Lady Hydari Park

Lady Hydari Park (officially designated as Phan Nonglait Park) in Shillong (celebrated across Northeast public parks as Shillong's most cherished Japanese style garden and mini zoo, named in honor of Lady Amina Hydari, wife of Sir Akbar Hydari, sprawling across more than one kilometer of landscaped terrain in Laban, world famous for its Japanese garden aesthetics featuring arched wooden bridges over willow fringed ponds, meandering cobbled pathways, colorful beds of perennial roses and seasonal rhododendrons, an active mini zoo housing Himalayan Black Bears, Leopard Cats, Serow, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Golden Pheasants, Hornbills, and cockatoos, a dedicated deer breeding park, modern children's eco playgrounds, and floral gardens shaded by Khasi pines), located in Laban in Shillong in Meghalaya, stands as Shillong's premier family park landmark.

Designed with delicate Oriental landscape motifs, the park offers a cool green oasis amidst the bustling hill capital, drawing thousands of school children, botanists, morning joggers, and family vacationers year round.

It's the home of the delightful wooden footbridges arching over duck ponds filled with blooming pink water lilies, the expansive grassy lawns carpeted with hybrid rose cultivars, the animal enclosures where children observe native wildlife of Meghalaya, the shaded timber resting gazebos, and an intensely peaceful, deeply family friendly garden atmosphere filled with chirping birds and pine scented mountain breezes.

It represents a rich Meghalaya urban horticulture apex, colonial era garden aesthetics, and family sightseeing tourism where Japanese gardens, mini zoos, rose beds, and Shillong city walking circuits unite in Lady Hydari Park.

Located along Barik Point Road in Laban, it sits 2 km south of Police Bazar, 30 km from Shillong Airport (Umroi, SHL), 98 km from Guwahati Railway Station (GHY), 10 km from Elephant Falls, and 14 km from Shillong Peak, easily reached in 7 minutes by local taxi or on foot.

Japanese Garden Architecture & Floral Rosebeds

The park's unique design incorporates authentic Japanese landscaping principles, characterized by ornamental water pools, weeping willow trees, rockeries, and gentle curving pathways.

A dedicated rose garden showcases dozens of hybrid tea roses, climbing floribundas, and seasonal hydrangeas that explode into a kaleidoscope of colors during spring and autumn.

Truth is, strolling along the tree lined cobbled trails with the gentle aroma of pine and roses in the cool morning air is pure relaxation.

The Mini Zoo & Dedicated Deer Breeding Enclosure

Meghalaya Wildlife Mini Zoo: The park hosts an educational mini zoo that cares for rescued Himalayan Black Bears, Porcupines, Civets, and exotic pheasants native to the Northeast.

The Deer Park: A large wooded enclosure allows herds of spotted and barking deer to roam freely amidst natural foliage, providing delightful viewing opportunities for children.

Shillong Central City Day Tour Plan

The Shillong Garden & Heritage Circuit: Morning visit to Lady Hydari Park in Laban (9:00 AM to 10:45 AM: tour Japanese gardens, rose beds & mini zoo) -> walk to Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians (11:00 AM to 12:15 PM) -> traditional Khasi or Chinese lunch in Police Bazar -> afternoon stroll at Ward's Lake (2:00 PM to 3:30 PM: walk across vintage wooden bridge) -> Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM).

Park Etiquette: Please keep the gardens clean by using waste bins; plucking flowers and feeding zoo animals without permission from park attendants is strictly prohibited.

After relaxing in the tranquil gardens of Lady Hydari Park, visit Ward's Lake, tour Elephant Falls, or explore Umiam Lake.