Pratyusha Mukherjee, Shillong Meghalaya
A visit to the Rhino Heritage Museum is a fantastic opportunity to experience and appreciate the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of Indian Armed Forces.
Located at Rilbong, this Heritage Museum is one of the most prominent war museums in the Northeast. Constructed in 1928, the museum is a concrete structure, previously known as Dungeon Lines as it was used as an armoury and a prison to house Japanese prisoners during World War II.
“Here you could explore Rhino Heritage Museum, from where you will be able to know the sacrifice and contribution of our war heroes” said a military source.
I was also curious to know about the Heritage Museum, so visited there during my recent Shillong trip.
As India celebrated its 77 years of Independence in last August so it’s a befitting tribute to recollect and honour the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Rapidly, this location has become a must-visit place for tourists.If you are from that locality or just visiting as a tourist, this should be in your must-go list.
The complex was conceptualised with an aim to provide a glimpse of the glorious history and supreme sacrifices of the soldiers of the Indian Army.
The Shillong Brigade of Indian Army’s 101 area’s headquarter is stationed here.
The complex is well maintained by the Army and has unique war tropics that embody the spirit of courage and resilience that is a characteristic of Indian Armed Forces.
There are tanks, aircraft and guns used by the Armed Forces and a dedicated wall, displaying names of the soldiers of the corps who have laid their lives for the nation.
After Independence, this building was left unused until 1998-99 when it was given a new lease of life in the form of a museum. It is now a prominent landmark showcasing the valiant history of the 101 Area – the first army formation to reach Dacca during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The Rhino Heritage complex is a great place to learn about the region’s political history and the victories of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles through the many preserved artefacts, images and trophies.
The complex is only one of its kind in Meghalaya and gives visitors an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the achievements of the Indian Armed Forces.
It is also a symbol of national pride, highlights the serene beauty of North East thereby providing it with a well-deserved place on the tourist map of the region.
Those who want to learn about the glorious past of the battle history of the armed forces pertaining to North East, a region that is strategically important for the entire country must visit this place.
History enthusiasts will be thrilled by the many preserved relics from the 1971 war and sand models depicting significance of battles.
Indeed its a unique museum and we hope in the coming days, it will emerge as a popular destination for tourists and their footfall will be higher.
(In next article, readers will get to know more about the Rhino Heritage Museum and Army’s contribution there.)
(Ms. Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 20 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence and Sports.She is associated with us as Editorial head of Defence and Sports. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and Indian media awards for Journalism)
