State : Meghalaya, in the north east of India.Best time to Travel : September to May.
The Orchids of Meghalaya
Meghalaya is one state in India, which houses around 300 of 1,250 orchids available in India. Orchids are highly valued for their amazing range of variation and long lasting flowers. They form a very observable element of the vegetation, available in Meghalaya. The orchids of Meghalaya have distributions extending upto Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, China on one hand and Burma, Malaya, Thailand on the other. Few species are only confined to Meghalaya. The awesome Orchids of Meghalaya are colourful and striking. Each of them have their own beauty and are distinctively arresting, something very rare to find in the plains of India.
The Major Stores of Orchid
In Cherrapunji, the two forests - Mawsmai and Mawmluh inhabits the highest number of orchid species in the whole region. Sohrarim is another forest on the way to Cherrapunji which is the paradise of the botanists.
We Need to Preserve Them
Since long ago, the hills of Meghalaya have been the wealthy collection centres of many celebrated botanists and horticultural plant-collectors. This has led to the scarcity of some of the ornamental species, which are nearing extinction.
Conservation of orchids is now a matter of global concern. There is urgent requirement to maintain orchid sanctuaries and special efforts must be made to protect and preserve the 'sacred orchid forests' of Meghalaya, hitherto preserved by religious sanction alone. 'Orchid banks' can be created in orchidaria or in forest nurseries by bringing the endangered species from their natural habitat and displaying them for the avid public.
