Lady Hydari Park and Mini Zoo

The colourful lively Park set in Japanese manner, the part consists of three sections Part and Garden area, Animal Land and Forest Museum.
The park is located at a distance of about 300 metres, south of the main Secretariat Building Shillong, behind the Civil Hospital and near Pine Mount School.
It has an area of about 3.5 hectares, earlier this park was known as Lady Reid Pleasure Park and created during 1937 when Sir Robert Neil Reid was the then Governor of Assam from 1937 to 1938.
On 4th May 1947, Sir Akbar Hydari took over as Governor of Assam till 28th December, 1948. It was in 1947 that the park was renamed as Lady Hydari Park after Sir Akbar Hydari’s wife.
During those pre-Independence and early Independence period the park served as an important place and was used for holding certain functions like i) keeping of Ghandhi’s ashes for darshan for the public in town. Ii) delivering of lectures by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Iii) Organising of the All India Cattle Show, iv) celebration of “Hills and Plains” week and v) regular flower show etc.
The Park was then falls under the control of the Deputy Commissioner, Khasi Hills till it was handed over to the Forest Department in 1973. Since the creation of Wildlife Wing in 1977, the part then falls under the control of the Khasi Hills Wildlife Division, Shillong.
Park and Garden consists of a children’s park, lawns and flower garden, containing variety of trees, flowering shrubs, seasonal flowers, orchids and indoor plants.
The animal land has a mini deer park an aviary, animal species of which some are rare and endangered are kept or housed in cages. Species found here are sambar, Barking deer, Spotted Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Porcupine, Binturong, Slow Loris, Black Panther, Clouded Leopard, Civet Cat, Leopard Cat and Indian Hare. An aviary of Brahmini duck, Chinese Geese, White eyed pochard, Purple Moorhen, Common Teal, Kaleej Pheasandt, Pea Fowl, Guinea Fowl, Laughing Thrush, Black bird, Blue Magpie, Pintail duck, Lesser pied Hornbill, Whistling Teal, Parrot, etc.
Forest Museum houses stuffed specimens of spotted deer, Binturong, Monitor Lizard, Clouded Leopard, Peacock, Pheasant, Stag Beetle, Animal Skins, skulls, horns and antlers, Photographs of wildlife species etc. The museum acts as an interpretation centre to create awareness on forest and wildlife conservation.
Beside these there are four artificial ponds for the waterbirds like pelicans common duck, sarus crane, Bar headed Goose, Demoiselle Crane, Night Heron etc.
On the whole everything around this lovely park is enchanting. The park also provide leisure strolls as well as swings, sea saw and slides for children. It can also lull a sense of romance for the cupid stricken couples. The park is close only on Monday for clearing otherwise it remains open throughout the week and its is worth visiting.