The bustling northeastern hill station of Shillong has remained eerily quiet since news of the coronavirus pandemic first spread through the country. As panic around the virus outbreak surged, guest houses shuttered their windows, while the streets flanking them remained bare. Local malls and small shops were closed, as were museums and other hotspots. Deepti Asthana, who was visiting Shillong when India announced its three-week lockdown on March 24, found herself stranded in the city. Through her lens, she captured the silent spirit of the city under lockdown.
Photo By: Deepti Asthana
As guest houses on the tourist-heavy hill station close down, their windows solemnly reflect a world changed forever.
Photo By: Deepti Asthana
Colour and bustle once characterised the streets of Shillong before the lockdown.
Photo By: Deepti Asthana
The reception desk at The Anchorage guest house, which once housed the Arunachal museum in the 1970s.
Photo By: Deepti Asthana
Residents of Shillong slowly adjust to life indoors.
To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller India and National Geographic Magazine, head here.
