In languages like Sanskrit and other forms of Indic dialects, the expression or term Meghalaya stands for the abode of the clouds. The name is absolutely ideal since the whole state is home to many mountain ranges.

Geographical features of Meghalaya

The state of Meghalaya covers a total area of 22,720 km² or 8,700 sq miles. The state shares its borders with Assam to the north and Bangladesh to the south. The breadth of the mountainous band named Meghalaya is about 100 km and the length of the strip is approximately 300 km from east to west.

Approximately 33% of the territory is wooded. The characteristics of the jungles in the hills are different from that of the rain forests in the plains or valleys in the south and north. The jungles of the state are famous for their biodiversity of avifauna, animals, and trees. Earlier, the entire territory formed a portion of the state of Assam. Nevertheless, on January 21, 1972, the following districts formed the new state of Meghalaya:

Garo
Khasi
and Jaintia hills district

The state is one of the Seven Sister States of the Republic of India. It is also named as the Meghalaya Plateau and is made up mostly of Archean stony structures. These stony structures include abundant accumulations of precious minerals such as the following:

Limestone
Coal
Sillimanite
Uranium
Granite
Kaolin

The altitude of the highland differs between 1961 meters and 150 meters. The middle portion of the highland consisting of the Khasi Hills has the tallest altitudes and the eastern part consisting of the Jaintia Hills area comes next. Situated at an elevation of 1961 meters, the Shillong Peak is the tallest summit in the state. It is a major Indian Air Force post in the Khasi Hills area. The Garo Hills area in the western part of the highlands is almost flat. The Nokrek Peak is the tallest peak in the Garo Mountains and its elevation is 1515 meters.

Districts in Meghalaya

The districts that form the state are listed below:

East Khasi Hills (created in 1976)
East Garo Hills (created in 1976)
Ri-Bhoi (created in 1992)
Jaintia Hills (created in 1972)
West Garo Hills
South Garo Hills (created in 1992)
West Khasi Hills (created in 1976)

Major rivers in Meghalaya

The state is home to several rivers. Majority of these rivers and torrents are provided by the rain and as a result of this, they are seasonal rivers. The major rivers in the Garo Hills are as follows:

Sanda
Daring
Bhogai
Bandra
Simsang
Dareng
Bhupai
Nitai

The major rivers in the middle and eastern part of the upland are as follows:

Digaru
Umkhri
Jadukata (Kynchiang)
Umiam
Barapani or Umiew
Mawpa
Myntdu
Myngot

To the south of the Khasi Hills area, there are profound canyons and picturesque waterfalls which have been formed by these rivers.

Climate of Meghalaya

The state of Meghalaya is the wettest area in the world. The yearly mean precipitation in certain places can go up to 1200 cm. The western segment of the upland, including the Garo Hills area with lesser altitudes, witnesses typically high temperatures round the year. With the tallest altitudes, Shillong witnesses normally low temperatures. The highest temperature in this area hardly ever crosses 82°F (28°C) while temperatures less than 0°C are not unusual.

Cherrapunji, a town located in the Khasi Hills has the world record for the maximum amount of precipitation in a calendar month. It lies to the south of Shillong. Mawsynram, a village closely located to Cherrapunji, has the record of witnessing the maximum amount of rain in a year.

The ideal occasion to visit the state is from March to July.

Population of Meghalaya

According to the census performed in the year 2011, the population of the state is 2,964,007 and it ranks as the 23rd most populated state in the Republic of India. The city of Shillong is home to about 260,000 people.

Government of Meghalaya: An Overview

The state features a unicameral legislative assembly with 60 seats. The state does not have a High Court of its own. The Gauhati High Court has jurisdiction over the state.

Present Governor of Meghalaya

The present Governor of Meghalaya is His Excellency Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary.

Current Chief Minister of Meghalaya

At present, the Chief Minister of the state is Mukul Sangma. He represents the Indian National Congress.

Demographic features of Meghalaya

Most of the people of the state are tribals. The biggest ethnic community is the Khasis and the Garos hold the second position. The British referred them as mountainous clans. Other clans and ethnic communities include the following:

The Koch
The Jaintias
The Boro
The linked Rajbongshi
Dimasa
Hajong
Kuki
Hmar
Mikir
Lakhar
Nepali
Rabha

About 60,000 Nepalis inhabit the state. The Jaintia Hills and the East Khasi Hills are the areas where most of the Nepalis live. Their principal source of income is farming and livestock. Many Gorkhas who represented the Indian Army stay in Shillong, the capital of the state. The Nepalese community of Tura and Shillong are normally involved in business and trading. Most of the Nepalese belong to the followers of Hinduism. However, some of them also practice Christianity.

Most of the population of the state is Christians and the percentage of population they represent is 70.3%. The next important religion is Hinduism (13.3%). Other religions practiced in the state include the following:

Animism
Islam

According to the census performed in the year 2011, the sex ratio of the state was 986 females/thousand males. This is quite bigger than the countrywide mean of 940. In 1981, the sex ratio was 954 females to 1,000 males. Nevertheless, according to the census statistics for 2001, the sex ratio in the metropolitan areas (985) surpassed that of the countryside regions (972).

Major languages in Meghalaya

The major languages used in the state are as follows:

Pnar
Khasi
Garo

English is the formal language of the state. Khasi, one of the major languages of the state, makes use of many expressions and terms taken from languages like Bengali, Assamese, and Nepali. The Garo language has many similarities with the Bodo and Koch dialects. Many people speak in this language and the subdivisions of this dialect are as follows:

Atong
Ambeng or Abeng
Matchi Dual
Awe (or Akawe)
Chisak Megam or Lyngngam
Chibok
Gara-Ganching
Ruga
Matabeng

The Jaintia language is another important language of the state. Ethnic communities like Bhoi, Khynriam, War, and Pnar communities use this language.

Last Updated on 02 November 2011

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