Meghalaya news: A 140 -year -old police station has been converted into a beautiful cafe in Sohra, Meghalaya. In this cafe located in Sohra, one of the most rainy areas, customers are now being served delicious dishes. The building of Sohra police station established in 1885 is one of the oldest buildings in Meghalaya. During British rule, this building was used as a notorious custody center.
This police station was converted into a cafe named ‘Sohra 1885’
However, now this police station has been converted into a cafe named ‘Sohra 1885’, which has emerged as a center of attraction among the food fonds and tourists. In this cafe, a wonderful confluence of history and hospitality is seen. Customers can enjoy their favorite dishes in jails converted into ‘dining room’ in ‘Cafe 1885’. The profits earned from the cafe are donated for police welfare.
The idea of ​​converting the Sohra police station into a cafe was given by Vivek Saim, Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills, who was then posted as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the region (Sohra). Senior officials of Meghalaya Police fully supported his idea.
Saim told the ‘PTI-language’ news agency, “I always wanted to do something different with this police station holding a special place in history. There are very few buildings left in the state, which hold a special place in history.” He said, “I had given the idea of ​​converting the Sohra police station into a cafe when I was a DSP in the area. I knew that this building would attract a large number of tourists due to having a special place in history.”
Income could be used for police welfare- Saim
When the Meghalaya government started the process of construction of a new police station building to deploy more policemen in Sohra two years ago, the exercise to convert it into a cafe with the intention of gaining economic benefits from the old building intensified.
Saim said, “converting the police station into a cafe meant additional income for the police force, which could be used for police welfare.” He said that the tender process was started two years ago to choose a partner for the operation of the cafe.
According to Saim, young entrepreneur Nafi Nagram was selected to operate the cafe, who presented its design according to the structure of the building and named it ‘Sohra 1885’. He told that Nafee used the items of British era and gave the police station a beautiful cafe.
We converted jails into ‘dining room’- Nafee
Nafee said, “We converted the jails into a ‘dining room’. Visitors love the look and atmosphere of the cafe.” Saim said that Nafee did not make any changes to the walls and floors of the building, because they are still in a very good condition. He told that the fireplace present in the police station was also repaired and molded in its old form.
According to Nafee, 200 people in the cafe can enjoy their favorite dishes simultaneously. He said that a chest of 200 kg has also been painted in it, which is emerging as a center of attraction among tourists.
‘Sohra 1885’ was inaugurated on 22 May. Since then, a large number of tourists and locals are turning to this. A customer named Batschem Thabah said, “This cafe is really beautiful. We enjoyed a lot of food in a ‘dining room’ in jail.”