Tucked away in the hills of eastern sub-Himalayas
is Meghalaya, one of the most beautiful state in the country. Nature has blessed
her with abundant rainfall, sun-shine, virgin forests, high plateaus, tumbling
waterfalls, crystal clear rivers, meandering streamlets and above all with sturdy,
intelligent and hospitable people.
Emergence of Meghalaya as an Autonomous State on 2nd April 1970 and as a full-fledged
State on 21st January 1972 marked the beginning of a new era of the geo-political
history of North Eastern India. It also marked the triumph of peaceful democratic
negotiations, mutual understanding and victory over violence and intrigue.
The State of Meghalaya is situated on the north east of India. It extends
for about 300 kilometres in length and about 100 kilometres in breadth. It
is bounded on the north by Goalpara, Kamrup and Nowgong districts, on the
east by Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts, all of Assam, and
on the south and west by Bangladesh.
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is located at an altitude of 1496 metres
above sea level. Shillong, which was made Assam's capital in 1874, remained
so till January 1972, following the formation of Meghalaya. The capital city
derives its name from the manifestation of the creator called Shyllong.
Meghalaya is subject to vagaries of the monsoon. The climate varies with altitude.
The climate of Khasi and Jaintia Hills is uniquely pleasant and bracing. It
is neither too warm in summer nor too cold in winter, but over the plains
of Garo Hills, the climate is warm and humid, except in winter. The Meghalayan
sky seldom remains free of clouds. The average annual rainfall is about 2600
mm over western Meghalaya, between 2500 to 3000 mm over northern Meghalaya
and about 4000 mm over south-eastern Meghalaya. There is a great variation
of rainfall over central and southern Meghalaya. At Sohra (Cherrapunji), the
average annual rainfall is as high as 12000 millimetres, but Shillong located
at a distance of about fifty kilometres from Sohra receives an average of
2200 mm of rainfall annually.
Meghalaya is the homeland mainly of the Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos.
The Garos inhabit western Meghalaya, the Khasis in central Meghalaya, and
the Jaintias in eastern Meghalaya. The Khasi, Jaintia, Bhoi, War, collectively
known as the Hynniewtrep people predominantly inhabit the districts East of
Meghalaya, also known to be one of the earliest ethnic group of settlers in
the Indian sub-continent, belonging to the Proto Austroloid Monkhmer race.
The Garo Hills is predominantly inhabited by the Garos, belonging to the Bodo
family of the Tibeto-Burman race, said to have migrated from Tibet. The Garos
prefer to call themselves as Achiks and the land they inhabit, as the Achik
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