Meghalaya, a land blessed with awesome natural beauty, is a jewel of the hills of the eastern sub-Himalayas. Nestled in between Assam on the north and Bangladesh on the south, this mountainous place is a nature lover's paradise. The exotic beauty of this beautiful state is reflected in its panoramic landscapes, high plateaus, gushing rivers, green hilly terrains dominated by pine trees, mountain springs, opalin lakes, luxuriant vegetation and above all, abundant rainfall.

Meghalaya, popularly known as the "Abode of Clouds," is among the wettest places on earth, with an average rainfall of 1150 cm, i.e. nearly 40ft. However, there is a great variation of rainfall over central and southern Meghalaya. It is no wonder that Meghalaya derives its name from the clouds. It has also been referred to as the 'Scotland of the East' because of its enchanting surroundings and a lovely climate.

HISTORY

Meghalaya is one of the smallest states in India, which was created as a separate entity on 21st January 1972, when she emerged out of Assam's shadows, to become a full fledged state. It is divided into three district regions - the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, each representing a tribal group in the state and occupying the western, central and the eastern regions respectively. Prior to this though, Meghalaya was a part of the state of Assam. But increased agitation eventually led to the creation of a separate state.

During the 19th century, Meghalaya was under the control of the British. Before the arrival of the British here, these tribal groups represented small kingdoms, ruled by their own kings. But when the British arrived, they annexed these kingdoms one by one and converted many to Christianity. To this day though, these groups have retained many of their old traditions.