The Meghalaya Plateau: Landscapes in the Abode of the Clouds

Abstract

The Meghalaya Plateau is a distinct horst located on the northeastern flank of Peninsular India. It is one of the rainiest, most tectonically active areas in the world and hosts the richest types of karst phenomena in India. The combination of its regional uplift, associated river incision, headward erosion and chemical weathering in varied lithology, has facilitated the development of diverse landforms. This has resulted in deep valleys with magnificent waterfalls contrasting with mature undulating hills and karst topography over short distances. Meghalaya is a region of great scenic beauty and is an interesting tourist destination, in addition to its importance as an area for investigating the interaction between climate, tectonics and erosion.