By Debanjali Rakshit
Meghalaya has embraced a new and evocative identity for its tourism sector, ‘Symphony
in the Mist.’ This new brand was announced as Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
concluded a two-day official visit to the state. It captures the very essence of the scenery
and culture of Meghalaya. This initiative is a key effort under the Rs 233 crore
Integrated Development programme, which is being implemented to transform the
Sohra (Cherrapunjee) tourism circuit to a world-class eco-tourism destination under the
Prime Minister’s PM-DevINE programme.
The “Symphony in the Mist” brand represents the distinctive mist-covered hills of
Meghalaya, its waterfalls, forests, and living root bridges, while reflecting the musical
harmony associated with the traditions of the indigenous tribes of the region. The
concept invites visitors to take on a multi-perspective experience, which transverses
nature’s mystique and the deeply rooted culture of Meghalaya.
The inauguration of this brand coincided with the foundation stone-laying ceremony for
a major tourism project in Sohra, attended by more than 2,000 persons. The key
features that the project will include are a Sohra Experience Centre, lookouts for famed
sights like Nohkalikai Falls and the Seven Sisters Falls precinct, eco-parks (including
Mawshmai), cave precincts, and adventure trails, with all locations designed for a
lasting experience or extended stay rather than a stop-through.
A key feature of this plan is community empowerment, including guides, transporters,
artisans, and entrepreneurs from the region as the foundation of the sustainable model
for the tourism project, creating community wealth from tourism development.
Economic estimates related to the initiative indicate significant potential for upliftment,
with income expected to increase as much as six times for those operating in the tourism
ecosystem. Finally, a regional campus of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs is to be
built in the state located near the tourism project, representing a major investment and
hoping to increase educational and professional pathways locally.
The joint visit by Scindia and the unveiling of “Symphony in the Mist” fits into the
national agenda to speed up growth in the Northeastern states, by putting Meghalaya’s
distinctive natural and cultural resources on display, and they hope to construct a
tourism product that is enticing and competitive while being climate-aware and socially
sensitive.
For tourists, Meghalaya’s new brand promises to call attention to awe-inspiring scenery,
meaningful cultural interactions, and a serenely relaxed climate cultivated through
sustainable practices. It is to affirmatively invite to experience a land where each misty
morning and each spectacular waterfall tells a story of the balance between nature and
humanity.