This is a picture of a typical cottage seen in shillong . It is suppose to withstand rains and storms and most important it is suppose to be earthquake safe. The main structure is made of wood and the walls of bamboos which are then plastered with a mixture of lime and sand and then white washed. They are usually one storied and at times double storied.The flooring is usually wooden planks which are highly polished .But sad to say these typical cottages which at one time gave Shillong its beauty and the colonial feel is fast disappearing and are now taken over by concrete buildings which I sometimes wonder if they are at all safe in this earthquake belt.
