Laban Shillong: Guide to City's Old Quarter

Laban Shillong is one of the city's oldest residential quarters, sitting about 2.5 km from Police Bazar in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills. It's best known for Madina Masjid, India's only glass mosque, and for its quiet lanes of century-old Assam-type cottages that have stood since the city's colonial years.

A walk through Laban usually takes an hour or two, easily continued on foot to Malki Point or paired with a short cab ride out to the Ever Living Museum. Most Meghalaya tour packages already route close enough to fold Laban into a longer Shillong day, rather than visiting it as a destination on its own. October to February is the best time to explore it, with the clearest skies of the year.

This guide covers what Laban actually is, its history, what's worth seeing, and how to fit it into your time in Shillong.

Laban in Shillong at a Glance

• Location: East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, about 2.5 km from Police Bazar
• Known for: Madina Masjid, India's only glass mosque, and its old Assam-type cottages
• Founded: 1878, as one of the original villages that formed Shillong
• Architecture: Timber-framed Assam-type cottages with sloped tin roofs, common across this part of the city
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for a walking loop of the mosque, market, and lanes
• Entry fee: None; Laban is a public neighbourhood, not a ticketed attraction
• Best time to visit: October to February, for clear skies and comfortable walking weather
• Nearby stops: Malki Point (a few minutes' walk) and Ever Living Museum (a short cab ride)
• How to get there: On foot (30–35 minutes) or by cab (10–15 minutes) from Police Bazar

A Short History of Laban

Laban Shillong's history goes back to the earliest days of the city itself, making it one of the handful of localities that effectively built Shillong rather than growing up around it later.

1878: One of Shillong's Original Villages

When Shillong was constituted as a station in 1878, Laban was one of the original villages included alongside Mawkhar, forming the backbone of what would become the capital of British Assam.

1910: Named an Official Municipal Ward

By 1910, when Shillong was formally organised into a municipality with ten wards, Laban was named as one of them, cementing its place among the city's founding neighbourhoods.

Post-1897: Why the Cottages Look the Way They Do

The neighborhood's Assam-type architecture, timber construction with corrugated tin roofing, dates to the years following the devastating 1897 earthquake, which flattened most of Shillong's earlier stone buildings. What went up in their place across the city, Laban included, became the architectural style the region is still known for today.

How Laban Shaped the Name "Police Bazar"

Laban Police Station, one of the city's older police posts, sits close enough to Police Bazar that its presence, alongside the Sadar and Laimu stations, is part of how that market area got its name in the first place.

What to See in and Around Laban?

Laban locality Shillong itself is compact and walkable, with its main landmark a short distance from some tourist places in Shillong worth combining into the same outing.

1. Madina Masjid (The Glass Mosque)

Madina Masjid is a four-storey mosque built almost entirely from glass, including its dome and minarets, and reputedly the first glass mosque in Asia. It's the largest mosque in Northeast India, and its complex includes an Islamic library, a theological institute, and an orphanage alongside the main prayer hall.

• Location: The heart of Laban itself, no separate trip needed
• Height: Roughly 120 feet across four storeys
• Capacity: Reports vary from about 2,000 to 8,000 worshippers depending on the source
• Timings: No fixed public visiting hours; generally viewable through the day outside prayer times (confirm locally if you'd like to see the interior)
• Entry fee: Free
• Good to know: Dress modestly, and it's especially striking lit up at night

2. Laban Municipal Market at Iewdak

A newly constructed market complex serving the neighbourhood's daily needs, less a tourist attraction than a genuine look at how a Laban market functions for the people who actually live here, built in partnership with the local Dorbar Shnong (village council).

• Location: A short walk from Madina Masjid, within Laban
• Timings: Typical daytime market hours, roughly morning to early evening
• Entry fee: Free (it's a working market, not a paid attraction)

3. A Walk Through the Assam-Type Cottages

The residential lanes around the mosque are worth a slow walk on their own: timber cottages with wraparound verandahs and tin roofs, many still in daily use rather than preserved as museum pieces.

• Location: The residential streets surrounding Madina Masjid
• Timings: Anytime during daylight hours
• Entry fee: Free (public streets)
• Good to know: These are lived-in homes, not exhibits, so keep the walk respectful and unobtrusive

4. Laban Presbyterian Church

One of the oldest churches in Shillong, Laban Presbyterian Church is standing on Howell Road right beside the Laban Presbyterian Higher Secondary School. Records place its founding somewhere between 1905 and 1911, and the congregation marked its centenary in 2005, making it well over a century old and a genuine piece of the neighbourhood's Christian heritage alongside its more famous mosque.

• Location: Howell Road, Laban, a short walk from Madina Masjid
• Timings: Open for Sunday services; the grounds and exterior can generally be viewed on other days, though interior access outside service hours varies
• Entry fee: Free
• Good to know: It's a working church, not a museum, so visit respectfully and time your walk around Sunday services if you'd like to see it in use

5. Malki Point

A short distance from Laban, Malki Point is a bustling street junction known for everyday Khasi life rather than a formal attraction. It’s one of the best places near Laban Shillong if you want to keep walking rather than take a cab.

• Distance from Laban: A few minutes' walk
• Timings: Open at all hours, since it's a street junction, not a ticketed site
• Entry fee: Free

6. Ever Living Museum

A bit further out, the Ever Living Museum is a privately run ethnographic museum in Mawshbuit village, worth the short cab ride for its collection of Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo artefacts set inside an orchid garden, better suited to a dedicated half-hour stop than a walking add-on to Laban itself.

• Distance: Roughly 9–10 km from Police Bazar, on the way to Sweet Falls beyond Happy Valley
• Timings: Generally around 11 AM–6 PM, with slightly shorter winter hours; confirm before you go
• Entry fee: Around ₹50 per adult (small photography charges reported separately at similar private museums nearby, worth asking at the counter)

Where Laban Fits in a Shillong Day Itinerary?

Laban works best as a mid-morning or early-afternoon walking stretch, not a standalone outing.

• Start at Madina Masjid, since it's the clearest landmark to orient a walk around
• Continue on foot to Malki Point, a short, flat stretch through residential lanes
• From there, most travellers either continue toward Police Bazar for lunch and shopping, or take a short cab ride out to Ever Living Museum if time allows
• The whole Laban stretch, mosque, market, and the walk to Malki Point, comfortably fits into 90 minutes to two hours

Laban rewards travellers interested in a quieter, more residential side of Meghalaya tourism, not a headline attraction on its own, but a genuine, lived-in stretch of the city that most itineraries skip past entirely.

How to Reach Laban in Shillong?

Reaching Shillong First

• By air: Shillong Airport (Umroi) is about 30 km away, roughly a 45-minute prepaid taxi ride to Police Bazar; Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport has far more flights and is about 100 km from Shillong, a 3–4 hour drive
• By train: Guwahati Railway Station is the nearest railhead, around 100–105 km away, followed by a taxi or bus to Shillong

• By road from Guwahati: Shared sumos and private taxis run along NH6, taking 3–4 hours; state-run and private buses also connect Guwahati's ISBT/Paltan Bazar to Shillong's Police Bazar

If you’re still figuring out the logistics and itinerary, check out our Shillong tour packages with fixed-group departures as well as custom trips to enjoy a hassle-free holiday.

From Police Bazar to Laban

The Laban to Police Bazar distance is roughly 2.5 km, making Laban one of the easier old-quarter localities to reach from the centre of Shillong.

• On foot: About 30–35 minutes, mostly downhill; the walking route runs along Upper Shillong Road, passing Shillong College on the way
• By shared taxi: Shillong's black-and-yellow shared taxis run this route for roughly ₹20–₹50 per seat; ask any driver near Police Bazar for one heading toward Laban Market

• By private cab: A quick 10–15 minute ride, the more practical option if you're short on time or combining Laban with several other stops the same day

• Landmark to aim for: ask to be dropped at Laban Market, then walk toward Laban Police Station, a short walk from which brings you to Madina Masjid

Getting Around Within Laban

• On foot is enough: the neighbourhood is small enough to cover entirely on foot once you're there, with Madina Masjid, the market, and the residential lanes all within a few minutes of each other
• No local transport needed between Laban's own landmarks, though a shared taxi is easy to flag down again if you're continuing on to Malki Point or Police Bazar afterward

Where to Stay in Laban, Shillong?

Laban is primarily a residential locality, so dedicated accommodation here is limited compared to Police Bazar, just 2.5 km away. A handful of budget guesthouses do operate directly in Laban itself, and here's what's genuinely verified.

1. Laban Homestay

A kitchenette, in-house restaurant, and free parking make this one of the more complete budget stays actually located in Laban, rather than just nearby. It sits close enough to the Shillong Bus Station to be a practical base for onward travel.

• Location: Laban Guest House, Laban, about 2.6 km from Shillong Bus Station
• Average Cost: Starting around ₹2,178 per night
• Highlights: Kitchenette, on-site restaurant, free parking

2. Hotel O Home Stay Laban

Formerly known as Matshat Sngi Holiday Home, this budget property sits on Batti Bazar, right in the thick of Laban's local shops and restaurants. Reviews are mixed, some guests mention mountain views and good breakfast, others rate it below average, so it suits travellers prioritising price over polish.

• Location: Batti Bazar, Laban, about 2.5 km from Police Bazar
• Average Cost: Roughly ₹1,241 per night
• Highlights: Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, mountain views from select rooms; reviews vary notably by source

3. Naimei Guest House

A straightforward, no-frills guesthouse based directly in Laban, Naimei suits travellers who want a simple room without needing restaurant service or extra amenities on site.

• Location: Laban, Shillong
• Average Cost: Starting around ₹1,500 per night
• Highlights: Basic budget stay, central Laban location

4. Shillong Guest House

One of the more affordable options confirmed in Laban, Shillong Guest House works well for budget travellers who just need a bed within easy reach of the neighbourhood's own landmarks.

• Location: Laban, Shillong
• Average Cost: Starting around ₹1,250 per night
• Highlights: Budget-friendly, simple rooms, local Laban address

If Laban Itself Doesn't Have What You Need

Given how few dedicated properties sit directly in Laban, most travellers instead base themselves in Police Bazar, a 10–15 minute cab ride or 30–35 minute walk away, where the widest range of homestays and hotels in Shillong is concentrated, and visit Laban as a walking stop rather than an overnight base.

Know Before You Go to Laban, Shillong

1. Best time to visit: October to February offers the clearest skies and most comfortable walking weather, the same window most Shillong trips in winter are built around

2. Dress modestly if visiting Madina Masjid, and check prayer timings in advance if you'd like to see the interior rather than just the exterior

3. Carry cash for the municipal market and any small local purchases, since card acceptance is inconsistent in this part of the city

4. Combine it with Malki Point and Police Bazar rather than treating Laban as a separate trip, since all three sit within easy walking or short-cab distance of each other

5. If you're travelling as part of a larger group, you can pick one of our Meghalaya group trips with this route on a heritage or city-walk day, or add it to a custom itinerary without extra planning on your end. Confirm with our team before booking.