are useful additions to a day exploring central Shillong.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
Helloनमस्कार[Namaskar]
Goodbyeअलविदा[Alvida]
Yesहाँ[Haan]
Noनहीं[Nahi]
Please/You're welcomeकृपया[Kripaya]
Thank youधन्यवाद[Dhanyavad]
Excuse me/Sorryमाफ़ कीजिए[Maaf kijiye]
How are you?आप कैसे हैं?[Aap kaise hain?]
Fine. And you?ठीक हूँ। आप?[Theek hoon. Aap?]
Do you speak English?क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?[Kya aap angrezi bolte hain?]
I don't understandमुझे समझ में नहीं आया[Mujhe samajh mein nahi aaya]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseकृपया मेन्यू दिखाइए[Kripaya menu dikhaiye]
I don't eat meatमैं मांस नहीं खाता/खाती[Main maans nahi khaata/khaati]
Cheers!चियर्स![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseकृपया मैं भुगतान करना चाहूँ[Kripaya main bhugtan karna chaahoon]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!बचाओ![Bachao!]
Go away!चले जाओ![Chale jao!]
Call the Police!पुलिस को बुलाओ![Police ko bulao!]
Call a doctor!डॉक्टर को बुलाओ![Doctor ko bulao!]
I'm lostमैं खो गया/गई हूँ[Main kho gaya/gayi hoon]
I'm illमुझे बीमारी है[Mujhe bimari hai]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...मैं खरीदना चाहूँगा/चाहूँगी...[Main khareedna chahunga/chahungi...]
I'm just lookingमैं बस देख रहा/रही हूँ[Main bas dekh raha/rahi hoon]
How much is it?यह कितने का है?[Yeh kitne ka hai?]
That's too expensiveयह बहुत महंगा है[Yeh bahut mehnga hai]
Can you lower the price?क्या आप कीमत कम कर सकते हैं?[Kya aap keemat kam kar sakte hain?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?अब कितने बजे हैं?[Ab kitne baje hain?]
It's one o'clockएक बजे हैं[Ek baje hain]
Half past (10)दस बजे तक[Das baje tak]
Morningसुबह[Subah]
Afternoonदोपहर[Dopahar]
Eveningशाम[Shaam]
Yesterdayकल[Kal]
Todayआज[Aaj]
Tomorrowकल[Kal]
1एक[Ek]
2दो[Do]
3तीन[Teen]
4चार[Char]
5पांच[Paanch]
6छह[Chhah]
7सात[Saath]
8आठ[Aath]
9नौ[Nau]
10दस[Das]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?एक/यहाँ... कहाँ है?[Ek/yahaan... kahaan hai?]
What's the address?पता क्या है?[Pata kya hai?]
Can you show me (on the map)?क्या आप मुझे दिखा सकते हैं (नक्शे पर)?[Kya aap mujhe dikhya sakte hain (nakshye par)?]
When's the next (bus)?अगली (बस) कब है?[Agli (bus) kab hai?]
A ticket (to ....)एक टिकट (के लिए...)[Ek ticket (ke liye...)]

History of Police Bazar

A Colonial Hill Station Emerges

The area now understood as central Shillong developed within the British hill station established in the nineteenth century. Shillong grew as an administrative centre after the colonial government selected it as the capital of Assam in 1874, and roads, offices, residences and commercial services gradually spread across the hill settlement. Police Bazar was not an isolated historic village with a clearly documented founding date; its identity formed as part of this expanding urban centre, whose streets served both government activity and the needs of a growing population in the Khasi Hills.

The Making of a Commercial District

As Shillong’s administrative and residential population increased, central markets became increasingly important for the exchange of food, clothing, household goods and services. Police Bazar developed as one of these principal commercial areas, with its name commonly associated with the presence of a police post or police-related civic activity, although the development of the district was broader than that single association. Its location at the meeting point of important central roads helped it become a natural place for shopping, transport connections and everyday encounters between residents and visitors.

From Assam Capital to Meghalaya Centre

Shillong’s political role changed after Indian independence and the reorganisation of the north-eastern states. When Meghalaya became a separate state in 1972, Shillong became its capital, strengthening the importance of central commercial areas such as Police Bazar. Government offices, educational institutions, tourism businesses and an expanding service economy brought continued footfall to the district. The neighbourhood’s commercial identity was therefore shaped not only by retail, but also by its relationship with the city’s administrative, educational and transport networks.

Khyndailad in Contemporary Shillong

In contemporary usage, many residents refer to the central junction and market area as Khyndailad, while Police Bazar remains the familiar name for the broader commercial neighbourhood. The district has adapted to changing consumer habits, with older general shops sharing space with branded retailers, cafés, mobile-phone outlets, small restaurants and accommodation. This change reflects Shillong’s wider urban growth and its increasing role as a gateway to Meghalaya, while the area continues to function primarily as a working market and meeting place rather than a preserved historic quarter.

Police Bazar in Photos

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Neighbourhoods near Police Bazar

The closest neighbourhoods to Police Bazar, if you have time for more than one stop.

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