Meghalaya is a North-Eastern State of India; its capital is Shillong. The word ‘alaya’ means abode, and ‘megha’ means ‘clouds’ in Sanskrit; hence, the meaning of Meghalaya is the ‘abode of ‘clouds’. It was formed from two districts of Assam in 1972. Before that, Meghalaya was considered a part of Assam. More than 80% of the state’s population depends on agriculture for their Living. The major crops cultivated in this state are rice and maise. 

Some Facts about Meghalaya

  • The meaning of Meghalaya is Abode of Clouds.
  • It was formed in 1972 from two districts of Assam.
  • It is known for its wide range of crops.
  • The total area covered by the state is 22,429 sq. km.
  • The literacy rate of the state is as high as 75.8%.
  • The languages used in Meghalaya are Khasi, Pnar, and Garo.
  • The staple food of the state is rice and spicy meat or fish.
  • The majority of the population of Meghalaya comprises indigenous tribes.

State Symbols of Meghalaya

  • Motto: Satyameva Jayate
  • Mammal: Leopard
  • Birds: Hill Myna
  • Trees: Gamhar
  • Flower: Lady’s Slipper Orchid

Geographical Facts

  • It is a state of mountains, valleys, and plateaus.
  • It has archean Rock formations with coal, limestones, sillimanite, and many more.
  • Some rivers situated in Meghalaya are Ganol, Daring, Sanda, Khri, Mawpa, etc.
  • The Khasi hills located in the state’s central region are the highest among the rest.
  • It is bordered by Assam and Bangladesh on the northern and southern sides respectively.

Climatic Conditions

  • Meghalaya has a moderate climate.
  • The temperature remains between 21℃ to 23℃ during the summers.
  • The temperature remains between 8℃ to 10℃ during the winters.
  • Cherrapunji, a village in Meghalaya, experiences rainfall as high as 450 inches.
  • The rainfall is heavy from May to September, with an average rainfall of about 254 cm.

Flora and Fauna

  • Almost 70% to 80% of the area in the state is covered with forests.
  • It consists mainly of subtropical forests.
  • The state has three wildlife Sanctuaries, namely, Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, The Siju Sanctuary, and the Baghmara Sanctuary.
  • The forests of Meghalaya support a wide variety of plants like epiphytes, succulent plants, and shrubs.
  • The state is known for approximately 320 varieties of orchids.
  • The state also consists of various mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

Population

  • The population of the state is approximately 2,964,007.
  • Approximately 50% of the population is male, and the remaining 50% is female.
  • The literacy rate in Meghalaya is approximately 72%.
  • The population of Meghalaya consists of tribes. Hence, they are regarded as the Tribes of Meghalaya. The tribes of Meghalaya include Khasi, Garo, Jaintia, etc.
  • Apart from English, languages like Khasi, Garo, Pnar, Bengali, and Nepali are used as the language for communication throughout the state.

Agriculture

  • Agriculture is the main activity of Meghalaya to fulfil its economic needs.
  • Mizoram adopted two types of agricultural methods: terrace cultivation and shifting cultivation.
  • The major crops of the state are rice and maise.
  • The famous horticultural crops are orange, lemon, banana, etc.
  • The famous cash crops are potato, turmeric, tezpata, and mustard.
  • The state is also known for cultivating crops like cashew nuts, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Culture

  • Many festivals such as festivals of khasis, jaintias are celebrated in Meghalaya.
  • This is the only state where living root bridges are made.
  • This state also has the Shivalinga Hatakeswaram in the Jaintia hills.

Tourism

  • Meghalaya is known for adventure sports like trekking, hiking, mountaineering, and water sports like rowboats, sailing boats, etc..
  • The living root bridges near the Cherrapunji are famous spots for attracting tourists.
  • Cherrapunji is a famous village in Meghalaya that is a prime spot for tourists to visit.
  • Some famous waterfalls like Elephant Falls, Bishop Falls, Nohkalikai Falls, Sweet Dreams, and many more.
  • The state is also known for sacred groves like The Mawphlang, also known as Law Lyngdoh.
  • There are approximately 500 natural caves located throughout the state of Meghalaya.
  • Kyllang Rock is a famous tourist spot in Meghalaya.

Conclusion

Meghalaya is a North-Eastern state of India; its Capital is Shillong. The word ‘alaya’ means abode, and ‘megha’ means ‘clouds’ in Sanskrit; hence, the meaning of Meghalaya is the ‘abode of ‘clouds’.  It was formed in the year 1972 from two districts of Assam. It is known for its wide range of crops, waterfalls, caves, and lakes. It is most famous for the living root bridge found near the Cherrapunji village of Meghalaya. The total area covered by the state is 22,429 sq Km. The languages spoken in Meghalaya are Khasi, Pnar, Garo, and English. Most of the economic needs of the people of this state are met through agricultural activities.