Meghalaya, one of the Seven Sisters states in the northeast region of India, is not only geographically beautiful, but also is a place full of powerful legends. Have you heard of the legend of Thlen** or the blood-sucking serpent? There are some who believe it and some who don’t calling it an evil conspiracy of a psychopath. We will never know for sure.

Let’s turn from the supernatural to the geography of the region, the people who live here. Meghalaya is vibrant in its own way, the attire—peculiar to the place, the locals’ love for betel-nut (locally known as kwai), houses with high flying and symbolic red flag with a rooster on it which signifies that the family is still Seng Khasi or Khasi Hindu (note: Meghalaya is predominantly a Christian state), stories about Lum Symper or Living Hill (the Khasi Hindus perform their rituals there in order to “make the hill come to life”), the locals’ love for archery, the rock formations, ritualistic monoliths, famous waterfall with a tragic story.  Meghalaya—the abode of clouds (in Sanskrit), is not just about the Asia’s cleanest village or the state’s reputation as a matrilineal society or the highly debated Uranium mining. You have to travel across the state to understand what Meghalaya is about. 

This pictorial essay is to help you plan.

(** Thlen is a legendary blood-sucking serpent that has a master. It’s on the lines of black magic where the Thlen demands blood sacrifices in order to fulfil the wishes of the believers.)

Mist-covered Shillong
The Madina mosque in Laban, Shillong
A vendor at the local market selling fruits and vegetables
Gooseberries (amla) and Carambola (starfruit) being sold at the local market
Chewing of the betel nut or 'kwai' as it is locally known, is very popular in Meghalaya
Cured tobacco leaves on sale in a local market
The rooster flag symbolises a Seng Khasi family
One of the common types of rock formations found in Meghalaya. This one is in Lum Symper hill, a sacred place for Seng Khasis
Children 'drive' the handmade scooter in a village in Meghalaya
An archer marking his arrows before a game of archery
Archers get ready for the match. The game is a favourite among the locals.
The target is made of straw and bamboo. The winner will be the one who hits the target maximum number of times. Hence, the marking of the arrows.
The prize money
The chequered cloth worn by the men is called Tapmoh Khlieh (pronounced as tap-moh-khe-lieh)