Area	:	22,429 sq km		State Government Portal
	Population	:	2,318,822
	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.

Cheerapunji

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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 mesta, 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
Meghalaya is endowed with abundance of natural resources, which are being utilised for setting up of various types of industries in the State. Of late, a vast number of Industrial Projects have been set up in the Private Sector besides over 4,500 Small, Village and Cottage Sector of Industries. The Meghalaya Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) Limited is the State’s Financial and Industrial Development Institution and extends financial credit to the entrepreneur. Besides, the Meghalaya Khadi and Village Industries Board (MKVIB), the Meghalaya Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation (MHHDC) Limited also work for the promotion and development of small scale and artisan industries. The District Industries Centres (DICs) are the field level functionaries of the Directorate of Industries, working for the development of the small-scale sector.

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.

Wanggala Festival, Meghalaya

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Transport

Roads: Six national highways pass through Meghalaya. The State has 7,860.16 km of both surfaced and unsurfaced roads under PWD.

Aviation: The only airport of the Meghalaya state is in Umroi, 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.