Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
The Rhino Heritage Museum is one of the most famous war museums in North East India. The Britishers built it in 1928 as a prison for Japanese soldiers during World War II. The Indian Government recently renovated it in 2019 and turned it into a War Memorial museum. The museum houses a number of photographs related to wars and the military, along with local cultures. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Shillong, a perfect place for war enthusiasts and students of modern history.
Rhino Heritage Museum Location
Photo: Hemantraj8873 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Rhino Heritage Museum is located in the beautiful city of Shillong in Meghalaya. The museum is near the Military Hospital in Bara Bazar. You can find the exact location on Google Maps.
Suggested Read: Top Places To Visit In Meghalaya
How To Reach Rhino Heritage Museum
Photo: Joli / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The Rhino Heritage Museum is one of the famous landmarks in Shillong. You can either take a taxi or an auto to get to the war museum. The museum is just 3 km away from Shillong Bus Stand, from where you can board a bus that will drop you off at the museum. Another way is to either take a taxi or an auto (which will be cheaper and faster) from the bus stand.
Things To See At Rhino Heritage Museum
Being a war museum, the Rhino Heritage Museum is home to all kinds of artefacts from World War II. The visitors will get a detailed look into the war’s history.
1. Models Of Vehicles And Weapons Used In Wars
Photo: Umargana1 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The museum houses several models of weapons and vehicles used in the wars. From a rifle to a tank, you can find all kinds of war-related models scattered around the museum. The models show visitors the technology and innovations that were used to fight wars throughout history. Models of weapons from the World Wars, Indo-China Wars, and Kargil Wars are on display in the museum. These weapons look so realistic that you might mistake them for the real ones. But they’re not real, or working and are specifically made for presentation.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit Near Shillong
2. Photographs Of Wars
Photo: Archives New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The museum is also home to thousands of pictures from different wars such as the World Wars, the Kargil War, the Indo-China War, etc. Here you can see images of various events from wars, such as the photographs of the Peace treaty being signed by the Allies and Axis forces; images of soldiers in the midst of battle, during their small breaks between war; and even photographs of various atrocities committed throughout human history.
3. Belongings Of Soldiers From World War II
Photo: Fæ / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
There are special departments in the museum dedicated to World War II. Here you can see the remains of uniforms and medals of dead soldiers. Apart from medals and uniforms, the place is also famous for displaying weaponry of the Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. The remains of the uniforms will haunt anyone who sets their eyes on them. They are a scary reminder of our mortality and life.
Suggested Read: Exploring The Amazing Shillong Picnic Place
Where To Stay
Photo: Ishan Jyoti Baha / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Shillong is a popular tourist destination in Meghalaya, which means there is no lack of good hotels and homestays, especially near the Rhino Heritage Museum. The closest hotel is Hotel Gateway, a 3-star accommodation, which is just 15 minutes from the museum. Other hotels such as Vivanta Meghalaya Shillong and Hotel Center Point (owned by Center Point Group) offer the necessary amenities to make your stay memorable.
Where To Eat
Photo: Denny George / Shutterstock / Image For Representation Only
There are many vendors and street food stalls which offer delectable food items. The museum is situated in Bara Bazar, which as the name suggests, is a big market in the middle of Shillong city. So visitors can head to the market and enjoy the chaos, where you can find everything, from vegetables to souvenirs and tasty Pumalai.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Shillong For A Memorable Vacation
Best Time To Visit Rhino Heritage Museum
Photo: Aadri / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The museum is open all year round, except for Thursdays and public holidays. Visitors can visit the museum between 9 am and 5 pm. There is a short one-hour break at 2 pm when the counter is closed. The museum then reopens at 3 pm.
Other Factors To Consider When Visiting Rhino Heritage Museum
Photo: Rajesh Dutta / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
History: The museum is an important place of significance for the history, culture and heritage of Shillong. The place is built in honour of the Assam Rifles regiment, hence, it is important to keep the premises clean and peaceful.
Tickets: The museum sells the ticket at the counter of the museum’s gates, which is the only place you should buy it from. Anyone selling tickets outside or around the museum is a scammer.
Rules: If you want to take your cameras inside, you will have to pay extra. During the break time (2 pm to 3 pm), you can explore the premises of the museum, but cannot buy tickets or souvenirs from the Museum.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Meghalaya To Make Your Trip Even More Memorable
The Rhino Heritage Museum is a perfect place, a treasure chest for history buffs. The museum is operated and supervised by the Directorate of Tourism Meghalaya. It is one of those places that needs to be on your wishlist when you visit Shillong. So if you’re ready to dive into the depth of the history of Shillong, book your trip with TripXL!
Cover Photo: Meunierd / Shutterstock / Image For Representation Only
