India > Meghalaya

Meghalaya

Meghalaya (means "the home of cloud", Megh- cloud and Alay- home) is twenty-2nd largest state of India with an area of 22720 Sq Km which placed in the North-East part of India. According to the census of India 2011, approximately 2964007 people reside here. The state is separated by an international border to the west and south with its neighboring country Bangladesh and its only neighboring state Assam entirely surrounded it to the rest side.

The capital city of Meghalaya is Shillong, as well as the largest city of the state and the other major cities of the state are Williamnagar, Resubelpara, Jowai, Nongpoh, Baghmara, Tura and Nongstoin. The state is build up with seven administrative districts, namely East Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi, South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and the West Khasi Hills.  Read more...

meghalaya shillong city

(City square of Shillong, Meghalaya)

Climate of Meghalaya

The climate of Meghalaya usually is monsoon and humid type. Its temperatures varies from region to region with it elevation changes. Hilly region like the Shillong and its neighboring areas of the state receive cooler and soothing climate, but the regions of the Garo hills and its neighboring areas receive heavy rain and high temperature in summer.

Weather in summer
Normally the summer season of Meghalaya is continued from End of March to June. The average temperature during this season is 28° C.

Weather in winter
Normally the winter season of Meghalaya is continued from End of November to February and the average temperature during this season varies between -2° C (in the region of Shillong) to 22° C in Garo hill.

Weather in monsoon
Normally the monsoon season of Meghalaya is continued for a long term. It starts from June and continue to October. Rain and cloud is very common to this state and it receives more or less rainfalls not only in monsoon but also the other season of the state. Mawsynram village is placed in Cherrapunji get the highest annual rainfall (near about 1200 cm) in the world. The average annual rainfall of the state is approximately 270 cm.

Culture of Meghalaya

Languages in Meghalaya
The people of Meghalaya mainly belong to three tribal community groups like the Khasi (49%), Jaintia (25%) and the Garo tribal group (34%). Some other communities of the state are Bengali (2.5%), Nepali (4%), Shaikh (0.3%), Koch (2.8%), Hajong (1.8%) and several tribes with less population. These community groups use three regional dialects as their spoken languages namely, Khasi, Pnar and Garo. English and Hindi language are also often used by some resident. Among these languages English is accepted as official language of the state.

Religions and Festivals in Meghalaya
The people of Meghalaya mainly follow Christianity (70.02%) and rests are Animist (11.5%), Hinduism (13.4%) and Islam (4.3%). Tribal community groups of Meghalaya celebrate several folk dance festivals. Some most popular of these are Wangala, Doregata, Nongkrem Dance, Chambil mesara or Pomelo Dance, Nongkrem Dance, Shad Suk Mynsiem, Behdienkhlam and the Lahoo Dance.