The state of Meghalaya being one of the wettest places on earth has it's advantages as well. And thanks to the local people who understand the value of a healthy eco-system, there is more greenery and less pollution all around. Some forests and bio-reserves hardly witness a human footfall and host incredibly rich flora and fauna.

This land of clouds is also synonymous with rivers, streams, waterfalls, rapids, gorges, caves and series of forest clad hills. The unique tapestry of Meghalaya is composed of some indegenious tribes like Garos, Khasis, Pnars, Karbi, Hajong et al who have unique culture, cuisine, religious practices, festivals, art and music. The best part is the people of Meghalaya are traveller friendly and also promote responsible tourism.

Talking about the people of Meghalaya, we must point out how much they value their cultural heritage and how beautifully they preserve them actually. Also it has always been their tradition to interact with nature sensibly and sustainably, a legacy carried forward by the young educated youth of the state. The 11 districts fall under 3 hill divisions of Garo, Khasi & Jaintiya. Music, cuisine, traditional handlooms, handicrafts, everything make a thoroughly immersive experience for travelers. Here mainly the Garos, Khasis, Jaintiyas, Hajong, Tiwas live in harmony taking pride in their own culture. One might be surprised to watch the amazing list of household items like baskets and containers, mats, head gear, musical instruments and other products they can make using cane and bamboo as these plants are abundant in the forests. The folk music, festivals, dances of each of the tribes show the richness in their culture and traditions though the youth have also embraced jazz, blues, pop, rock and other forms of Western music with elan. The people are welcoming and tourist-friendly but promote sustainable tourism strictly, and rightly so.

The travelers who love to taste local cuisine will be having a blast here in Meghalaya. Bamboo shoot, sesame, local herbs and spices, fresh vegetables, mushrooms or tit-tung, fish, poultry, meat, rice are the main ingredients of Meghalayan cuisine. But there are certain variations in Garo, Khasi and Jaintia cuisine. No travelogue about Meghalaya would be complete without mentioning the gastronomical extravaganza. Variations of Ja ie rice & doh ie meat (sometimes chicken or fish) are the staple food across Meghalaya and sesame plays an important role in their cuisine. The Garos love green veggies, yam apart from hugely abundant fish and meat infused ja-doh.

Khasi and Jaintiya have nearly similar cuisines, though Jaintiyas love to use sasame more in their cooking. The smoking and pickling process to preserve meat has been in use since ages and it has become intrinsic to Khasi delicacies. Simple yet robust, Khasi cuisine is packed with surprise punches. The ja doh, ja stem, doh khlieh, tungrymbai, tungtap, doh ngiong are hugely popular in the local eateries ja cha (for ja=rice & cha=tea) and the Kong shops around Shillong (Kong = sister, as these shops are run by women). Lots of fresh local fruits and vegetables are also avaible in the markets. The jing bam sells snacks like rice cakes steamed within bamboo hollows, rice malpua etc.

The velvety green hills of Meghalaya are like a painting with an unrestrained deluge of chlorophylls. The clouds sweeping by,hides mysterious caves, gushing waterfalls, verdant valleys underneath and a rich and colourful culture thriving among them since ages. Let's not divulge any more, you can explore even better when you actually set out.

If you are on a 5 Day, 4 Night trip to Meghalaya, keep Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Mawlynnong on your list. One should not miss the Umiam lake, Dawki river, Living root bridges of Meghalaya, Nohkalikhai falls, the pre-historic cave systems among many things. Also, the eclectic platter of Garo and Khasi cuisine should be tried here atleast once. Seasonal festivals, harvest festivals and live music sessions are also huge attractions for the travelers. The local artisans produce some awesome cane and bamboo handicrafts and handlooms too which you can pick up as souvenir.