Meghalaya, the name derived from two Sanskrit words ‘Megha’ and ‘Aalaya’ stands for “the abode of clouds”. It is the 23rd most populous state of the Indian Union located in the North Eastern part of the country. The population of the state as per 2011 census is 2,964,007. The state has a geographical length and breadth of 300 KM and 100 KM respectively. Meghalaya is surrounded by Assam in the North and People's Republic of Bangladesh in the South. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is popularly called “Scotland of the East” and has a population of 143,007.

The state has a vast forest area and as per estimates, more than 66% of the state is covered by forest. Meghalaya has a subtropical forests region which is basically mountain forest. These forests are different from the forests located in other north and southern states where the forests are basically lowlands. The unique feature of these forests is its biodiversity in flora and fauna. Meghalaya was formed on 21st January 1972 by annexing some of the regions like Jaintia hills, Garo and Khasi which were earlier part of Assam.

The state depends heavily on agriculture and it is the main occupation of the people. Some of the prominent crops grown in the state are rice, bananas, potatoes, maize and pineapples. The state also has many insurance companies and real estate business. In the last few years, it has become a center of controversy due to illegal mining activity. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the state as per financial year 2004 is $1.6 billion.

Meghalaya’s capital Shillong is a popular hill station in the North eastern region. The city has several waterfalls and the Shillong Peak is a popular tourist destination. Shillong Peak which is the highest in the state is also called as the "abode of the gods".

South west monsoon provides rainfall to the state and north east winds provides winter. The state experiences temperate climate. The state has four seasons:

• Spring Season - March to April
• Summer/Monsoon  Season - May to September
• Autumn Season - October and November
• Winter Season - December to February

The state experiences the monsoon in the third week of May. The monsoons are very heavy and usually last till the end of September month and at times extend till the mid October. The Sohra and Mawsynram regions in the southern slopes of Khasi Hills receive the world’s highest rainfall. On an average, the area receives 12,000 mm rainfall annually.

Festivals in Meghalaya

The people of Meghalaya enjoy its festivals with a lot of zeal and gusto. They celebrate their festivals with dance and music....

Religious Festivals (Behdienkhlam, Shad Suk Mynsiem, Ka Pomblang Nongkrem, Umsan Nongkharai)

The cheerful people of Meghalaya enjoy their festivals with a lot of enthusiasm. Although the area has a major populace of Christians, still it celebrates all the festivals....

Dance Festivals (Doregata Dance Festival, Lahoo Dance Festival, Chambil Mesara or Pomelo Dance Festival)

Meghalaya is very famous for its dance festivals across the whole nation. Tourists especially visit this place because of their beautiful dance culture....