MEGHALAYA
Meghalaya is a
sylvan beauty of breathtaking beauty. It is bounded on the south and
southwest by Bangladesh and on all other sides by the state of Assam. The
area is 22,429 square kilometres. The capital is the hill town of Shillong.
Meghalaya--literally "Abode (alaya) of the Clouds (megha)"--occupies a
mountainous plateau of great scenic beauty where the average elevation is
just under 2000 m (6500 ft). One of the wettest regions on earth,
Cherrapunji lies 56 km from Shillong; it has mind-boggling annual rainfall
average of 450 inches (11,430 mm) over a 74-year period, the highest ever
recorded in Asia and the second highest in the world. The climate of
Meghalaya is generally mild. In August the mean temperature at Shillong (in
the Khasi Hills) is 70� F (21� C); it falls to 49� F (9.5� C) in January.
Annual rainfall in Shillong, only 50 miles from Cherrapunji, is 92 inches.
Meghalaya has a single-chamber Legislative Assembly of 60 seats. The state
sends three members to the Indian national parliament: one to the Rajya
Sabha (upper house) and two to the Lok Sabha (lower house). The state has
seven administrative districts--the East and West Garo Hills, the East and
West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi and the South Garo Hills.
Tucked away in the hills of eastern sub-Himalayas is
Meghalaya, one of the most beautiful state in the country. Nature has
blessed her with abundant rainfall, sun-shine, virgin forests, high
plateaus, tumbling waterfalls, crystal clear rivers, meandering streamlets
and above all with sturdy, intelligent and hospitable people.
Emergence of Meghalaya as an Autonomous State on 2nd April 1970 and as a
full-fledged State on 21st January 1972 marked the beginning of a new era of
the geo-political history of North Eastern India. It also marked the triumph
of peaceful democratic negotiations, mutual understanding and victory over
violence and intrigue.
The State of Meghalaya is situated on the north east of India. It extends
for about 300 kilometres in length and about 100 kilometres in breadth. It
is bounded on the north by Goalpara, Kamrup and Nowgong districts, on the
east by Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts, all of Assam, and on
the south and west by Bangladesh.
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is located at an altitude of 1496 metres
above sea level. Shillong, which was made Assam's capital in 1874, remained
so till January 1972, following the formation of Meghalaya. The capital city
derives its name from the manifestation of the creator called Shyllong.
Abode of Clouds
Meghalaya is subject to vagaries of the monsoon. The climate varies with
altitude. The climate of Khasi and Jaintia Hills is uniquely pleasant and
bracing. It is neither too warm in summer nor too cold in winter, but over
the plains of Garo Hills, the climate is warm and humid, except in winter.
The Meghalayan sky seldom remains free of clouds. The average annual
rainfall is about 2600 mm over western Meghalaya, between 2500 to 3000 mm
over northern Meghalaya and about 4000 mm over south-eastern Meghalaya.
There is a great variation of rainfall over central and southern Meghalaya.
At Sohra (Cherrapunji), the average annual rainfall is as high as 12000
millimetres, but Shillong located at a distance of about fifty kilometres
from Sohra receives an average of 2200 mm of rainfall annually.
Meghalaya is the homeland mainly of the Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos.
The Garos inhabit western Meghalaya, the Khasis in central Meghalaya, and
the Jaintias in eastern Meghalaya. The Khasi, Jaintia, Bhoi, War,
collectively known as the Hynniewtrep people predominantly inhabit the
districts East of Meghalaya, also known to be one of the earliest ethnic
group of settlers in the Indian sub-continent, belonging to the Proto
Austroloid Monkhmer race. The Garo Hills is predominantly inhabited by the
Garos, belonging to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race, said to have
migrated from Tibet. The Garos prefer to call themselves as Achiks and the
land they inhabit, as the Achik-land
Places of Interest
Khasi Hills
Khasi Hills in Meghalaya forms the central part of the state of Meghalaya in
the north east of India. Being close to Shillong, the capital ...
North East India Jaintia Hills
The home of the Jaintia tribes, forming the eastern part of the Meghalaya,
is the Jaintia Hills. The Jaintia Hills District in Meghalaya was ...
North East India Garo Hills
Garo Hills known for its abundance of wildlife attracts naturalists and
photographers to capture the multifaceted sights of a unique range of flora
and fauna....
North East India Cherrapunji
High above the hazy valleys and foaming rivers, hidden in the rolling clouds
and perched on an headland, lies Cherrapunji, 4,500 ft above the sea
level....
North East India Nongpoh
Nongpoh is an important town and district headquarters of Ri-Bhoi District,
Meghalaya. It forms the northern lower portion of the East Khasi Hills in
Meghalaya...
North East India Nongstoin
Nongstoin Meghalaya is the headquarter town of the West Khasi Hills
District, Meghalaya. Nongstoin lies about 93 km from Shillong...
North East India Tura
Tura is a peak, about 2,500 ft above the Tura town in the north eastern
state of Meghalaya in India. Tura in Meghalaya is famous
North East India Shillong
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is a hill town, situated in the north
eastern part of India. Shillong in Meghalaya is situated at an altitude |