Meghalaya means "Adobe of the Clouds". The state was created in 1971, with its capital at Shillong. At an altitude of almost 1,500 metres the town is built in an area of pinewoods and meadows. Because of its topography, the British in India often described Meghalaya as the "Scotland of the East". Since Shillong originated as a market town, perhaps the best place to begin exploring it is Bara Bazaar, the hub of the old city. Hills people come here with their local ware , utensils and baskets, vegetables, chickens, fish and spices. Ward Lake, well-landscape and set in the Botanical Gardens, is close to the township, as are Lady Hydari Park and the mini-zoo. The park is land scraped and the pine trees here resemble Himalayan chill but are in fact a native species.
Another aspect of Meghalaya is the distinctive bird life. Green downs and conifers make a perfect setting for some wonderful golf on Shillong's 18-hole golf course, while the archery stakes, which probably evolved from some ancient tribal custom, is an interesting sport to watch. Above the town rises Shillong Peak from which the township got its name. There are numerous waterfalls in the vicinity. Shillong has two interesting museums :the Meghalaya State Museum, housed in the State Central Library building, has a collection of jewellery, handicrafts, weapons, costumes, musical instruments and coins. The butterfly Museum has a good display of beetles and butterflies from the region and other parts of India.
Cherrapunji, 56 Kms south of Shillong, is reputed to be the wettest place on earth, receiving 1,150 cm of rainfall a year. At Jakrem there is a hot spring , and 16 kilometers (ten miles) away on the Shillong- Guwahati roads lies Lake Umian . Perhaps the most intresting destination is Mauphlang, 24 kilometers (15 miles) along the road to Cherrapunji, where there are numerous monoliths (some up to meters high), possibly erected as a form of ancestor worship.