Tiggi's iing Heritage Homestay
Room Types
4 Options
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
Stay Type
Homestay
Tiggi's iing Heritage Homestay is a heritage homestay located in Central Nongrim Hills, Shillong, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, situated at an elevation of 1,500 meters (4,920 feet). Positioned just 3.5 kilometers (a 12-minute drive) from Police Bazar, this family-run Assam-type residence is distinguished by its 1960s gables, quiet residential gardens, and deeply personalized vegetarian hospitality.
Available Accommodation
Room 1 (№01) – Upper Level Eaves Room
Cozy 22 m² (237 sq. ft.) loft-style attic bedroom situated beneath the high sloping gabled eaves on the upper floor. Features timber-clad ceilings, a plush queen bed, dedicated workstation desk, large skylight-style dormer window framing Shillong's pine-studded skyline, portable electric room heater, and private en-suite bathroom with a 25-liter geyser.
Room 2 (№02) – The Cherry Tree Room
Spacious 24 m² (258 sq. ft.) heritage guest bedroom overlooking the homestay's private garden and mature Himalayan cherry tree. Features high ceilings, classic Assam-type timber moldings, queen-size bed with orthopedic mattress, reading armchairs, portable room heater, generous natural light, and en-suite bathroom with 24/7 geyser hot water.
Room 6 (№06) – Verandah Access Room
The largest room in the house at 26 m² (280 sq. ft.), located on the ground floor with direct french-door access to the sheltered garden verandah. Furnished with a handcrafted hardwood queen bed, vintage writing bureau, reading armchairs, room heater, and an en-suite bathroom equipped with modern western fixtures and electric geyser.
Classic Heritage Room
Comfortable 18–22 m² (194–237 sq. ft.) heritage rooms (№03, №04, and №05) capturing the authentic mid-century Shillong residential ambiance. Each room features polished hardwood flooring, queen or double bed with warm fleece quilts, electric heater, writing desk, garden or courtyard views, and private attached bathroom with dedicated geyser.
Location Details
C/b-018, Govind Bhavan, Central Nongrim Hills, beside Marcydez Villa, Nongrimbah, Shillong, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya 793003
Our Advice as Northeast Locals
- Plan your visit for November: The mature Himalayan cherry tree in the front garden bursts into vivid pink blossoms during the Shillong Autumn season, creating a spectacular backdrop right outside Room 2.
- Book evening meals by 2:00 PM: Because the kitchen prepares dinners fresh from daily market-sourced vegetables rather than running a commercial pantry, let Renu or Firoz know your dinner plans by early afternoon.
- Walk to Laitumkhrah for dinner variety: If you fancy local Khasi delicacies or cafe fare, take the gentle 12-minute walk up to Laitumkhrah main road instead of navigating Police Bazar traffic.
- Request Room 6 for step-free access: If you are traveling with elderly companions or prefer easy ground-floor access directly onto the garden verandah, book Room 6 (№06) well in advance.
- Pack warm layers for winter mornings: Shillong's high-altitude winter mornings (November through February) can drop below 8°C. While room heaters keep bedrooms warm, bring a fleece jacket or shawl for the communal breakfast table.
- Ask Renu for reliable cab recommendations: Skip haggling at downtown taxi stands; Renu maintains direct contacts with trusted local yellow-top cab drivers who charge fair rates for day excursions to Cherrapunjee, Mawlynnong, or Krang Suri.
The Vibe & Heritage Architecture
Named after the Khasi word iing (home), Tiggi's iing is an authentic mid-1960s Assam-type bungalow tucked inside the peaceful Govind Bhavan residential compound in Nongrimbah. Built to withstand Shillong's mountain weather, the property features classic gabled roofs, whitewashed timber-frame walls, wide corniced eaves, polished hardwood and red terracotta floorings, and authentic brass hardware. The interior decor reflects decades of family living, filled with vintage curios, travel books, and warm local textiles rather than manufactured hotel artifice. Outside, a private courtyard garden showcases seasonal hydrangeas, native ferns, and a mature Himalayan cherry tree that bursts into soft pink blossoms every November. Sunlit sitting verandas and two quiet resident cats complete an unhurried, grounded neighborhood atmosphere well removed from downtown commercial traffic.
The Family & Local Hospitality
The homestay is owned and personally managed by longtime Shillong resident Renu Tigrania Agarwal ("Renu"), supported by her dedicated on-property caretaker Firoz. Holding a stellar 4.9/5 rating across 160+ reviews on Google and an Airbnb Superhost badge, Renu's hospitality is warm, observant, and candid. Having spent decades in the hills of Meghalaya, she helps guests navigate Shillong with genuine insider advice, from recommending quiet nature walks through Mawphlang Sacred Forest to pointing out artisanal bakeries in Laitumkhrah. Caretaker Firoz manages day-to-day comforts with quiet efficiency, looking after luggage assistance, preparing morning tea trays, ensuring hot water bottles are tucked into bedcovers during brisk winter evenings, and keeping room heaters in top order.
Dining & Home-Cooked Specialties
Dining at Tiggi's iing centers around a strictly vegetarian family kitchen and a shared communal dining table that encourages easy conversation among travelers:
- Communal Morning Table: Daily breakfast is freshly cooked and served between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. The menu rotates daily with comforting North Indian and regional breakfast staples, including piping-hot pooris with spiced aloo bhaji, crisp dosas, stuffed vegetable parathas paired with homemade pickles, steamed idlis, fresh fruit, toast, butter, preserves, and freshly brewed Assam leaf tea or filter coffee.
- Homestyle Vegetarian Dinners (On Advance Notice): Guests wishing to dine in can request a freshly cooked vegetarian home dinner by 2:00 PM each day. Dinners feature wholesome seasonal vegetables, slow-simmered yellow or black dal tadka, fresh paneer preparations, warm rotis, steamed rice, and traditional Indian desserts like kheer or halwa, prepared with produce purchased that afternoon from local Shillong vegetable growers.
- Dietary Adjustments: With prior communication, the kitchen comfortably accommodates vegan, gluten-sensitive, and strict onion-and-garlic-free Jain dietary requirements.
Getting Around & Shillong Proximities
Central Nongrim Hills sits in an ideal sweet spot—peaceful and residential, yet minutes away from Shillong's major educational, cultural, and scenic landmarks:
- Laitumkhrah Market & Cafes (Dylan's Cafe, Bread Cafe): 1.2 km (a 4-minute drive or 12-minute stroll).
- Ward's Lake & Botanical Gardens: 3.2 km (a 10-minute drive).
- Police Bazar (Khyndailad Central Hub): 3.8 km (a 12 to 15-minute drive).
- Shillong Golf Course (Golf Links): 3.6 km (a 12-minute drive).
- Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (Mawlai): 7.2 km (a 20 to 25-minute drive).
- Shillong Peak & Viewpoint: 13.5 km (a 35 to 40-minute drive).
- Elephant Falls (Upper Shillong): 14.8 km (a 40 to 45-minute drive).
- Umiam Lake (Barapani Viewpoint): 17.5 km (a 40 to 45-minute drive north via NH-6).
- Cherrapunjee (Sohra Plateau): 54 km (a 1.5 to 2-hour mountain drive).
Getting There & Parking
- Address & Approach: C/b-018, Govind Bhavan, Central Nongrim Hills, beside Marcydez Villa, Nongrimbah, Shillong, Meghalaya 793003.
- From Shillong Airport (Umroi - SHL): 31 km (approximately 1 to 1.25 hours drive depending on traffic).
- From Guwahati Railway Station (GHY): 98 km (approximately 2.5 to 3 hours drive via the four-lane Guwahati–Shillong Highway NH-6).
- From Guwahati Airport (GAU / Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi): 118 km (approximately 3.5 hours drive).
- Vehicle Parking: On-site driveway parking is free for 2 to 3 guest vehicles. Guests driving their own cars should inform the host in advance to reserve driveway clearance.
The Honest Guide: What to Expect
As Northeast locals who live and travel throughout Meghalaya, we provide straightforward, transparent guidance so guests arrive with aligned expectations:
- Strictly Vegetarian Kitchen: The entire property maintains a 100% vegetarian kitchen. Outside non-vegetarian meals (meat, chicken, fish, seafood) are strictly prohibited inside the home and bedrooms. Travelers wanting meat dishes can easily walk 10 to 15 minutes to Laitumkhrah's famous cafes and local Khasi eateries.
- Communal Breakfast Table (No 24/7 Room Service): Breakfast is enjoyed together in the dining area during set morning hours. This is a private family homestay, not a commercial hotel with late-night room service or round-the-clock reception bells.
- No Air Conditioning: At 1,500 meters above sea level, Shillong enjoys crisp mountain air year-round. Guest rooms do not have AC units. During autumn and winter chill (November to February), portable electric radiant heaters and traditional hot water bottles are provided for each room.
- Inverter Power Backup Realities: Shillong experiences occasional power grid interruptions. The homestay runs a residential inverter that instantaneously powers room lights, ceiling fans, Wi-Fi routers, and mobile/laptop charging points. However, high-draw thermal appliances like bathroom geysers and electric room heaters do not run on inverter power.
- Driveway Parking & Narrow Access Lane: The property has secure on-site driveway parking for a maximum of 2 to 3 personal cars or SUVs. The approach lane through Nongrimbah is a residential street; private cars, standard tourist taxis, Innovas, and 12-seater Tempo Travelers pass comfortably, but large 20+ or 35+ seater tourist buses cannot navigate the final approach or turn into the driveway.
- No On-Site Driver Accommodation: The homestay does not have driver dormitories or staff quarters on the grounds. Drivers can easily arrange budget boarding and local dhabas within a 5 to 10-minute drive in the nearby Nongrim Hills and Dhankheti commercial zones.
- Friendly Resident Cats: Two gentle, well-behaved resident cats live on the property grounds and verandas. While they do not enter guest rooms unless invited, travelers with severe cat allergies should take note before reserving.
Curated Journeys
Explore Shillong on a Curated Journey
Pair your stay with a multi-day Northeast road trip like our 7-Day Meghalaya Tour Package: Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki & Mawphlang, arranged with private vehicles and local drivers.
Property Amenities
Property Policies & House Rules
- Cancellation Policy Free cancellation up to 7 days before check-in. Cancellations made between 3 to 7 days before arrival incur a 50% charge of the total booking value. Cancellations within 72 hours of check-in or no-shows are 100% non-refundable.
- Child & Extra Bed Policy Children up to 5 years stay complimentary when sharing existing bedding with parents. Children aged 6 to 11 years requiring an extra mattress are charged ₹800 per night, including breakfast. Guests aged 12 and above are charged the adult extra occupant rate of ₹1,200 per night with breakfast.
- Pet Policy Pets are generally not permitted inside guest bedrooms to safeguard resident cats and accommodate guests with allergies. Well-behaved small dogs may be considered on special advance request at the host's sole discretion.
- Check-in / Check-out Standard check-in starts at 2:00 PM, and checkout is required by 11:00 AM.
House Rules & Conduct
- Strictly vegetarian premises: Outside meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or egg preparations are strictly prohibited inside the homestay and guest bedrooms.
- Quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM: In keeping with Central Nongrim Hills' peaceful residential atmosphere and fellow travelers' rest, keep noise to a minimum during the night.
- Footwear etiquette: Please wipe shoes at the front entryway or slip into indoor slippers before walking across the polished wooden floors.
- No smoking or vaping indoors: Smoking is strictly forbidden inside all guest rooms, bathrooms, and interior common lounges. Designated outdoor smoking spots are available in the open driveway.
- Communal dining hours: Breakfast is served at the shared dining table between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Room service dining is not provided.
- Respect resident cats: Two friendly house cats live on the property grounds. Do not feed them table scraps or allow them inside bedrooms if you prefer to keep your room pet-free.
- Conserve mountain hot water: Geysers are electric; please switch off bathroom geysers after use to conserve energy and allow heating cycles for other rooms.