Meghalaya – The Rainy Capital

Meghalaya is an attractive and most visited place of the country.

Tourists from all around the world visit India for Cherrapunjee which is stated to be the world’s rain capital. The Amazon basin which receives the highest rainfall gets beaten by this Indian town.

Meghalaya’s crown Shillong is also one of the most visited tourist locations in India. Meghalaya means the abode of clouds in Sanskrit, and it literally signifies its name’s meaning.

Meghalaya is one of the seven northern sisters and it has been of archeological interest since time immemorial. Located between the Khasi Hills, this cozy and beautiful place is India’s hidden paradise. Meghalaya’s most important and attractive feature is the root bridges that are naturally grown bridges from the roots of the trees intermingled.

Mawsynram, the village in Khasi hills is reportedly the highest rainfall receiving village in the world. It is located 15 km west of Cherrapunjee and the citizens are mostly tribals of the Khasi, Garo or Jaintia tribes which have been living in the hills since generations.

High in moisture and humidity the moisture clad clouds and winds reach the village from the Bay of Bengal. The location and features of the place contribute significantly to the wide variety of Flora and Fauna. Ranging from exotic birds to flowers that trap insects, all is available in Meghalaya.

The tales of Meghalaya are ancient and interesting. It is said that a family was traveling when a storm hit them and they got divided, the trees saw their situation and pitied them. For helping them reunite the trees grew out their roots and formed the bridges to help them reach each other. Cherrapunji holds two Guiness world records for receiving the maximum amount of rainfall in a single year.

Meghalaya is well connected with the roads and has a strong transport system, but due to rains the most of the time in a year the roads are blocked. It is often said that when you are at Meghalaya always carry an umbrella.

The Tribals claim Meghalaya to be the state of Gods. There are myths and legends that accompany the scientific fact of Meghalaya being the rain capital of the world. The Leap of La Kilai is a waterfall that is surrounded by another myth which goes like, there was a woman named La Likai who remarried after death of her husband to take care of her child. But the step father killed the child and anguished La Likai became the waterfall which till today carries her moans.

Meghalaya is the capital of rains and myths. The tribals and natives live on agriculture and hunting. Paddy is the most grown crop. The natives also have adapted to the rainy atmosphere. The state is not well connected to the country with one of its side (northern) being connected to Bangladesh and the other to Mizoram.

The State has been the target of naxalism and political conflicts which have died down now as it has started to develop.