Also known as the Abode of Clouds, the beautiful state of Meghalaya falls in one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world. The famed monsoons, the rich traditional festivals, and the dramatic terrain are just some of the many things this state is famous for.
Owing to its scenic beauty and rich culture, Meghalaya is becoming a tourism hub with people from all over the world visiting the place. The state’s tourism department is continuously working on expanding tourism in the region so that more and more people have access to its beauty.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the Director of the Meghalaya Tourism Department, Ms. Bulbuly S Marak, shared details about the steps taken by the department to increase footfall in the state.
INITIATING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
The Meghalaya government has begun the onset of various commercial activities in the state such as festivals, events, etc. These festivals will commence from the month of October and continue till December and will take place in the Garo Hills and Khasi Hills region of the state.
The Khasi Hills will witness the Cherry Blossom Festival as Meghalaya Tourism has announced the return of the famed event which is known to be a celebration of music, fashion, culture, and literature. An impressive line-up of homegrown, as well as international artists, are performing at the festival this year.
“Similarly, the Garo Hills will witness the Me’Gong festival, which is a three-day festival that aims to promote the culture, diversity, and lifestyle of the Garos. The festival showcases different types of brews from across the region. In this year’s event, apart from Meghalaya, participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Assam are showcasing their traditional drinks, mostly made out of rice and fruits,” shared Ms. Marak.
PROMOTING HOMESTAYS
Meghalaya being one of the top-most tourist destinations in the country, attracts thousands of tourists, yearly. These tourists make plans to visit the region, adore its beauty and stay there, amongst the peace and serenity, for a few days.
“To avoid shortage of accommodation, the Meghalaya Government has recently launched the homestay scheme across the state, mostly in rural areas where there is a huge tourism potential. Under this scheme, a 35 per cent front-end subsidy would be given to those who wish to start homestays. Up to 70 per cent of the financing would be done for the rural areas only,” Ms. Marak told Indian Masterminds.
USING DIGITAL MEANS
The Department of Tourism, Meghalaya, has also launched its own app through which they share e-invites to tourists, inviting them to their state. The app also imparts all details related to tourism and helps its users to book tickets, stays, festival entries, and other attractions.
“The app has made it easier for tourists to come to Meghalaya and enjoy their stay here. We also keep our website updated according to upcoming events or festivals so that it’s easier for tourists to plan their stay here,” shared Ms. Marak.
UNIQUE TOURIST DESTINATIONS
Ms. Marak talked about some of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, which garner the highest amount of footfall in the region. Some of them are:
Living Root Bridge – Meghalaya’s most beautiful tangible heritage site, ‘The Living Root Bridge’ has recently been added to the tentative UNESCO world heritage site list. They are made of intertwined roots which are a sort of magic, but they aren’t imaginary. These bridges have been built for centuries by the indigenous people of the land (Khasis and the Jaintias). Not only is it a naturally built ecosystem of local flora but it also symbolizes the relationship and knowledge that the local people have over their region and the cultural significance that it holds for them.
Mawlynnong Village – Reputed as Asia’s cleanest village, the Mawlynnong village comprises beautiful fruit orchards, rushing streams, evergreen surroundings, swaying palms, and the well-preserved traditions of the Khasis. To keep it that way, the department is continuously focussing on the immediate e-disposal of waste. Moreover, most of the regions have been declared plastic-free zones to eliminate harmful wastage.
Krangsuri Falls – From afar, Krangsuri is a sight that will make you think of the Jungle Book. During the summer, blue, clear waters can be seen at the bottom of the waterfalls which itself is in the middle of a thickly forested area. Compared to the cliff-hugging plunge falls that you will find in Southern Meghalaya, the Krangshuri waterfall features a different aesthetic. A placid river suddenly drops, creating a curtain of flowing water that falls over a cave.
