The Don Bosco Centre of Indigenous Cultures (DBCIC) widely known as the Don Bosco Museum (DBM) is located on the Mawlai hillock of Shillong. The museum stands within the Sacred Heart Church complex, and is run by the Salesian order of the Catholic Church. Recognised as Asia’s largest Museum of Indigenous Cultures of its kind, it serves as a major tourist spot providing an insight into the rich and multi-cultural lifestyles of the indigenous people of North-East India. DBM allows one to gather and increase their knowledge and understanding of North-East India.
The museum displays a varied collection of regional art work, attires, accoutrements, handicrafts, ornamentation, photographs and weapons. This theme museum is well stocked with information on the entire North-Eastern States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. The museum has 7 floors with seventeen galleries exhibiting artefacts, paintings and fibreglass items – a treat to the eyes of the visitors and a source of knowledge for them. One can relax and enjoy some of the rare forms of dances of the different North-East states on the top most floor of the museum. A skywalk on the terrace provides a breath-taking view of Shillong city.
DBCIC takes pride in the Don Bosco Museum, Research on indigenous cultures, publications and dissemination of knowledge on indigenous cultures through multi-media, seminars, workshops and DVDs. This museum attracts thousands of travellers across the globe, every year, especially students who get allured as it provides an excellent centre for learning and information.
Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am – 5.30pm (Summer), 9am – 5pm (Winters). Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
How to reach: Nearest airport is the Guwahati Airport. Helicopters are available from Guwahati to Shillong. Nearest railway station is Guwahati railway station, which is 176kms from Shillong. By road, NH-17/Nh-37 and NH-51 has to be taken. Shillong Police Bazar is 3.3kms away from Mawlai.
