Tell about Meghalaya ?

Kwai is sacred for Khasi people as it is given only and only when they accept the beginning of a new relationship. So, if you get one, consider that you just made a friend who holds you in high esteem and considers the relationship with you as sacred.

When in Meghalaya, if you earn a Kwai, you are pretty lucky. You don’t just get it. You need to earn it. So, what is Kwai? It is nothing but a betel leaf and areca nut. Though it may not mean anything to it, DO NOT disrespect it. Kwai is sacred for Khasi people as it is given only and only when they accept the beginning of a new relationship. So, if you get one, consider that you just made a friend who holds you in high esteem and considers the relationship with you as sacred.

Back to river Umngot from where the people of Meghalaya get their bathing stone… did you know that the river water is so clean that you can literally see bottom of the river

And then… there is Duitara – a plucked string instrument, which is an important part of both the Khasi people and the Jaintias. It has four strings and is a very popular instrument used for folk music. It is said that people who can play duitara are the ones who have tread the depths of sadness.

To give you a better glimpse, stand on Dawki Bridge and you can still see the river floor. Yes, that’s the degree of clarity you find in that river.

Back to river Umngot from where the people of Meghalaya get their bathing stone… did you know that the river water is so clean that you can literally see bottom of the river?

To give you a better glimpse, stand on Dawki Bridge and you can still see the river floor. Yes, that’s the degree of clarity you find in that river.

One more thing… look at the boats floating on the river. They will appear as if they are floating in air and casting a shadow down below.

One more thing… look at the boats floating on the river. They will appear as if they are floating in air and casting a shadow down below. Yes, you can actually see the shadow of the boat on the river bed!

For the fiscal year 2013-2014, Meghalaya, which is also known as the Meghalaya Plateau, earned the status of India’s fastest growing state with a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of 9.7.

Did you know that before Meghalaya was formed, Garo Hills, Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills were actually independent kingdoms? However, when British people took charge during the colonial era, these three regions got incorporated into Assam and later Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills became the two districts which were used for formation of Meghalaya. Later Garo Hills also came back in newly formed Meghalaya state.

The State of Meghalaya didn’t exist till 1971. It was in year 1972 that Meghalaya broke free from Assam and gained her statehood.

The name Meghalaya is actually derived from Sanskrit – one of the most scientific and one of the oldest language in world. In Sanskrit, Meghalaya means, “Abode of Clouds”.

And then… there is “Scotland of East” which belongs to Meghalaya. Yes, it is the capital city of Meghalaya that is called Scotland of East. The capital city is Shillong.

Meghalaya is one of the three Indian states where Christians form majority. The other two states are Mizoram and Nagaland. Actually, Nagaland has maximum Christian popular (percentage wise), followed by Mizoram and then third spot goes to Meghalaya.

Meghalaya has a town called Cherrapunji. This town is located in the Khasi Hills and hold the crown for receiving maximum rain in a single calendar month.

However, if we go by annual rainfall amount, Mawsynram in Meghalaya beats Cherrapunji and every other place in this world. Mawsynram is a village and is located near Cherrapunji town.

The Shillong Peak of the Khasi Hills is Meghalaya’s highest peak. The peak has an altitude of 1,965 meters.

Meghalaya is the home to India’ longest cave system. Running 22 kilometers in length, this cave system of the Jaintia Hills connects 2 different caves in that area.

Mountains – yes, that is something you find in abundance in this state. Look in any direction and mountains are pretty common!

Though this state is in India, it shares its boundary with just one Indian state – Assam. However, the state shares an international boundary. The other country is Bangladesh.

Mawsynram, which receives the highest amount of rainfall in a single year is considered as world’s wettest place.

Meghalaya is also the home to Asia’s cleanest village. The village is known by the name Mawlynnong. You cannot find a villager in this village who cannot speak English.

Speak of wonders and you will see Living Roots Bridges. Yes, they are suspension bridges that are made of living roots of living trees. These bridges are reinforced using stones and other material and they last for a century or more. However, it may take a decade or a little more than that to build such bridges. Want to see these bridges and walk across them? Visit Cherrapunji.

With 1115 feet height, the Nohkaliaki falls in Meghalaya is India’s highest plunge waterfall system.