Meghalaya
East Garo Hills
East Khasi Hills
Jaintia Hills
Ri
Bhoi
South
Garo Hills
West
Garo Hills
West
Khasi Hills
Geographical Area : 22 720
Population in 2001 : 23 18 822
Estimated population in 2025 : 30 14 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Meghalaya population as percentage of India : 0.24%
Population in 2011 : 29 64 007
Males 14 92 668
Females 14 71 339
Sex ratio : 986
Under 6 Sex ratio : 970
Number of Districts : 7
Number of habitated villages : 5,782
Capital
Shillong
Principal Languages
Khasi, Garo and English
History and Geography
Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within the state of
Assam on 2 April, 1970. The full-fledged State of Meghalaya came
into existence on 21 January, 1972. It is bound on the north and
east by Assam, and on the south and west by Bangladesh. Meghalaya,
literally meaning the abode of clouds, is essentially a hilly state.
It is predominantly inhabited by the Khasis, the Jaintias, and the
Garo tribal communities. The Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, which
form the central and eastern part of Meghalaya, is an imposing plateau
with rolling grasslands, hills and river valleys. The southern face
of the plateau is marked by deep gorges and abrupt slopes, at the
foot of which, a narrow strip of plain land runs along the international
border with Bangladesh.
Agriculture and Irrigation
Meghalaya is basically an agrarian state, in which about 80 per
cent of the population depend primarily on agriculture for their
livelihood. The State has a vast potential for developing horticulture
due to agro-climatic variations, which offer much scope for cultivation
of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical fruits and vegetables.
Besides the major food crop of rice and maize, Meghalaya is renowned
for its oranges (Khasi Mandarian), pineapple, banana, jackfruits,
temperate fruits like plum, pears and peaches, etc. Cash crops,
popularly and traditionally cultivated include potato, turmeric,
ginger, black pepper, arecanut, betelvine, tapioca, short staple
cotton, jute and roselle, mustard and rapeseed. Special emphasis
is presently laid on the non-traditional crops, like oilseeds (groundnut,
soyabean and sunflower), cashewnut, tea and coffee mushroom, medicinal
plants, orchids and commercial flowers.
Industries
The Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Limited, as the
Industrial and Financial Institution of the State, has been rendering
financial assistance to the local entrepreneurs. District Industries
Centres have been working in the field for the promotion and development
of small-scale, village, tiny and cottage industries. A number of
industrial projects have been set up for the manufacture of iron
and steel materials, cement and other industrial products.
Festivals
A five-day long religious festival of the Khasis, Ka Pamblang Nongkrem,
popularly known as Nongkrem dance is held annually at village Smit,
11 km from Shillong Shad Suk Mynsiem another important festival
of the Khasis, is held at Shillong, during the second week of April.
Behdeinkhlam, the most important and colourful festival of the Jaintias
is celebrated annually at Jowai in Jaintia Hills in July. Wangala
festival is observed for a week to honour Saljong (Sun God) of the
Garos during October-November.
Transport
Roads: Six national highways pass through Meghalaya. The State has
7,977.98 km of both surfaced and unsurfaced roads.
Aviation: The only airport in the State at Umroi, is 35 km from
Shillong.
Tourist Centres
Meghalaya is dotted with a number of lovely tourist spots, where
nature unveils herself in all her glory. Shillong, the capital city,
has a number of beautiful spots. They are Ward's Lake, Lady Hydari
Park, Bishop Beadon Falls, Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake, Mini Zoo
and Shillong Peak overlooking the city and the Shillong Golf Course,
which is one of the best in the country
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