Overview
About Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
The Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians stands in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, and is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Shillong. The first church on the site was a wooden building, the Church of the Divine Saviour, built in 1913 by German Salvatorian missionaries. It was destroyed by fire on 10 April 1936, and work on the present church began on the same site later that year. The building is usually described as Gothic in style, though its lines are closer to Art Deco. Because Shillong is prone to earthquakes, it was set on trenches part-filled with sand rather than directly on bedrock, to help absorb tremors. Inside are high arches, stained glass windows (one set made in Grenoble, France, dates to 1947) and 14 terracotta Stations of the Cross, reportedly made in Munich and saved from the old church. Below the cathedral, a grotto church is carved into the hill. The grave of the first Archbishop of Shillong, Hubert D'Rosario, lies inside near the main altar; in 1980 he declared the cathedral a shrine and pilgrimage centre.
On the day
What to expect at Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
Main church: A large, quiet interior with tall arches, stained glass and terracotta Stations of the Cross along the walls. Grotto: A grotto church set into the hill beneath the cathedral, reached from the grounds. Etiquette: It is an active place of worship; dress modestly, keep silent and avoid photography during services. Services: Special services are held on Wednesdays, when the church can be busier. Access: Steps lead up from the road; parking on the Laitumkhrah road is limited, so a drop-off is easier.
Before you go
Visitor Information
Best Time to Visit
All year
The cathedral can be visited year-round, as it is in the city and mostly indoors. Post-monsoon (October–November) and spring (March–May) bring pleasant weather for combining it with other Shillong sights. In the monsoon (June–September) it makes a good rainy-day stop. Winter (December–February) is cool and dry, and the church is especially busy and decorated around Christmas. Morning or mid-afternoon on a weekday is quietest for visitors; avoid Sunday service times if you want to look around.
Getting There
The cathedral is in Laitumkhrah, about 3 km from Police Bazar in central Shillong, roughly 10–15 minutes by car depending on traffic.
The cathedral is in Laitumkhrah, about 3 km from Police Bazar in central Shillong, roughly 10–15 minutes by car depending on traffic. It sits on the main Laitumkhrah road near several schools and colleges, so the area is busy on weekday mornings and afternoons. From Shillong Airport at Umroi it is about 30 km, and from Guwahati about 100 km. Local taxis are easy to find in Shillong, and the cathedral fits easily into a Shillong city sightseeing tour; a private cab can be booked with Tour Meghalaya.
Entry & Duration
A visit to the main church and the grotto takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong?
It is in Laitumkhrah, about 3 km from Police Bazar in central Shillong.
When was the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians built?
Construction began in 1936 on the site of the earlier wooden church of 1913, which was destroyed by fire in April 1936.
What is special about the Shillong Cathedral?
It has stained glass windows (one set from Grenoble, France, dating to 1947), terracotta Stations of the Cross and a grotto church carved into the hill below. It was also built on sand-filled trenches to withstand earthquakes.
What are the timings of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians?
Listings commonly give daytime hours of roughly 9 am to 5 pm, but these vary by source and around service times, so check locally.
