35-606: Nartiang Durga Temple is a 600-year-old temple located in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya in northeastern India. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. The Hindus in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya believes that this temple is the permanent abode of Goddess Durga . The temple draws a large number of pilgrims from all over
70-403: A Geographical Indication tag for it. United Jaintia Hills district was divided into five blocks. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile district, West Jaintia Hills is divided into three blocks: Since it is land locked region and lack of railways and airport, the only means of transportation is roadways. The main highway which runs through the district is NH 40 and NH 44 . The district has
105-448: A diverse range of reptiles , with as much as 56 species of known snakes, in addition to several lizards and turtles. The Tokay Gecko , among the largest geckos in the world, are here, as are three different kinds of monitor lizards , all of them to be protected since 1972, and a new species of skink ( sphenomorphus apalpebratus ) was discovered in the forests as late as 2013. Both Brahminy Blind snake and Copperhead Rat Head are among
140-438: A diverse range of fish species. 152 known species has been observed as of 2017. Two types of mahseer ( neolissochilus and tor ) are fished for sport. The subtropical forests are home to 110 species of mammals, none of which are endemic. By far, most of these species comprise smaller mammals, in particular bats and small carnivores, and the population of large mammals is comparatively sparse. The Western hoolock gibbons in
175-599: A few species are threatened or near threatened on a global scale. Of these, two kinds of vultures, the Oriental White-backed Vulture and the Slender-billed Vulture , are both in need of extra protection as critically endangered species near extinction. The Meghalaya forests are not only important as a wildlife refuge for birds, it is also important to migratory birds on their long-distance flights. The subtropical forests presents
210-469: A good indicator species of clean waters, and Meghalaya's waterways are home to 35 species, with a lot of paludomus -snails in the hill streams. Several types of fresh water snails are part of the hill tribes diet, including the large bellamya bengalensis snails. Situated between the mighty Brahmaputra in the north and the Barak River to the south, Meghalaya's many waterways are also home to
245-421: A total of 712.74 km2 reserved forest and 12.39 km2 protected forest. Some of the reserved forest is used by locals for voluntary wildlife reserves, in particular to help save the threatened Hoolock Gibbons . Other parts of the reserved forest are maintained as wildlife corridors , for elephants for example, and to safeguard against damaging habitat fragmentation . The nature and wildlife of Meghalaya, and
280-477: A total population of 272,185, of which 134,406 are males and 135,946 are females. The density of population is 159.69 per km . Scheduled Tribes are 257,941 which is 94.76% of the population. Languages of West Jaintia Hills district (2011) At the time of the 2011 census, 78.17% of the population spoke Pnar , 12.55% War and 6.64% Khasi as their first language. The common dialect in West Jaintia hills
315-525: Is Pnar, closely related to Khasi. Other dialects include Khynriam in the western part of district and War in the southern part of the district. The places of interest in Jaintia hills include the below: Although West Jaintia Hills is not known as an education hub. Good schools and colleges do exist in Jowai, Khliehriat and Nongtalang . Prominent Colleges in West Jaintia hills include Jowai Polytechnic which
350-472: Is an ecoregion of Northeast India . The ecoregion covers an area of 41,700 square kilometers (16,100 sq mi), and despite its name, comprise not only the state of Meghalaya , but also parts of southern Assam , and a tiny bit of Nagaland around Dimapur and adjacent Bangladesh . It also contains many other habitats than subtropical forests, but the montane subtropical forests found in Meghalaya
385-732: Is an AICTE recognised college and the only Nursing School in the district is Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital School Of Nursing, there are other colleges too namely Thomas Jones Synod College , Nongtalang College and Kiang Nangbah Govt. College Jowai which offers degree courses in arts and science. Jowai has good schools too for Secondary and Higher Secondary level, some of the well known schools in Jowai are K.J.P Synod Mihngi Higher Secondary School , St Mary Mazzarello Girls Higher Secondary School , North Liberty Higher Secondary School etc. 25°27′N 92°12′E / 25.450°N 92.200°E / 25.450; 92.200 Meghalaya subtropical forests The Meghalaya subtropical forests
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#1732787660918420-624: Is an administrative District in the state of Meghalaya in India . The united district (Jaintia Hills District) was created on 22 February 1972 and occupied an area of 3819 km . It had a population of 272,185 (as of 2011). The district is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests eco-region. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jaintia Hills District into East and West Jaintia Hills Districts, West Jaintia Hills District came into existence on 31 July 2012 with its headquarters at Jowai . Jowai
455-560: Is an important biome , and was once much more widespread in the region, and for these reasons chosen as the most suitable name. The scientific designation is IM0126. The Meghalaya subtropical forests are part of the larger Indo-Burma biological hotspot with many endemic species not found anywhere else in the world. Together with the Western Ghats , Northeast India are the only two regions of India endowed with rainforest. For these and other reasons, protection and conservation of
490-432: Is part of the larger Indo-Burma biological hotspot with many endemic species not found anywhere else in the world. Together with the Western Ghats , Northeast India are the only two regions of India, endowed with rainforest. For these, and other, reasons, protection and conservation of the Meghalaya subtropical forests are important on a local, national, regional and even global level. As seen in other rainforests of
525-498: Is the Shiva temple where one can see the remains of ancient cannons from the past inside the temple. At present there lies a Hindu temple in this vicinity and the priests who practice there are direct descendants of the original priests that came from Jaintiapur. In 2017, the union minister Kiren Rijiju said that the temple will be declared as a heritage site. West Jaintia Hills district West Jaintia Hills (Pron: ˈʤeɪnˌtɪə)
560-476: Is the host of all the heads of important governmental offices and establishments, educational institutions, hospitals, banking institutions, etc. The total area of the district is 1693 km . The district comprises one Civil Sub-Division Viz. Amlarem Civil Sub-Division and three Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&;RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with
595-554: Is the most diverse range of amphibians in North-east India, with a total of 33 recorded species living here. The two frog species Shillong bush frog and Khasi Hill toad are endemic, and both rare and threatened. Molluscs thrive in the moist conditions and are abundant throughout, both on land and in the water, As much as 223 species has been recorded by science, and many of the land-dwelling molluscs are endemic to Meghalaya. Fresh water molluscs are generally considered
630-642: The Jaintia Hills. Hence the Goddess is known as Jainteshwari. The Jaintia king Jaso Manik (1606–1641) had married Lakshmi Narayana, the daughter of the Hindu Koch king Nara Narayana. It is believed that it was Lakshmi Narayana who had influenced the Jaintia Royalty to embrace Hinduism . King Dhan Manik had made Nartiang the summer capital of the Jaintia Kingdom about 600 years ago. One night,
665-525: The Meghalaya subtropical forests are important on a local, national, regional and even global level. The ecoregion is one of the most species-rich areas in India, with a rich diversity of birds, mammals, and plants in particular. The lowlands holds mostly tropical forests, while the hills and mountains, that comprise most of the area, are covered in grasslands and several distinct types of forest habitats, including subtropical moist broadleaf forests in some of
700-595: The coal mining sites are now situated in the East Jaintia Hills district. Lakadong Turmeric is a type of turmeric variety found in the West Jaintia hills district. It is one of the world’s finest turmeric varieties with the highest curcumin content of 7-9 % in comparison to 3% or less in other turmeric varieties. It has been identified under the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative of Indian government. The State of Meghalaya has also applied for
735-473: The conventional way as in the plains, but in a unique way, a blend of Hindu and ancient Khasi traditions. The local chieftain or Syiem is considered the chief patron of the temple. Even today, during Durga Puja, the Syiem sacrifices goats. Durga Puja is the most important festival of this temple. During Durga Puja, a banana plant is dressed up and worshipped as the Goddess. At the end of the four-day festivities,
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#1732787660918770-430: The corpse of Sati Devi and 51 body parts of the corpse fell in the path He had wandered. Each temple has shrines for both Shakti as well as the corresponding male energy counterpart Kalabhairava . The "Shakti" of Nartiang Devi shrine is addressed as 'Jayanti' and the "Kalabhairava" as 'Kamadishwar'. It is believed that Sati Devi's left thigh had fallen there. Devi's left thigh is believed to have fallen at Nartiang in
805-470: The country on occasion of Durga Puja . The Shakti of Nartiang Devi shrine is worshipped as Jayanti and the Bhairava as Kamadishwar. The Nartiang Devi Temple is believed to be a Shakti Peetha , one of the most revered shrines of Shaktism as Shakti Peethas are Holy abodes of Parashakti . The Shakti Peethas have originated from the mythology of Daksha yagna and Sati's self immolation Shiva carried
840-410: The following boundaries: Although the mainstay of the district is agriculture, due to the abundance of limestone , plenty of cement factories have been set up in the district (now East Jaintia Hills). More are set to come up. Coal mining at sites like Lad Rymbai ( East Jaintia Hills district ) is also one of the major activities. Coal mined here is mostly exported to Bangladesh and Assam . Most of
875-459: The forest where medicinal and other valued plants are grown and harvested sustainably, and they present a very high biodiversity. In Meghalaya these sacred groves are known as Law Kyntang or Law Lyngdoh . The montane ecoregion is home to a diverse mix of birds, with a total of 659 species recorded as of 2017. Some of the birds living here are endemic to the Indo-Burma ecoregion , and quite
910-909: The forests of Meghalaya are globally endangered, and also threatened in this particular habitat, but they have a special place among the local tribes who cherish their song. Other large mammals important to conservation here includes the tiger ( Panthera tigris ), clouded leopard ( Pardofelis nebulosa ), Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), dhole or Asiatic wild dog ( Cuon alpinus ), sun bear ( Ursus malayanus ), sloth bear ( Melursus ursinus ), smooth-coated otter ( Lutrogale perspicillata ), Indian civet ( Viverra zibetha ), Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ), Indian pangolin ( Manis crassicaudata ), Assamese macaque ( Macaca assamensis ), bear macaque ( Macaca arctoides ), and capped leaf monkey ( Semnopithecus pileatus ). The ecoregion has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, but they are all of relatively small size. In addition, Meghalaya holds
945-628: The goddess appeared to him in a dream and informed him of the significance of the place and asked him to build a temple in Her honour. Following this, the Jainteshwari temple in Nartiang was established. The strategic location of the temple and presence of weapons like cannons suggests that the temple must have been part of a fort of the Jaintia Kings. The rites at the temple are not performed
980-581: The montane areas above 1,000 metres. The region is one of the wettest areas in the world, with some places, notably Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in the south of Meghalaya, receiving up to eleven meters of rain in a year. The Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests ecoregion lies to the north, the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests ecoregion lies to the east, and the Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests ecoregion lies to
1015-505: The montane rainforests of the ecoregion in particular, is of interest to the tourist industry in the area, and to cater for these interests, an Eco Park has been created in Cherrapunjee . Several waterfalls and caves of the region are also of interest to nature loving tourists. The state of Meghalaya maintains a total of three botanical gardens , all three are in the capital of Shillong . The Meghalaya subtropical forest ecoregion
1050-583: The more common snakes encountered in the forests, but there are several venomous and deadly serpents too, such as the Green Pit viper and the King Cobra , the longest venomous snake in the world. Many of the snake species here are elusive (and rare), such as the Cherrapunji keelback , Khasi keelback or Khasi earth snake . The damp and moist environment of the Meghalaya forests also supports what
1085-515: The plant is ceremoniously immersed in the Myntdu River. A gun salute is also given to the Goddess on the occasion. The Central Puja Committee, the official representative of the Hindu community in Meghalaya, is the caretaker of the temple. It finances a major part of the daily expenses incurred by the temple and carries out development activities in the temple premises. It is also responsible for
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1120-584: The popularisation of the Durga Puja conducted in this ancient temple. Durga puja is done every autumn in a unique way with the fusion of the culture of Bengal and that of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills . In conformity of the Khasi custom of not using figurine images of Gods and Goddesses, the image of Durga is represented by a plantain trunk decked with marigold flowers. Close by, within walking distance,
1155-849: The state, of which 1,236 are endemic . In the later half of the 1800s, Joseph Dalton Hooker , a British botanist and explorer, made a huge taxonomic collection for the Kew Herbarium from Khasi and Jaintia Hills and remarked the place as one of the richest biodiversity spots in India, perhaps in all of Asia as well. Meghalaya state is rich in medicinal plant species, but the natural occurrence of most medicinal plants has decreased due to habitat loss. A total of 131 RET (Rare, Endemic and Threatened) medicinal plant species, including 36 endemic and 113 species under different threat categories, are found within Meghalaya. As in other rural areas of India, Meghalaya villages have an ancient tradition of nurturing sacred groves . These are sacred spots within
1190-462: The west and south in Bangladesh . The elevated and damp forest ecoregion is a center of diversity for the tree genera Magnolia and Michelia , and the families Elaeocarpaceae and Elaeagnaceae . Over 320 species of orchids are native to Meghalaya. The endemic pitcher plant ( Nepenthes khasiana ) is now an endangered species. About 3,128 flowering plant species have been reported from
1225-474: The world, deforestation occurs on an alarming scale in Meghalaya too, with accelerated clearcutting for agriculture, industry, mining and infrastructure projects since the 1990s. Apart from the obvious loss of primary forest , this has also caused local problems with soil erosion and fragmentation of habitats . The clearcut areas in Meghalaya are sometimes allowed to regrow, but the second-growth forests are much less species-rich (both flora and fauna), than
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