By Aafaque Aslam
SHILLONG: Sohra, with its scenic beauty and historical sites, is a tourist’s delight. It is definitely a brand that requires no publicity.
But many visitors feel that certain facilities there are high-priced. They want “some intervention” by authorities concerned to make things reasonably priced.
Some tourists from Assam said they wanted to stay in Sohra for a night but the rooms there were costly for such a humble location.
However, they added that the trend is the same in every tourist destination where everything is expensive.
Another tourist, K Bhattacharjee from West Bengal, told reporters the place is absolutely scenic with excellent roads and smiling people but somehow the price of things are slightly on the higher side.
While citing an example, he said the small parking lot at Mawkdok charges Rs 20 from every vehicle, “which is quite high”.
“I am sure parking even in a busy place like Shillong is not so expensive,” he said.
Agreeing that the people of the area survives on tourism, another tourist from Assam, Ranjit Borthakur said even other products in the area are expensive. “Even Maggie costs anything between Rs 40-50,” he added.
Meanwhile, it was seen that the flow of tourists in Sohra on Tuesday was comparatively less from the usual surge of tourists and some local shopkeepers said footfall usually goes down after New Year.
“It will again start picking up from March-April,” a shopkeeper said.
Tourists also appreciated the excellent road condition from Shillong to Sohra as they feel that it is a heaven as every person visiting there would be in the company of nature with brilliant serpentine roads moving up the lust green hills.