tourism in meghalaya essay

Essay on Meghalaya

Students are often asked to write an essay on Meghalaya in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Meghalaya

Introduction.

Meghalaya is a beautiful state in Northeast India. Known as the ‘Abode of Clouds’, it is famous for its scenic beauty, rich culture, and biodiversity.

Geography and Climate

Meghalaya is surrounded by Assam and Bangladesh. It has a cool, wet climate, and receives the highest rainfall in India.

Culture and People

The state is home to three major tribes: Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos. They have unique traditions and festivals.

Flora and Fauna

Meghalaya’s forests are rich in wildlife, including elephants and rare bird species. It’s a heaven for nature lovers.

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250 Words Essay on Meghalaya

Meghalaya, a northeastern Indian state, is a paradise for nature lovers. Its name, meaning “abode of clouds” in Sanskrit, resonates with its high rainfall, misty landscapes, and mesmerizing natural beauty.

Geographical Features

Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, Meghalaya is characterized by a diverse topography of hills, valleys, and rivers. It is home to the wettest places on Earth, Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, which receive the highest annual rainfall. The state’s unique geological formations have led to the creation of intricate cave systems, some of which are among the longest and deepest in the world.

Meghalaya’s rich biodiversity includes subtropical forests that host a wide array of endemic species. The state’s wildlife sanctuaries, such as Nongkhyllem and Siju, provide refuge to numerous endangered species, reflecting the state’s commitment to conservation.

Cultural Diversity

Meghalaya is a melting pot of cultures, primarily inhabited by three tribal groups: the Khasis, the Garos, and the Jaintias. Each tribe has its own unique traditions, festivals, and languages, contributing to the state’s vibrant cultural fabric.

In conclusion, Meghalaya’s unique combination of diverse geography, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage make it a fascinating study. It embodies a harmonious coexistence of tradition and modernity, nature and culture, demonstrating the potential of sustainable development in preserving our planet’s treasures.

500 Words Essay on Meghalaya

Meghalaya, aptly named the “abode of clouds,” is a mesmerizing state in the northeastern region of India. The state’s geographical location, rich biodiversity, cultural diversity, and historical significance make it a fascinating subject of study.

Geographical Splendour

Rich biodiversity.

Meghalaya’s diverse topography supports a rich biodiversity. The state is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including the Nokrek National Park, known for its population of red pandas, and the Balpakram National Park, believed to be the home of departed souls in Garo mythology. Moreover, Meghalaya’s caves and rivers house numerous species of fish, bats, and other cave-dwelling organisms, contributing to the state’s unique biodiversity.

Meghalaya is a cultural melting pot, predominantly inhabited by the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia tribes. Each tribe has its own unique customs, traditions, and languages. The state is known for its matrilineal society where lineage and inheritance are traced through women. This cultural aspect challenges the patriarchal norms prevalent in most parts of the world, making Meghalaya a unique sociological study.

Historical Significance

Economic aspects.

Meghalaya’s economy is primarily agrarian, with a significant portion of the population engaged in farming. The state is rich in minerals like coal, limestone, and uranium, and mining has been a significant economic activity. However, environmental concerns have led to restrictions on mining, pushing the state to explore sustainable economic activities like tourism, which is now a significant contributor to the state’s economy.

Meghalaya, with its stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, cultural diversity, and historical significance, presents a fascinating study. The state’s unique societal structure and its efforts to balance economic development with environmental conservation make it a model for sustainable development. As we delve deeper into understanding Meghalaya, we uncover its many layers, each more intriguing than the last.

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10 Places to Visit in Meghalaya for Nature Lovers

Rahul Roy/Getty Images

Meghalaya, in northeast India , used to be part of Assam . Known as the Abode of the Clouds, it's famous for being the wettest place on earth. This makes it a popular monsoon travel destination for those who love the rain. The majority of the state's population is made up of tribal people -- Khasis (the largest group), Garos, and Pnars -- who predominantly earn their living from cultivation. The state is divided into three main hills -- Khasi Hills (Central range), Garo Hills (Western range) and Jaintia Hills (Eastern range). Most tourist places are located in the Khasi Hills. Here's the pick of attractions.

Living Root Bridges

Possibly Meghalaya's most famous attraction , deep in the dense tropical forest and shrouded in cloud and rain for much of the year, are some astonishing man-made natural wonders known as living root bridges. Inventive members of the Khasi tribe have trained them to grow from the roots of ancient rubber trees, native to the northeast region. There are two places that you can see the bridges: near Cherrapunji and Mawlynnong.

The Travelling Slacker/Getty Images

In addition to having an easily accessible living root bridge nearby, scenic Mawlynnong village was named the "Cleanest Village in Asia" by a travel magazine. Also dubbed "God's Own Garden", the village is an outstanding example of community-based ecotourism. The locals have constructed a remarkable Sky View platform from bamboo atop the highest tree in the forest, nearly 80 feet up. It offers a bird's eye view of the village and panoramic view across to Bangladesh (the border is just a few kilometers away). Mawlynnong is a three hour drive south of Shillong in the East Khasi Hills. It's possible to stay there in a basic village guesthouse or house on stilts.

Dawki–Shnongpdeng

About an hour east of Mawlynnong, in the West Jaintia Hills, the border town of Dawki is worth visiting for its pristine emerald Umngot River. The absence of security makes it hard to believe that the International Radcliffe Line border between India and Bangladesh is situated there (and yes, locals from both sides do cross and intermingle). It's possible to go on a mesmerizing boat ride along the river, which is said to be one of the cleanest on earth. If driving from Mawlynnong to Dawki, do stop at magnificent Bophill Falls along the way. Shnongpdeng village, a short distance further on from Dawki, is the best place to stay.

Krang Suri Falls

AmitRane1975/Getty Images

In Meghalaya, there are waterfalls and there's Krang Suri. This small but stunning waterfall is tucked away near Jowai, about an hour northeast of Dawki and about three hours southeast of Shillong in the West Jaintia Hills. Be prepared to hike for around 20 minutes down a trail of steps to reach it. Entry tickets cost 50 rupees. It's possible to go swimming although you'll be told to wear a life-jacket. Changing rooms and toilets are provided.

Mawphlang Sacred Forest

Approximately 45 minutes southwest of Shillong in the East Khasi Hills, Mawphlang is home to a sacred plant grove of the Khasi tribe. It's full of medicinal plants. Tribe members also perform animal sacrifices and burn the bodies of their dead inside it. There's a Khasi Heritage Village next to the sacred forest, with different styles of mock tribal huts. If you're feeling energetic and want to spend a day out in nature, try the picturesque David Scott trail from Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang. It's part of an old horse trail dating back to the British era.

Laitlum Canyon

Combine a day trip to Mawphlang Sacred Forest with Laitlum Canyon, where you'll feel like you've reached the end of the world. It's only an hour or so south of Shillong, and an hour and a half east of Mawphlang, in the East Khasi Hills. If you can tear yourself away from gazing across the open expanse of the gorge, it's possible to descend down a steep stairway to the village of Rasong. The 350 or so inhabitants of this remote village rely on a rustic cable pulley to transport food and other essential goods up and down the valley.

Meghalaya is the best destination for caving in India. There are more than 1,000 caves in the state, including the recently discovered longest sandstone cave in the world (Krem Puri in the Mawsynram region of the East Khasi Hills). The most frequently visited cave is Mawsmai, near Cherrapunji (two hours from Shillong). It's maintained as a show cave for tourists and is lit up all the way through. The Garden of Caves, near Laitmawsiang village on the way to Cherrapunji, is spectacular and has waterfalls. Arwah Cave can also be explored in the area and is known for its prehistoric fossils. Other caves are more challenging to visit and are suited to caving expeditions with appropriate caving equipment. These include Siju (a bat cave), Mawmluh (with a pool inside), Mawjymbuin (notable for its stalagmites) and Krem Dam (a long sandstone cave) near Mawsynram, and Liat Prah (the longest natural cave in India). Meghalaya Tourism has a list of caves in the state. The Meghalaya Adventurers' Association conducts week-long caving expeditions from Shillong.

Many mysterious monoliths can be found spread across Meghalaya's Khasi and Jaintia Hills, erected by the regions' tribes as a symbol of remembrance. However, the largest collection is located in the vicinity of Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills, about two hours east of Shillong. This village used to be the summer capital of the Jaintia rulers and is a lesser-known tourist destination perfect for escaping the crowds. Some of the many monoliths there are up to 10 meters tall!

Mawryngkhang Bamboo Trek

Peter Theobald

Thrill seekers will love the new Mawryngkhang Trek, which opened in 2017. It starts out from Wahkhen village, about two hours south of Shillong in the East Khasi Hills, and will take you to the top of massive Mawryngkhang -- the legendary "King of Stones". The trail extends over a series of connected bamboo bridges built by locals and terrifyingly hugs the side of a huge sheer rock-face in part. Below is a deep gorge and river. Although the trek is quite easy and can be completed in two or three hours, definitely skip it if you're scared of heights! There aren't any accommodations in the area, so you'll have to return to Shillong or Cherrapunji the same day.

If you're a nature lover who really wants to get off the beaten track, then head to the densely forested Garo Hills in the western part of Meghalaya. This vast area is home to the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Siju Wildlife Sanctuary, and Balpakhram National Park. It's pristine and full of biodiversity, including hundreds of species of butterflies. Tura, the second largest town in the state after Shillong, has a helpful tourist office that can organize guides and trips.

In Shillong: Don't Miss Iewduh Bara Bazar

Regarded as one of the largest traditional-style markets in northeast India, this hectic and congested market in the heart of Shillong is where local Khasi women come to sell their fresh produce and livestock. You'll get some tasty local street food there too. The market is a fascinating place to walk through, especially if you're into street photography. It's open daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. except on Sundays. (Go early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds, otherwise brace yourself!)

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7 Day Meghalaya Travel Itinerary

The state is full of hidden spots and offbeat locations and to explore them thoroughly it would take almost a month. But not everyone can spare so much time out of their schedule. And thus, to help people plan their trip to Meghalaya in a short span while not missing out on the best of places in the state, I am chalking out a 7 day travel itinerary for Meghalaya in this blog.

7 Day Trip to Meghalaya – Travel Itinerary

How to reach meghalaya.

Fly to Guwahati in Assam from where you can head to Shillong by road. There are plenty of options when it comes to covering the journey between Guwahati to Shillong. You can reserve a taxi which would ideally take INR 2000 to drop you to your hotel or Police Bazar (the main market area) in Shillong. You can also hop onto a shared cab/sumo from the airport, railway station or Paltan Bazar in Guwahati, which should not cost you more than INR 200. There are buses available too from ISBT, Beltola in Guwahati. The journey would approximately take 3 hours.

Meghalaya 7 Day Travel Itinerary 

Day 1 : guwahati to shillong, where to stay in shillong.

Mid-ranged Hotels : Rockski Boutique Bed and Breakfast | The Loft Executive Inn

Cafes and Restaurants to check in Shillong

Dylan’s Cafe | ML 05 Cafe | Cafe Shillong  

Day 2 : Explore Shillong

Places to visit in shillong, ward’s lake, shillong peak.

Elephant Falls

Don bosco museum.

Don Bosco Museum in Shillong is a storehouse of traditions and culture. Each floor in the seven storied, hexagonal shaped museum represents the seven sister states of the North East. Here, you could expect to get a glimpse of the multi-cultural lifestyles of the indigenous people of North East India. There are 17 galleries in the museum that displays cultural artefacts and paintings. Visitors can also taste the indigenous cuisines from the food lounge. The museum also attracts students, researchers and academicians who come to avail the research facilities in their specialised library.

Day 3 : Shillong to Cherrapujee (Sohra)

How to get there, where to stay in cherrapunjee, places to visit in cherrapunjee, nonkalikhai falls.

Visit Nonkalikhai Falls, the tallest plunge waterfall in India with a height of 350 metres. The tall waterfall, falling straight from a cliff, without a break is a fantastic sight to look at. From outside the entry gate, you can follow a signboard that marks a trail leading to the mouth of the waterfall, take a hike to reach there and even take a swim in the clean green waters.

Mawsmai Caves

Formed out of limestore, Mawsmai Cave is a well lit cave located at a distance of 6 kms from Cherrapunjee. You can walk upto 150 metres inside the cave and the rest of the cave is not open for visitors to enter. Upon entering the cave, you’d be able to spot unique flora and fauna, streams and eventually the cave will get narrow and off the reach. Mawsmai Cave is a very popular place of interest and you should definitely not miss it out. You do not need a guide to enter this cave.

Arwah Caves

Arwah cave is one of the hidden wonders in Meghalaya. You’d need to take a detour from the main road and cover a muddy path to reach Arwah Caves. There is a beautiful bridge which leads you till the entrance of the cave. Do ask a guide to accompany you to this cave as there are no marked trails, this being a rather offbeat destination. You’d be welcomed by a sharp descent right after you enter the cave, after which your walk will be quite a challenging and adventurous one, followed by crawling through narrow holes and sharp edges. You can expect to spot limestone structures and fossils inside the cave. A visit to Arwah caves would undoubtedly be quite a thrilling one.

Day 4 : Cherrapunjee – Tyrna – Nongriat

Travel Time : Cherrapunjee to Tyrna – 45 minutes; Tyrna to Nongriat (trek) – 2 hours

Places to visit in Nongriat

Double decker root bridge.

Waterfall and Pools

You can opt to hire a guide to take you around the village. The Rainbow Waterfall is a gorgeous waterfall, which is a short hike away from the village. Ask your guide to take you to natural pools in the village. Most of these pools are not traceable and is only known to the locals. Hence, you would not find any resource on the internet about these and this is what Nongriat is all about – discovering beautiful spots by yourself.

Where to Stay in Nongriat?

Day 5 : nongriat – cherrapunjee – dawki – mawlynnong, what to do in dawki.

Dawki, a tiny hamlet in the border of India and Bangladesh is famous for its crystal clear river waters, views of Bangladesh plains and boat rides. Upon reaching, you’d feel as if you’ve arrived at a place where time has frozen. The calmness of the river, the beauty of the hills and the plains of Bangladesh visible at a faraway distance, would make you fall in love with the place at once. Do not miss out on taking a boat ride over the waters of Umngot river. If the Double Decker root bridge trek is the main highlight of your trip, the boat ride at Dawki is definitely going to be the second best experience!

Where to Stay in Mawlynnong?

Day 6 : explore mawlynnong & transfer to shillong, places to visit in mawlynnong, living root bridge.

Balancing Rock

Bangladesh view point, day 7 : shillong to guwahati, meghalaya travel itinerary – summary.

Day 3 : Shillong to Cherrapunjee

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Meghalaya — the land of root bridges and waterfalls

• Last updated: April 13, 2021
• Adventure , Asia , Destinations , India , Outdoor

Home » Travel Blog » Meghalaya — the land of root bridges and waterfalls

Have you heard of the land where trees grow into bridges? Do you remember Pandora, the moon of Jim Cameron’s Avatar film, where humans and nature lived together in harmony? Such a place exists in the Indian state of Meghalaya, near the Bangladeshi border.

Living root bridges will be the highlight of your trip to Meghalaya, but there is much more to keep you busy. Waterfalls, rivers, and villages will pack your travel calendar with even more adventure.

If you are looking for a place to stay in India, we recommend booking it through  Booking.com ,  Hotelscombined  or  TripAdvisor , one of the best websites to compare prices. 

Always make sure you travel with travel insurance! Be adventurous, but not careless.  Check out some of the most reliable insurance companies out there:  True Traveller  if you’re European and  World Nomads  if you’re from elsewhere.

If you love animals and you prefer going local during your travels, try housesitting, which is an amazing way to travel the world while taking care of the pets whose owners are on vacation. If you use TrustedHousesitters with  this link  you’ll  get 25% off  on annual membership.

Traveling to Thailand? Get our Complete Guide to  Thailand Independently

Things to do in Meghalaya

Here are top 3 things you want to see while in Meghalaya

• Living root bridges

Dawki, the cleanest river in India

Plus, there is a funny place known as “The Cleanest Village” that draws curious Indian tourists to visit. What does a clean village look like? they wish to learn. For a traveller from a western, ecologically minded country, cleanliness is just a norm, so you won’t be amazed. Indians are. Good thing Mawlynnong is “on the way” to other highlights, so check it out if you have a spare hour.

Root bridges

Living root bridges represent the unique cooperation of human and nature. Two Ficus Elastica trees are planted at the opposite sides of the river valley and for a couple of years, Khasi slowly thread tree roots across the river to connect the gap.

Once the roots connect, they grow stronger and stronger. A human can safely cross the living root bridge after 15 to 30 years. Patience is needed in this remote area. They are the reason why you will want to visit. Moreover, the scenery trekking to living root bridges is stunning. A handful of root bridges are scattered around the hills near the Bangladeshi border.

Riwai Living Root Bridge

The Riwai Living Root Bridge is often also referred to as Mawlynnong root bridge, as “The Cleanest Village” is nearby. Riwai root bridge is worth mentioning because it does not require any trekking effort to reach.

Your bus or taxi will drop you in Riwai village, and then it is just an easy 10-15 minute walk until you touch your first living bridge. You will be amazed and will want to see others. Being so easy to approach, it is the most visited root bridge. You will be accompanied by dozens of Indian tourists while visiting it.

If you are fit and ready for some trekking, you can skip this one and check the more serene and remote alternatives.

Join one of the tours in India:

• 15 Day Cross Countries Tour of Bhutan, Sikkim & Dharjeeling
• Kolkata: Uptown 15-Taster Food Tour
• Cochin: Alleppey Backwater Private Day Cruise by Houseboat
• Delhi: Full-Day Private Tour, Qutb Minar, and Entrance Fees
• Udaipur: Full Day Private City Tour with Optional Boat Ride

Double Decker

Many travellers dream of reaching Double Decker, the most famous living root bridge. As the name and photos suggest, this is really a double bridge. Inhabitants of Nongriat village planted a second bridge above the original one, making this living root bridge especially unique.

Reaching Double Decker is only possible via a steep downhill stairway path. Nongriat is some 700 elevation meters below Tyrna, the last point where wheeled transport can drop you off. Prepare for quite a demanding descent and an equally demanding return for the next day(s). Check three more root bridges in this article .

Read more inspiring articles from India:

• 9 ways to Experience Authentic India
• My three weeks experience in a yoga teaching training center in India
• Transport in India: An Overview and Practical Tips
• 9 Reasons to Travel to Kerala, India
• Places to Visit in India for First-Timers: 11 Tips to Make Your Trip Awesome
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It seems like there were waterfalls everywhere around Meghalaya. There must be tens of them. I will mention 9 that are either easily reachable or on the way to other highlights.

3 waterfalls you can experience around the capital of the state (Shillong) are: Elephant Falls, Spread Eagle Falls and Sweet Falls. All these are easily reachable within 8-12 km from the capital.

There are really impressive waterfalls you will find in East Khasi Hills around Cherapunjee town (also known as Sohra). Nokhkalikai falls and Nohsngithiang Falls (also known as Mawsmai falls) are the most impressive.

Dainthlen falls, Khoh Ramhah (also known as Motrop) and Kynrem Falls will easily fill your day around Cherapunjee. Check with your local driver or hostel to see which falls are actually worth visiting during the season you travel to Meghalaya. During the rainy season, waterfalls will be the most powerful, however, views may be spoiled by clouds.

During the dry season, views are perfect, but waterfalls shrink to a trickle. This brings me to the conclusion that the best time to visit Meghalaya is just after the monsoons have ended.

The real gem is Rainbow falls. Located at the end of the valley, the sight of Rainbow falls will reward you after a multiple hour trek. Perhaps it is the remoteness and beauty of the trek, that makes this waterfall stand out in my mind. No cars, no people, just you and the falls. Rainbow Falls can be reached as a continuation of the Double Decker trek.

• Join some of the local tours in India :
• Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal with Mausoleum Admission
• Ranthambore National Park: Jeep or Canter Safari Admission
• New and Old Delhi: 8-Hour Guided Group Tour

Dawki is a low lying border village located on the river of the same name. The water is really clean and refreshing. Activities here are swimming, boating, and admiring the amazing Dawki bridge. I cannot understand how they built the bridge attached into two steep, almost vertical, river banks!

The most interesting part of the Dawki trip is taking a boat to Bangladesh. Well, you actually are not allowed to set foot on the Bangladeshi soil, but you can float around hundreds of Bangladeshis, who come to take a dip in what probably is also the cleanest Bangladeshi river.

Getting there and getting around

Shillong is small and off the main radar airport and only 2 companies fly there from Calcutta. Guwahati, the capital of neighbouring Assam state is a typical gateway to the region. Shillong is a 4-5 taxi or bus ride from Guwahati airport.

Meghalaya is in many aspects different from the majority of India as you know it. First, being located in elevations between 1500 and 2000 meters above sea level, it is pleasant, sometimes even a cold place to be. Being rather sparsely populated, it is quite clean and neat, compared to anything you might have been used to in the rest of India.

All these advantages come at a cost. Forget efficient trains or cheap busses. A taxi driver is your best bet in Meghalaya. You will be glad and lucky if you can find a shared taxi or jeep to your destination and you can share the cost with others. If not, you will have to pick up the bill yourself.

Sure, there is some public transport, but it’s not really heading your way. Remote villages are not important transport hubs. Thus, most of the travellers local and foreign alike, budget 2000 Indian Rupees per day to hire a taxi and do day round trips from Shillong. Two most typical trip loops around Meghalaya are:

• Mawlynnong, Riwai Root bridge and Dawki, and perhaps taking Elephant falls in if time permits.
• Cherapunjee with a few waterfalls on the way, plus Mawsmai caves. If you took an organized tour, instead of returning to Shillong, get dropped in Cherapunjee. From there continue to Tyrna village and trek the 3500 stairs down to the famous Double Decker living root bridge. An alternative to a taxi, as many of you travel alone, is to use some of the tourist busses. A seat in the tourist bus sells at 350-500Rs, and the itinerary is quite similar. For more details on how to get to root bridges, please check the detailed guide here .

Places to stay in Meghalaya

Most of the visitors will just need two places to stay. One in Shillong, which creates a base for day trips around the state, and one while trekking in the Khasi Hills.

If you are heading for Double Decker and Rainbow falls, I would recommend spending 2 nights in Nongriat. It actually is the only village with any accommodations around. There are 4 or 5 small homestays in the Nongriat and there is nothing else within a 3-hour trek around.

As the capacity of those is limited, book your homestay ahead. And forget Booking.com or similar. None of the homestays are listed there, and you are better off contacting them directly. Serene homestay is the only one with a web page, and you can call, email, or WhatsApp them.

Otherwise, there is plenty of accommodation in Cherapunjee and some homestays will save you in Tyrna if you need.

Things to eat in Meghalaya

Did I mention that Meghalaya is different? Oh, my dear non-veg traveller, yes it is! First, Meghalaya is a predominantly Christian state. Thus you will find quite a lot of good quality pork meat in the markets.

Once you’re fed up eating red, green, yellow, or brown Indian-something-veg with chapati or rice, fly to Meghalaya and you will bite your teeth into a proper piece of meat. We have mastered a grill from the old 10l oil can and indulge in proper shashlik feast.

Believe it or not, you can even buy beef here. Unfortunately, the beef we got was rather hard and chewy. However, if you are from Vietnam and your stomach is struggling without a Pho Bo, or you are from Central Europe and you miss some Beef Broth, you can cook some here.

Where to go next

Next, you will most like head to neighbours. If Bangladesh is on your “next” list, then cross the border at Dawki border crossing. If not, the usual suspect here is visiting Assam. Kaziranga National Park is the place I would strongly recommend to visit in Assam. Did you know that the biggest population of Rhinos on the planet actually lives in Assam? You are guaranteed to see one there.

Join some local tours in Bangladesh:

• Dhaka: Tour w/ Lunch & Theatre Ticket
• Sonargaon Day Tour from Dhaka
• Srimangal Day Tour: Tea Capital of Bangladesh

Pack and travel :

• Best Cameras For Travel Photography
• Best Camera Lenses For Travel Photography
• Pick Your Carry-On Backpack
• Best Walking Shoes For Travel

Roland Vizner

• Published: April 13, 2021

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• DOI: 10.35248/2167-0269.19.8.397
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The Scope of Tourism in Meghalaya

• Baiartis Lyngdoh Peinlang
• Published in Journal of Tourism… 2019
• Environmental Science, Geography

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A Detailed 8-Day Meghalaya Itinerary

Day 1: arrival in guwahati, day 2: guwahati to shillong - discovering the "scotland of the east", day 3: shillong to cherrapunji -  waterfalls, caves, and tribal village, day 4: cherrapunji exploration - nongriat and the living root bridges, day 5: cherrapunji to shillong - a trekking adventure, day 6: shillong to mawlynnong - spend a night at asia's cleanest village, day 7: mawlynnong to shillong - reflections on umiam lake, day 8: departure from shillong to guwahati airport .

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Exploring the Unlimited and Unexplored Rural Tourism in Meghalaya, North East India

• Conference paper
• First Online: 04 October 2022
• Cite this conference paper

• Haziel Mercy Buam 23 &
• M. A. Naseer 23  

Part of the book series: Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation ((ASTI))

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Northeast India is a region that boasts of various wonders that are classified under natural, cultural, and heritage which makes them unique from the rest of India. Among the seven states in the northeast region, the State of Meghalaya is also known for similar resources, and hence, tourists venture into these wonders throughout the year. Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya being branded as the wettest place on earth, it  became quite natural for the tourists to visit the State, especially during the monsoon season. Consequently, with this development, it started piquing the interests of the researchers and scientists leading to the discovery of the Meghalayan Age in 2018 and the recent discovery in 2019–2021 of the remains of fossils of sauropod dinosaurs dating back to about 100 million years. It is undeniably confirmative that Meghalaya has many more wonders to offer in the tourism sector. At present, the tourism sector of the State has explored adventure and nature tourism only. Meghalaya being a State with villages having unique characteristics, with unique agricultural produce and food preservation techniques, there is a tremendous opportunity for the State to explore rural tourism along with its unparallel cultural heritage. Being landlocked for several years in the past, and having a unique character in terms of demography, socioeconomic conditions, and the environment from the rest of India, tourism is one of the sectors yet to be explored in its entirety. Therefore, this study delves into the nuances of tourism in the rural areas of Meghalaya.

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Acknowledgements

With great sincerity, the authors acknowledge the officials, faculty, colleagues, and friends who have contributed to this endeavor and place on record their encouragement and support for the study.

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Haziel Mercy Buam & M. A. Naseer

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Rui Alexandre Castanho

Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

Uglješa Stankov

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Buam, H.M., Naseer, M.A. (2022). Exploring the Unlimited and Unexplored Rural Tourism in Meghalaya, North East India. In: Mandić, A., Castanho, R.A., Stankov, U. (eds) Cultural Sustainable Tourism. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10800-6_8

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Published : 04 October 2022

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Of the 6,000 medicinal plants in India, 834 plants, including the famous Himalayan Yew, are in Meghalaya. Moreover, the state has 8 of the top 20 medicinal plants that are traded in the country and are in high demand.

Meghalaya State Report

Introduction.

At current prices, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Meghalaya has been estimated at Rs. 52,974 crore (US$ 6.36 billion) in 2024-25BE. The state’s GSDP (in Rs.) is expected to increase at a CAGR of 8.47% between 2015-16 and 2024-25BE.Assam and on the south and the west with Bangladesh. Meghalaya, with an average annual rainfall of 1,150 cm, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the country. The diverse range of soil types, including red-loamy and laterite, support various agricultural crops like rice, maize, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, jute, and mesta. The state has achieved success in the cultivation of non-traditional crops like tea, cashew nuts, oilseeds, tomatoes, mushrooms, wheat, etc. During 2019–20*, the state produced 393.51 thousand tonnes of fruits and 75.38 thousand tonnes of spices.

At current prices, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Meghalaya has been estimated at Rs. 52,974 crore (US$ 6.36 billion) in 2024-25BE. The state’s GSDP (in Rs.) is expected to increase at a CAGR of 8.47% between 2015-16 and 2024-25BE.

At current prices, the net state domestic product (NSDP) of Meghalaya reached Rs. 37,925 crore (US$ 4.76 billion) in 2022-23. The state’s NSDP (in Rs.) increased at a CAGR of 7.73% between 2015-16 and 2022-23.

This was driven by trade, hotels, real estate, finance, insurance, transport, communications and other services. Primary sector, the largest contributor to Meghalaya’s economy, expanded at a CAGR of 10.73% between 2011-12 and 2022-23.

Meghalaya, with abundant deposits of coal, limestone, kaolin feldspar, quartz, granite, industrial clay and uranium, and a small deposit base of sillimanite, bauxite, base metals and apatite has great industrial potential. Meghalaya, one of the most picturesque states in the country, has two national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries. It offers many adventure tourism opportunities like mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking and trekking, water sports, etc.

In FY24 passenger traffic at Barapani Airport reached 1,54,658 and aircraft movements at the airport stood at 3,839.

According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), FDI inflows in Meghalaya stood at US$ 1.10 million between October 2019- March 2024.

Meghalaya recorded US$ 10.20 million worth of exports in 2023-24. Iron and Steel, Processed minerals, Petroleum products, coal, coke and briquettes account for a majority share in the overall exports from the state.

Key Sectors

• In the year 2023-24, a program focused on cluster-based skill development for textile sector will be implemented, aiming to train and upskill 10,000 weavers. Additionally, the program will involve the construction of common facility centres that will cater to the needs of the weavers.
• The Meghalaya homestay scheme aims to construct 5,000 homestay facilities between the years 2023-24 and 2027-28. This includes the construction of 1,000 homestays in the year 2023-24.
• As of September 2023, Meghalaya had a total installed power generation capacity of 651.69 MW, comprising 377.03 MW from state utilities, 17.99 MW from private utilities and 256.67 MW by central utilities. Of the total installed power generation capacity, 417.38 MW was contributed by hydropower and 73.02 MW by renewable power.
• As of August 17 th , 2023, there are 17 ongoing projects with a length of 388 km and an estimated total project cost of Rs. 7,252 crore (US$ 989,78 million).
• In August 2023, the Centre has proposed two railway projects in Meghalaya – the 22 km Tetelia-Byrnihat tracks and the 108 km Byrnihat-Shillong line.
• In August 2023, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) halted a proposed 500 MW Meghalaya thermal power project to focus on green energy.
• In March 2023, the target of providing capacity building to 45,000 municipal functionaries and elected representatives under AMRUT has already been achieved. There are 90 target functionaries and 32 municipal functionaries / elected representatives trained.
• In March 2023, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), launched the first Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast-Charging station at NES pump, Mawsmai.
• The health infrastructure of the state is growing robustly. As of March 2022, there were 459 Sub-Centres and 122 Primary Health Centres in Meghalaya.
• According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Meghalaya had 2.51 million wireless and 0.05 million wireline subscribers, as of March 2023. The number of internet subscribers in Meghalaya stood at 1.93 million, as of March 2023. Meghalaya had a total teledensity of 76.36%, as of March 2023.
• In January 2023, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the long-awaited 22.5 MW Ganol Hydro Power Project, near Tura in West Garo Hills.
• The foot traffic from tourists was 12.7 lakh in 2019, and it is anticipated that this number will exceed 15 lakh by the year 2024.
• According to Chief Minister Mr. Conrad K Sangma, Meghalaya is home to nearly 14,600 schools and employs over 55,160 teachers, surpassing other small states in Northeast India (2020-21).
• In June 2023, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Mr. Conrad Sangma, launched the Tourism Policy 2023, which aims to capitalize on the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Meghalaya while ensuring sustainability and responsible development.
• The total length of roads sanctioned under the main schemes of MDoNER, namely the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), implemented either directly or through the North Eastern Council (NEC), in the state of Meghalaya over the last three years (2020-21 to 2022-23) is 169.51 kilometres.
• On March 15th, 2023, Northeast Frontier Railway achieved another milestone of electrification by commissioning the Dudhnai – Mendipathar (22.823 Track Kilometre) single line section and Abhayapuri – Pancharatna (34.59 Track Kilometre) double line section. Mendipathar is the only railway station in the northeastern state of Meghalaya which has been in operation since 2014.
• The Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple projects worth over US$ 298.74 million (Rs. 2,450 crore) in Shillong, Meghalaya.
• In January 2023, the Meghalaya Mental Health and Social Care Policy was introduced which aims to promote mental health and social care through collaborative engagement with all concerned Agencies/Departments and communities.
• The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned 41 projects worth Rs. 90 crore (US$ 10.99 billion), under Hill Area Development Programme.
• Under the crop insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the government of Meghalaya is providing farmers with 100% premium support for both the Kharif and Rabi seasons in 2023-24. Meghalaya produces Rs. 400 crore (US$ 48.50 million) worth of jackfruit annually and this can be scaled up to Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 121.25 million).
• In October 2022, the Meghalaya government signed an agreement with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd for the development of two hydel projects in the state.
• In Meghalaya, coal mining will start up again after nine years. The Union Ministry of Coal has granted mining leases to four license applicants, paving the way for the start of scientific mining with minimal environmental impact via sustainable and legally compliant extraction processes.

Note: * - As per 2022-23 (3rd Adv. Est.), MW - Megawatt

Geographical Area (sq km)

State language, literacy rate, key industries:, handlooms & handicrafts, sericulture, food processing, agriculture, floriculture, hydroelectric power, related sites, related news.

Government's strategic focus on 'Viksit Bharat 2047' Enhancing connectivity, expanding exports, and fortifying logistics infrastructure through key policies for a thriving India.

Government of India, the Government of Meghalaya and the World Bank signed a US$ 40 million health project for the state of Meghalaya.

Food Corporation of India supplies 31.80 LMT free food grains to a States/ UTs under PMGKAY scheme.

UDAN 4.0, a scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), has invited bids for 6 underserved and 24 unserved airports/airstrips in the North-East states of India with a focus on connectivity to the region.

Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 18 projects covering all the North Eastern States for Rs 1,456 crore (US$ 208.3 million) for development and promotion of tourism.

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Meghalaya Ecotourism Infrastructure Development Project

Quick Facts

More about this project.

Meghalaya is a hilly state endowed with significant ecotourism potential, including virgin forests (76% of the total area), ample riverine systems, scenic topography, and many natural attractions. To sustain the economic growth, the Government of Meghalaya is planning to focus on promoting the tourism sector. Tourism is a multisectoral activity and has the capacity to stimulate different sectors of the economy, unlocking opportunities for economic development, poverty alleviation and income generation. The sector is also labour intensive, thereby presenting a wide spectrum of job opportunities for the skilled/unskilled workforce and benefits micro, small and medium enterprises. Development of tourism sector in Meghalaya is however hindered by lack of adequate infrastructure.

The Project will cover; i) construction of nine tourism/ecotourism attractions, (ii) development of high value and rural accommodation at strategic locations to increase the length of stay of tourists (323 accommodation units), (iii) construction of connecting infrastructure to improve access to the tourist attraction points (construction of 114 kilometres of roads and bridges, and Shillong Peak ropeway), and (iv) institutional capacity building and project management.

The objective of the Project is to construct infrastructure to promote tourism in Meghalaya, leading to development of 5 ecotourism circuits, identified by the GoM. The Project will result in increase in domestic and international tourists in Meghalaya with a longer average length of stay and direct employment opportunities for more than 1,400 people during operational phase. The Project will lead to development of ecotourism, in line with the National Tourism Policy of India, leading to increased contribution of the tourism sector for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Meghalaya. The Project will also contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions through replacement of road travels by the ropeway.

The Project will be completed by July 2028. GoM will be the Executing agency and Meghalayan Age Limited will be the Implementing agency.

The Project has been classified as Category B in accordance with the NDB Environment and Social Framework (ESF). The main environmental and social impacts include using community land for infrastructure development, diversion of forest land, likely impact on indigenous people, and occupational and community health and safety during Project implementation. Adherence to the country system and implementation of environmental and social (E&S) management plans, including the E&S Impact Management Plan, will minimize and mitigate above mentioned impacts, as envisaged by the requirements of NDB’s ESF.

Problems and Prospects of Promoting Tourism in Meghalaya

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TOURISM, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA-A STUDY ON UNEXPLORED TOURIST SPOTS OF MEGHALAYA Original Research Paper

2019, Global Journal for Research Analysis

Employment now-a-days become a big challenge for every country. Every country tries to nd new sources to generate employment towards their country people. The nature itself contributed much more resources such as hills, rock, river, lake, forest, sea, ora-fauna, wildlife , culture, food and last but not least the people itself. The totality of these natural resources can be use as way to create employment. These resources form the very core of the term tourism. The concept of tourism is old; it was found that the word was th rst appeared in 14 century. And it was drived from Latin word 'tornare' which means return, go back or come and the word tourist was used 1772. In ancient period it was basically happened for the purpose of trade and searching for food and devoting. Generally the concept tourism is about movement of people for various purposes from a common geographical area to another. It includes activities, service and industries which is associated with accommodation, fooding, recreation, entertainment, shopping, and relaxation, refreshing of human being with experience. At different time the various author gives many denition regarding tourism. Unexplored Tourist Spots of Meghalaya: Meghalaya have 3 divisions with 11 district such as Khasi Hills Division, Jaintia Hills Division and Garo Hills Division. This 3 division have too many unexplored place which preserve lot of eye catching natural beauty along with lot of scope for tourism activities. Some of place specied in the paper by the researcher which is mainly located East Khasi Hill and Jaintia Hill Division. Name of the place are Ilong village

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COVID-19 and Its Impacts on Tourism in Meghalaya, India

Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), September 2020, Volume 7, Issue 9

7 Pages Posted: 12 Oct 2020 Last revised: 13 Oct 2020

Nangtyngshain Hoojon

Nehu; North Eastern Hill University

Date Written: September 1, 2020

Coronavirus collectively known as COVID-19 affected the health of many people and snatched away the soul of many lives worldwide without any discrimination on rich or poor people. This pandemic which started in China’s wet market of Wuhan, sparked and spread like a wild fire to different corner of the earth not only severely affected the public health, but socially, politically and most importantly on economy of every country at present. This paper intends to write particularly on how this deadly virus crept in the land and suddenly looted the economy contributed by Tourism industry in Meghalaya (India), one of the most famous tourist states in North East India and even in the world and how this pandemic affected the socio-economic life of the people who generated their income from tourism sectors.

Keywords: Coronavirus, pandemic, impact, tourist industry, Meghalaya, caves. separated

JEL Classification: Z32

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Nangtyngshain Hoojon (Contact Author)

Nehu ( email ).

3Mile, Lumpdeng Upper Shillong East Khasi Hills Di 3rd Mile, Lumpdeng Upper Shillong East Khasi Hills Shillong, ME 793005 India

North Eastern Hill University ( email )

3Mile, Lumpdeng Upper Shillong East Khasi Hills Di 3rd Mile, Lumpdeng Upper Shillong East Khasi Hills Shillong, ME 793005 9774979023 (Phone) 793005 (Fax)

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• SALANTINI JANERA
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• INTERNATIONAL
• SUNDAY PULLOUT
• ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ

No. of tourists Total 1999 1971 159730 161701 2000 2327 169929 172256 2001 2390 178697 181087 2002 3191 268529 271720 2003 6304 371953 378257 2004 12707 433495 445902 2005 5099 375911 381010 2006 4259 400287 404546 2007 5267 457685 462952 2008 4919 549954 554873 2009 4522 591398 595920 2010 4177 652756 656933 2011 4803 667504 672307 2012 5313 680254 685567 2013 6773 691269 698042 2014 8664 717789 726453

Table 1: Trend of Tourist Inflow in Meghalaya.

Moreover, compared to Assam, the leading recipient of tourists in North-East India, Meghalaya still functions as an add-on destination to Assam for the last one or two decades and till today. A statistical report on tourist arrival in North East showed that in 1996, Assam received 3,27,260 domestic tourists and 5885 foreign tourists while Meghalaya received a mere 1,36,183 domestic tourists and 1573 foreign tourists. In the year 2000, there were 10,01,577 domestic and 5,959 foreign tourists who visited Assam, while Meghalaya received only 1,69,929 domestic and 2,327 foreign tourists. In 2007, there were 34,79,870 domestic and 13,657 foreign visitors in Assam while there were only 3,75,911 domestic and 5,099 foreign visitors in Meghalaya. However, compared to other North-East states, Meghalaya still stands second to Assam in terms of tourist arrival. The state also witnessed a steady increase in both domestic and foreign tourist arrival since the year 2011 onwards.

Boosting Tourism Development in Meghalaya-Challenges and Prospects

Even though Meghalaya has the potential resources for sustainable tourism development, there are also hindrances that must be addressed and incorporated in development planning in order to achieve sustainability in the process.

• The adventure tourism resource of Meghalaya is purely nature based which implies that adventure tourism in the state takes place mainly at the cost of serene landscapes which are fragile in nature. Hence, it is important to know the context of fragility of attraction sites so that precautions can be undertaken may it be in the case of infrastructure development or in maintaining limits in entry of visitors and waste disposal so that the process of development itself should not go beyond the carrying capacity of the attraction sites and whatever resources belonging to the attraction sites should not be disturbed, tarnished or degraded in any way.

• Meghalaya has a rich cultural resource base for cultural tourism development because of its distinct cultural identity, customs and traditional lifestyles, the existence of stone impressions, waterfalls associated with folklores, monoliths and monuments, unique arts and crafts, etc, however, the indigenous folks are not even aware of the economic value of all these cultural attributes that they have and even if they are aware, they do not have the courage to come out of their conservative nature and they do not have the knowledge to present them to the world. Eco-tourists are eager to learn much about the culture and way of life of local folks by involving themselves in homestay in local households, in cooking and eating, in games and religious rituals, however, they do not find a way to do so. Therefore, the need of the hour is to generate proper conscientization of local people about their own economic situation and their own position in the world and how to get rid of that situation by becoming active participants in the process of cultural tourism. Raising awareness on the economic value of cultural attributes and creating platforms for the local people to display their culture to the world is vital to the process of cultural tourism development in the state.

• The state has a huge potential for agri-tourism on account of the fact that agriculture remains central to the economy of the state and the agricultural products of the state are known for their good quality. Agri-tourism requires less investment compared to other forms of tourism, however, so far it was not projected as an approach in tourism development initiatives of the state. Hence, it requires that agri-tourism should be encouraged and be projected in a distinguishable manner.

• Lack of local control over management of most of the attraction sites is another challenge which demotivate community participation. Local control and local economic benefit should be the central focus while setting up plan for tourism ventures. Mawlynnong, one of the eco-tourist destinations in Meghalaya, sets a good example of the success of eco-tourism on account of citizen control and equal sharing of benefits among local households which then serve as motivational factors for more active community participation in tourism.

• The negative impact of seasonality is quite high in the state. To reduce this impact, it is advisable to introduce more niche tourism products during low seasons to serve the demand of different types of tourists. It is also important to note that the state government has introduced theme tourism programmes which were quite successful and hence more of such theme tourism approaches should be organized in the state.

Meghalaya has a huge potential for alternative tourism development because it is bestowed with varied natural attraction attributes. However, in tapping such potential resources for tourism venture, it is also necessary to establish measures in order to ensure long term benefits. Community participation and community control over management of tourism is a determinant of success of tourism and hence local communities should be encouraged to come forward and be active participants in alternative tourism development and special programmes for raising awareness on community participation in tourism should be organised. Where tourism venture is nature based, it is impossible to avoid seasonality effect, however, the same effect can be reduced by introduction of niche tourism products and theme tourism approaches to serve certain high end visitors during the low seasons.

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• Annual Final Report of Tourism Survey for the State of Meghalaya. Ministry of Tourism Government of India, 2014.
• Milen Penerliev. Alternative tourism in Bulgaria – general characteristics.Space and Economy. 2017;10.

Author Info

Citation: Peinlang BL (2019) The Scope of Tourism in Meghalaya. J Tourism Hospit 8:397. doi: 10.4172/2167-0269.1000397

Received: 05-Dec-2018 Accepted: 11-Jan-2019 Published: 18-Jan-2019 , DOI: 10.35248/2167-0269.19.8.397

Copyright: © 2019 Peinlang BL. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.