India 2018

630 India 2018
etc., are some of the important cash crops. Apart from these, the state has
achieved success in the cultivation of non-traditional crops like tea, cashew
nut, oilseeds, tomato, mushroom, wheat, etc.
Forest
The total forest area is 9,49,56,000 hectares which includes reserved forest,
protected forest, national park and unclassed forest. The principal timber
species are sal, teak, titachap, gomari, bol, pine, birch and makri-sal. The
principal forest products include timber, bamboo, reed, broomstick, cane,
ipecac, medicinal herbs and plants, cinnamon and thatch grass. Azaleas and
rhododendrons grow wild in the forests of Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills forest
and many kinds of wild and rare orchids are also found in many parts of the
state. Pitcher plants, the insect-eating plants of botanical wonder is found in
plenty in the Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills and it is said
that such a plant is found nowhere else in the world. Many rare and interesting
plants like wild citrus and pygmy lily are also found.
Wildlife
The state is also rich in wildlife. There are elephants, tigers, bears, wild-boars,
leopards, golden cats, leopard cats and jungle cats, deers of various kinds,
binturongs, slow loris, monkeys of different types including capped-langurs,
golden langurs and hoolock, flying squirrels and giant squirrels. There are
also many rare and interesting birds including the hornbills, partridges,
pheasants, teals, snipes, geese, ducks and quails. The state has two national
parks, viz, Nokrek and Balpakram and two wildlife sanctuaries, viz,
Nongkhyllem and Siju.
Industry
The most important non-agro based industry is cement. Because of its rich
limestone deposits, the state has a number of cement plants operating in
different parts. The number of small scale industrial units covering service
industry, bakeries, furniture making, iron and steel fabrication, tyre retreading
etc., are increasing. The Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation
encourages private entrepreneurs to register themselves so that they may
benefit from support and training to set up industries in small and tiny sectors
by way of financing and equity participation.
Places of Interest
Meghalaya is dotted with a number of lovely tourist spots. Shillong, the capital
city, has a number of beautiful spots. They are the Ward’s Lake, the Phan
Nonglait Park, the expensive Polo Grounds, the Elephant Falls, the Shillong
Peak over looking the city. Umiam, lies 17 km away from Shillong and has
been developed into a popular tourist centre in the state. Shillong Peak, an
ideal picnic spot rises 1960 metres above the sea level and is 10 km from the
city. Sohra, 56 km from Shillong, is noted for its heavy rainfall. It is 1,300 metres
above sea-level. Mawsynram, is situated on the South West of Shillong by the
side of Shillong-Mawphlang-Balat road. It closely rivals Sohra in annual rainfall.