Capital  Shillong

About Meghalaya
Meghalaya has been greatly blessed by nature with abundant greenery, forests, fruits, rolling hills, good climate, waters and clouds. Three hundred varieties of orchids are found in the state which is also rich in wildlife. Meghalaya has two national parks which are home to some rare species of flora and fauna. The gentle hills of Meghalaya are interspersed with rich meadows and pine forests.

Among these is that intriguing phenomenon- the traditional Sacred Forests that are steeped in spiritual belief and held in great veneration. They also represent some of the earliest representations of preserving the ancient eco-systems. Meghalaya is also home to that unique carnivorous plant, the Pitcher Plant. You will discover the blue vanda, lady's slipper and other rare orchid varieties in flower gardens of Shillong. Meghalaya has a number of ancient tribal societies each with their own distinctive cultures. The main tribes are Khasis, Jaintias and Garos.

Area
22,429 sq. km in 5 districts. The State came into being in 1972 with the three districts of the Garo, Khasi and Jantia hills, Meghalaya meaning the above of the clouds’ is an exclusive tribal area like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The highest peak of the State in Shillong peak 1,965 m.

Popoulation  17,74,778

Density  78 per sq. km.

Growth rate   31.8%

Language’s  Khasi, Garo, English

Literacy  48.26 (Men 51.57% and 44.78% Women)

Legislative Council  60

Agriculture
Shifting cultivation is practiced, Principal crops are rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, oranges, ginger, arecanuts, jute, mesta, bananas and pine apples.

Minerals  Coal, silmanite, limestone, fire clay, dolomite, felspar, quartz and glass sand.

Industry  Extraction and processing of minerals and timber processing mills.

Access
Shillong, the capital is a good tourist base. There's an airport here. There's another nearby airport at Guwahati. Guwahati is also the nearest railhead. Shillong is connected by road to Guwahati, Darjeeling, Imphal, Kaziranga, Kohima and Kolkata

Roads  461 km of National Highway and 5,399 km of surfaced and unsurfaced roads.

Airports  Shillong airport at Umroi.

Tourism
The State is noted for its scenic beauty. The most spectacular waterfall is at Mawsmai village near Cherrapunji. Shilong has beautiful Churches. Mawsmai caves; the monoliths of Nartiang, and Uniam lake are some of the tourist attractions

The Caves of Meghalaya
Meghalaya is just the place for it has about 780 caves in the state, many of them unmapped and unexplored. Of the ones surveyed, five are amongst the longest in Indian sub-continent.

Orchid world
Meghalaya is orchid country. It has about 300 of the worlds species growing in its rich forestland, gardens and nurseries. These rare specimens include the insect-eating Pitcher plant, wild Citrus and Pygmy Lily.

Temperature
In summer, ranges form 15 degree C to 25 degree C, in winter, it is much colder, with temperature ranging between 4 degree C to 16 degree C. The hills are also often covered by fog during this season.

Wildlife
Two of Meghalaya's national Parks, the Nokrek and Balpakram are home to some of its rare wildlife such as the golden cat. Approachable from Tura, Balpakram is located in the spectacular Grand Canyon-like environs of the Balpakram Plateau, which separates the Garo Hills from the Khasi Hills. The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is just 2 kms away from Tura Peak.

Best Time to Visit  From September to April avoid the monsoons that drench the state from June to September.

Fairs & Festivals
The tribal cultures are showcased in the Nongkrem Dance Festival, Wangala Dance, Shad Sukmynesim, Beh Deinkhlam and other festivals. Christmas is celebrated in Meghalaya with much zest and zeal.

Nongkrem Dance  Celebrated in November, it is one of the most important Khasi festivals.

Shad Sukmynsiem
The 3- day Khasi of Shad Sukmynsiem is a joyous celebration of thanksgiving- usually held in April. People dress in their traditional costumes during the three days of festivities.

Beh Deinkhlam
The Jaintias invoke the Gods for a good harvest after the sowing has been done with the festival of Beh Deinkhlam. Rituals are also conducted to avert evil. The festival is held in July.

Wangala Dance
Held in November, the great harvest festival of the Garos is the Wangala Dance. It is a time for thanksgiving and celebration. Colorful costumes, dance and music are the highlights of all festivities.