If you’re looking for the place of your dreams as your vacation spot this new year, then look no further because Meghalaya quite literally translates to an abode among clouds. Dreamy, picturesque, and full of nature’s bounties, Meghalaya is the perfect getaway for the rustic in you!
A relatively new state, Meghalaya is one among the seven sisters of Northeastern India and has, despite its lushness, natural abundance, and salubrious climate managed to somehow stay a hidden gem in India’s tourist crown. Previously a part of Assam, Meghalaya emerged as a state of its own on 21st January 1972, carved out of the districts of the United Khasi, Jaintia, and the Garo Hills.
Meghalaya boasts Cherrapunji, the country’s wettest region, with rainfall sometimes exceeding 450 inches during the monsoons. The state’s subtropical forests are home to a wide variety of rare wildlife, including the common fox, Himalayan black bear, large Indian civets, yellow-throated marten, sloth bear, and hog badger. The state also houses the two endangered species of the ape and the capped langur.
Meghalaya is an interesting blend of sophisticated urbanization and the stillness of nature. While the capital city gives a taste of urbanized individualism and commercialization to a newcomer, the Meghalayan countryside, the profuse lakes, and the rainforests offer a rare, unsevered link to the heart of nature. The forests also give way to an agrarian economy that supports local farmers and producers. Keep reading our Meghalaya travel guide to get more insights into this beautiful state.
History And Culture Of Meghalaya
Meghalaya proudly boasts its indigenous tribes and holds immense archeological significance, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic Age. It is the confluence of the richness of the three major tribes that are the foundation of Meghalayan history and culture; the Khasi, Jaintia, and the Garo.
The induction of Meghalaya into the larger state of Assam took place in 1835 under the overview of Lord Curzon. But the people of Meghalaya were not happy with being lumped together with another state. They began to clamor for autonomy through the Movement for a separate Hill State. The struggles of the people saw fruition when the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969 was enacted and the state was given autonomy. This autonomy was further strengthened when the Parliament passed the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act in 1971.
As for the culture of Meghalaya, it’s primarily a matrilineal society, where the women inherit property and are seen as carriers of lineage and history. The legal institutions of Meghalaya are distinct and sophisticated for their time and have been around for centuries. They operate at different levels of society and are individual to the three different groups that the state constitutes.
With regard to religion, Meghalaya has a Christian majority with over 75% of its population following the varying denominations of the religion. The plethora of churches in the state is probably proof of this religious phenomenon. The state boasts of an eclectic cuisine that is a spice lover’s heaven. Rice is the staple food in Meghalaya and is served with a variety of spiced meat, especially steamed or boiled pork preparations. You’ll notice women in the state dressed in traditional clothing with wrap-around skirts made out of a regional fabric called Mulberry silk. The name and style of the attire vary according to the groups that adopt it.
How To Get To Meghalaya
Air: The capital of the state has the Shillong Airport at Umroi which makes domestic flights the easiest way to reach the state. The next closest airport to Meghalaya for international flights is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, which is around 127 kilometers from the city of Shillong. This distance can be traversed through a cab as bus services are yet to be installed.
Train: As with the airport, the nearest railway station to the capital city is in Guwahati, Assam. While this entails a significant amount of traveling time, this railway station is extensive and well-connected to other major cities like Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, etc.
Road: Meghalaya has a road network of around 7,633 km, which makes it quite well-connected in terms of its roads. It is connected to Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura through major national highways which makes road travel to and from these states possible and easy. National Highways 40, 51, 62, 44, and 44E facilitate road travel across the state.
A quick note of caution: As Meghalaya is known for its high precipitation and heavy rainfall, road travel during the monsoon season might be unpredictable as the roads tend to get water-logged and difficult to get across.
Best Time To Travel To Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state that welcomes tourists throughout the year. During the months of April and June, the state witnesses pleasant warmth with friendly temperatures ranging from 15°C to 20°C. This is perhaps the best time for enjoying outdoor activities and seeing the state in its summertime glory. It’s also worthwhile to visit in April to bear witness to the wonderful festival of Shad Suk Mynsiem also known as the Dance of Peaceful Hearts. Shad Suk Mynsiem is a harvest festival that honors the newness and optimism of spring.
The months of October to February witness strong bouts of chilly weather with brief stints of humidity in between. While this weather is not typically conducive to exploration, it is still worthwhile to visit the state in these months if you want to escape the stifling heat in other parts of the country. The summers don’t go beyond 23°C and the winters tend to remain on the chilly side with temperatures sometimes dropping below 10°C!
Getting Around Meghalaya
The Meghalaya Transport Corporation offers bus services that make commuting accessible and cheap across the state. However, if you want to book transport for a limited number of days, then you could avail of a number of private services offering short and long bus transport like Van Rap Tours and Travels, Northeast Yatra, AA Tours and Travels, etc. which would enable transport from a tourism point of view. Booking cabs could prove to be expensive but is also another way to get across the city. Along with buses and taxis, you also have the option of traveling in jeeps in some parts of the state.
Breaking Stereotypes About Meghalaya
‘It always rains in Meghalaya’
We’ve all heard this before at some point or the other. While it is true that Meghalaya is home to India’s wettest region, Cherrapunji, the state has a climate range that is comfortable and is on the colder side. The region never gets too hot for adventure and this makes it perfect for trying out various outdoor activities, like watersports, hiking, trekking, and cave exploration!
Go Check Out
Shnongpdeng
On the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, overlooking the serene Umngot river lies Shnongpdeng. Renowned for its crystal clear waters and tranquil nature, Shnongpdeng is the perfect camping site to rest for the night. Set up a tent on the shores of Umngot and spend a night looking up at the stars in the serene lap of nature.
The more adventurous tourists can also go ziplining over the region, revealing an unobstructed view of the pristine blue waters of the river and the forests that surround it.
Mawsmai Caves
Apart from the celestial rivers and heavenly cuisine, Meghalaya also has an extensive network of underground caves. The Mawsmai Cave is one such spot that is wholly worth the visit. The cave reveals itself only through a short hike in the forest studded with local cafes and a route through the valley of Mawsmai. While we say, enter at your own risk, the sheer beauty of the preserved fossils and stone patterns makes the endeavor truly worth the visit!
The Bara Bazar
What is traveling without a little souvenir shopping? If you want to experience the authentic flavor of the local markets of Meghalaya, visit the Bara Bazar in Shillong. Filled to the brim with local produce and the various types of Meghalayan silk like Eri, Muga, and Mulberry, the Bara Bazar is the perfect spot to do some last-minute shopping and to enjoy the fresh local fruits and vegetables!
Apart from being a regional market, Bara Bazar also has great social significance as it’s one of the oldest trading centers in Northeastern India and also regularly features a large percentage of women as traders. This bustling market, known as the Bazaar of the People, showcases a wide range of local products, including spices, pure silk shawls, and handmade jewelry.
Dawki
To get even closer to nature, take a long trek along the banks of the ravishing Dawki river and experience firsthand the greenery that the plains of Meghalaya offer. The Dawki riverbank offers a pathway made lush with the moisture from the river with occasional pit stops near the crystal clear waters of the river itself. Like Umngot, the waters at Dawki are so clear that small boats on its surface often look like they are floating in thin air.
This long trek along the riverbank can unfold before your eyes plenty of rare wildlife like the Sambar, Serow, and Large Indian Civets and can serve as your disconnect point. Meghalaya offers a haven where you can detach from the artificiality of the world and become one with nature.
FAQs
What Is Meghalaya Famous For?
Meghalaya is famous for its moist, cool climate, its local culinary delicacies, the extensive network of underground caves, and the sparkling waters of the many rivers that populate the state. It’s also extremely culturally diverse and is home to many tribal festivals and traditions.
How Many Tourists Visit Meghalaya?
In 2019, foreign tourist arrivals and domestic tourist visits in the state stood at 0.03 million and 1.25 million, respectively.
Is Meghalaya Open For Tourists?
Meghalaya is currently open for tourism, but the state-wise restrictions and covid-protocols vary. So make sure to do detailed research on the necessary documents required for entry.
How Many Days Are Enough For A Trip To Meghalaya?
4-5 days are sufficient for exploring the various tourist attractions in the state. A 2-hour drive from Shillong takes you to Cherrapunji, showcasing Meghalaya’s good connectivity.
What Is The Famous Food Of Meghalaya?
Since rice is the staple diet of the people of Meghalaya, the specialties too, include a variety of different meat or fish preparations often paired with sticky rice. Some must-try dishes are Jadoh (sticky rice with meat), Doh-Khlieh (curried pork paired with bread), Pumaloi (steamed rice cakes), Jhur Sideh (a dish of potatoes), Daineiiong (lentil curry), and Muli Khleh (an ethnic radish salad).
Why Is Meghalaya Called Half Way To Heaven?
Meghalaya literally translates to an ‘abode in the clouds’. Meghalaya’s breathtaking landscape, surrounded by hills and untouched natural beauty, earns it the nickname ‘Half Way To Heaven’.
What Language Is Spoken In Meghalaya?
Khasi and Garo along with Jaintia and English are the official languages of the state. You might also come across Nepali, Bengali, Assamese, and Hindi.
What Makes Meghalaya Unique?
One of the seven sister states of the Northeast, Meghalaya flaunts its breathtaking natural beauty, with perpetual clouds, rolling mists, waterfalls, limestone caves, dense forests, and unique living root bridges.
