M.T.D.C., Meghalaya House.
9,Russel Street, Calcutta 700071.
Ph: (033) 2229-0797/1775.

Meghalaya, the 21st State of the Indian Union, was declared a full-fledged State on January 21st, 1972. Having an area of 22,429 square kilometres and a population of 17,74,778(1991 census), the higher ridges of the State lie in the coniferous belt, gradually sloping down to sub-tropical and tropical zones.Tucked away in the north eastern region of India, it lies between 25º and 26.15º north latitude and 89.45º and 92.47º east longitude. The State has at present seven administrative districts-West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills.
Meghalaya is endowed with a rich variety of beauty in nature. Of the 17,000 species of orchids in the world, about 1,250 exist in India, of which nearly 300 are found in Meghalaya. The Khasi Hills specially boast of the age -old Sacred Forests, many of which are preserved to this day by traditional religious sanction. The Mawphlong Sacred Forest, 20 kms from Shillong, represents the pristine glory and wisdom of the elders of yore in preserving the ecological system. In 1854, the renowned botanist, Sir Joseph Hooker transplanted the blue vanda (Vanda coerulea) at the Kew Royal Gardens in London, all the way from Jaintia Hills. Today the blue vanda, lady's slipper (Paphiopedilum insigne) and other rare varieties of orchids adorn many a flower garden, specially in the capital city of Shillong. Meghalaya is also the abode of a unique carnivorous plant called the Pitcher Plant (Napenthes Kasiana).

Meghalaya is also rich in wildlife. It is the home of a variety of animals and birds, the best known of them being elephants, tigers, golden cats, binturongs, slow loris, monkeys of different types and interesting birds including hornbills, partridges, teals, snipes and quails. The State has two National Parks, the Nokrek National Park and the Balpakram National Park and two Wildlife Sanctuaries, the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary and Siju Wildlife Sanctuary. Species like Golden Cats, Golden Langurs and Hoolock Gibbons are endemic to Meghalaya.