The name means "the abode of clouds" in Sanskrit.
Meghalaya was previously part of Assam, but on 21 January 1972, the districts of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia hills became the new state of Meghalaya.
The state is the wettest region of India, recording an average of 12,000 mm (470 in) of rain a year.
Meghalaya has predominantly an agrarian economy with a significant commercial forestry industry.