There are different legends, beliefs and findings about the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. It is said that Khasis were the earliest immigrants who made their way across northern Myanmar to Khasi in the plain of East Assam where they established new centre. Khasis linguistically represents the Mon-khmer speeches spoken in South-East Asia.

The Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes each had their own kingdoms, until they came under the British administration them in the 19th century. Eventually, the British incorporated Meghalaya into Assam in 1835. After the Independence in 1947, Meghalaya was given autonomous status within Assam. However the Meghalayans were not satisfied with the arrangement and started a peaceful and constitutional struggle for more independence. The turning point in their struggle came when Assam introduced Assamese as the state language, a language unknown to the tribes of Meghalaya. The Centre recognised their plight and their right for a state of their own. In the year 1972, Meghalaya became a full-fledged state in the Republic of India.

South of Assam, Meghalaya, situated in the north-eastern region of India, between the Brahmaputra valley in the north and the Bangladesh in the south. The state of Meghalaya (the abode of clouds) in India is geographically known as the "Meghalaya Plateau" or the "Shillong Plateau". The area is made of the oldest rock-formations. Meghalaya consists of the Garo Hills , Khasi HIlls and Jaintia hills along with their outliers formed by the Assam ranges. It is the detached north-eastern extension of the Peninsular India. Part of it lies buried under the alluvium deposited by the Ganga-Brahmaputra system of rivers. This gap is known as Malda gap (between Raj Mahal hills/Chhota Nagpur and the Shillong Plateau).

Meghalaya is the home of the Tribals especially the Khasis, Jaintias, Mikirs and Cacharis, who are said to have inhabited this region before the start of the Christian era. These tribes evolved out of the migration into north east by the migrants who belonged to the Indo-Chinese linguistic family, the Mon-Khmer and Tibeto-Burman. The Khasis came from the Khasis and Jaintias. The Tibeto-Burman sub-family were the Naga, Kukichin and Bodo. The Bodos were later divided into small linguistic groups such as Garo, Kachari, Mechs, Dimasa, Tippea, Lalung, Rabha, Chutiyas. The British occupied the Garo Hills in 1872. The tribal district council was established. The tradition among the tribals was kingship. The earliest Jaintia Raja is said to have ruled from 1500AD. They were influenced by the Hindu culture. The British influence in Meghalaya extended to the improvement of the landscape, development of roads. The works for progress and development of this region is still continuing after independence and formation of Meghalaya into a state.

Nestled in the hills of eastern sub-Himalayas is Meghalaya is one of the most alluring state in the country. It is blessed with abundant rainfall, sun-shine, virgin forests, high plateaus, crystal clear rivers, tumbling waterfalls, meandering streamlets and above all with hardy, intelligent and hospitable people.

Tourist Attraction

Shillong Peak:
10kms away from the city, this is the highest point (1965mtrs), which offers a panoramic view of the countryside.

Sohpetbneng Peak:
Against the backdrop of a green forest, the sacred peak is regarded as the 'Navel of Heaven' as per Khasi mythology. If you are seeking peace of mind, this might be your ideal retreat.

Ward's Lake:
The picturesque lake is set amid rolling flowerbeds and fairyland lighting.

Shillong Cathedral:
The beautiful church was built by the British. It is as spacious as to accommodate a few thousand worshippers.

Nartiang:
The remnants of the old capital of the Jaintia Kings lies 65kms away from Shillong. The huge monoliths and a 500 years old Durga temple are important tourist attractions in Meghalaya.

Caves in Meghalaya:
The state is dotted with numerous natural caves. Exploring the strange natural formations through murky interiors is a thrilling experience for some. The Khasi, Jaiantia and Garo Hills are replete with such caves, which are major tourist attractions in Meghalaya. Some notable caves are, Mawsmai Cave, Krem Mawmluh, The Cave of Eocene age, Krem Kotsati, Krem Umshangktat, Siju-Dobkhakol, Tetengkol-Balwakol etc.

Getting there :

By Air :
The State does not have any airport. The nearest airport is at Guwahati, which is only 128kms from Shillong the capital city of Meghalaya.

By Rail :
The state does not have any train service. The nearest and railway station is in Guwahati. The state has very convenient road connection with Guwahati throughout the year.

By Road :
Road Network in the state is quite efficient and covers the state conveniently. National Highway 40 is an all-weather road running through the state. The road connects Shillong with Guwahati, which in turn is connected to other major cities in rest of the country.