Meghalaya
sightseeing
Police Bazaar is the beating heart of Shillong. It is the main market and commercial hub of the city. People come here for shopping, street food, local handicrafts, and just to soak in the energy of the place. It is loud, busy, and completely real. No manufactured tourist experience here.
Police Bazaar sits right in the centre of Shillong. Everything in the city connects back to this point. Most hotels, cab stands, and bus stops are within walking distance. If you are planning Meghalaya tour packages, your operator will almost certainly use Police Bazaar as the base for daily departures.
Police Bazaar got its name from the police station that once stood at the centre of this market area during British rule. Shillong became the capital of Assam in 1874, and the market grew around the administrative hub. Traders, locals, and British officials all converged here.
After Indian independence, the market kept growing. When Meghalaya became a separate state in 1972, Shillong remained the capital, and Police Bazaar remained its commercial centre. Today, it is the most visited spot in Shillong. Everything from mobile phones to smoked pork is sold here.
Visit between October and April for comfortable weather in Shillong. Evening hours from 5 PM to 8 PM are more active with shopping and food stalls. Avoid heavy monsoon days due to traffic and wet market roads.
Police Bazaar is located in central Shillong and can be easily reached by local taxis and shared cabs. Most hotels in Shillong are within 10–20 minutes of the market area, depending on traffic conditions.
Entry Fee:
Timings:
Day Wise Timings
Maps & Location
Shillong, Meghalaya
Essential Information
Point of Interest for Police Bazaar
Shopping Areas
Local shops selling clothes, handicrafts, woollens, and souvenir items
Wards Lake
Popular lake with boating area and walking paths near Police Bazaar
Trattoria Food Stop
Well-known restaurant serving Khasi food and local Meghalaya dishes
Lady Hydari Park
Public garden with flowers, walking space, and a small zoo section
Shillong View Point
Hilltop viewpoint showing Shillong city and the surrounding landscape views
Police Bazaar is known for shopping, local food stalls, cafés, and busy market streets. It works as the main commercial area of Shillong and is popular among both tourists and local residents.
Yes, Police Bazaar is worth visiting for shopping, street food, and experiencing Shillong’s local market culture. It is also a convenient place for hotels, restaurants, and transport connections within the city.
At Police Bazaar, travellers usually buy woollen clothes, bamboo handicrafts, local spices, souvenirs, and handmade items. Small market shops also sell jackets, accessories, and traditional Meghalaya products.
Yes, Police Bazaar remains open on Sundays. Most shops, cafés, and food stalls operate normally, though some smaller local stores may close earlier than usual.
Trattoria is one of the popular places to eat near Police Bazaar. The area also has cafés, street food stalls, and restaurants serving Khasi, Chinese, and North Indian food.
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