03-04-2017
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.
One of the world’s wettest regions is found in Meghalaya—Cherrapunji, which has an average annual precipitation of about 450 inches (11,430 mm) during monsoon season (from May to September). (Rainfall at Cherrapunji may be exceeded, however, by that at Mawsynram, a village directly west of Cherrapunji, where rainfall totals of some 700 inches [17,800 mm] per year have been recorded.) Annual rainfall in Shillong, only about 50 miles (80 km) from Cherrapunji, is about 90 inches (2,290 mm). During the winter months (December to February), the climate is relatively dry.
Meghalaya has spectacular waterfalls on East Khasi Hills district and has beautiful hill station with plenty of tourist attraction all around. In and around Shillong there are numerous waterfalls Bishop Falls, Elephant Falls, Spread Eagle Falls, Sweet Falls, Crinoline Falls and Beadon Falls. The tallest plunge waterfall of India, Nohkalikai Falls is located near Cherrapunji and a major tourist attractions along with Kynrem Falls and Mawsmai Falls in Cherrapunji. Nohsngithiang Falls is also called as the Seven Sisters Waterfalls or Mawsmai Falls located near the Mawsmai village in East Khasi Hills. This seven-segmented waterfall has height of 315 metres that makes it one of the top 10 tallest waterfalls in India.
