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Name of state
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Meghalaya
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General information
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Meghalaya is a northeastern Indian state. The neighboring country of the state is Bangladesh. Shillong is the capital of the state. Meghalaya is a Sanskrit word which means ‘The Adobe of Clouds’. It is a hilly state with forests covering one third of its landscape. Until 1972 when Meghalaya was announced a state of its own, Meghalaya was part of Assam. The people of Meghalaya follow a unique culture, matrilineal culture, in which the family’s youngest daughter inherits the property of the family and takes care of the old parents and unmarried siblings. The region has a moderate humid climate but it experiences high rainfall and is therefore the wettest state in the country. The official language of the state is Garo and Khasi. English is also widely spoken here.
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Population
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2,306,069 (As of 2001)
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Five of the largest cities
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Shillong, Tura, Mawlai, Nongthymmai, Pynthorumkhrah
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Official language
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Garo, Khasi
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Major religions and percentages
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Hindus (13.27%), Muslims (4.28%), Christians (70.25%), Others (12.19%) (As of 2001)
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