SHILLONG, July 18 � Tourists visiting here can now have a bird�s eye view of picturesque �Scotland of the East� from a 76-metre-tall skywalk installed atop the seven-storied Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (DBCIC) at Mawlai.
Dubbed as �Don Bosco Museum Skywalk� the skywalk is a wiry mesh of stainless steel and has a 360 degree circumference, complete with sound of nature and animals.
Church authorities said a powerful telescope would be installed soon to make the skywalk experience more exciting.
Started one year and a half ago, the skywalk project designed by architects from New Delhi, was completed in June this year at an estimated cost of over Rs 25 lakh.
�The skywalk is a unique experience since it provides a 360 degree view of Shillong city�a view perhaps clearer and better than from Shillong Peak,� DBCIC, Shillong Director, Fr Joseph Puthenpurakal said.
Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H Pala, inaugurating the skywalk complimented the works done by Salesians of Don Bosco. �This is a unique structure and would help promote tourism in the State further,� Pala said.
The Minister promised to donate Rs 25 lakh to the museum from his MP scheme. �People should also help in promoting this museum and skywalk,� he urged.
Don Bosco Museum houses an amazing repository of information on the eight Northeastern States in a 56,000 square feet floor space and 15,154 square feet wall, displaying artifacts of indigenous culture of the region.
In all the seven floors of the museum there are 17 galleries displaying cultural artifacts of the Northeastern region under one roof, and is Asia�s largest museum of indigenous cultures of its kind.
All the galleries in the Don Bosco Museum are provided with multimedia presentations. The museum was opened to the public in 2003 and also offers study and research facilities.