About
8 SISTER STATES
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Arunachal Pradesh, translating to “the land of dawn-lit mountains”, lies on the extreme Northeastern end of India. It shares its state border with Assam, and international borders with Bhutan & Myanmar. With Itanagar as its capital, Arunachal Pradesh is known for 1962 Sino-Indian war. Arunachal Pradesh is one of the largest of the Seven Sister States of Northeast India.
ASSAM
Assam lies in the eastern Himalayas, with the Brahmaputra, Barak River valleys. It is bordered by Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, West Bengal & international border of Bangladesh and Bhutan. Assam is connected via Siliguri to the rest of India. The state is famous for Assam tea and Assam silk. The first oil drilling in Asia was also established in Assam. Assam wildlife is famous for the one-horned Indian rhinoceros, and others like buffalo, pygmy hog, tiger, Asiatic birds & Asian elephants, found in Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park. Assam receives more rainfall during the monsoons which fills up the Brahmaputra River.
MANIPUR
Manipur shares its borders with Nagaland Mizoram, Assam, and international border with Myanmar. Imphal is the capital of Manipur. The majority belong to the Meitei group, along with other groups like the Pangals/Pangans (Manipuri Muslims), Naga tribes, and Kuki/Zo. The Kingdom of Manipur was one of the princely states during the earlier years. Hinduism is the majority religion in the state, followed by Christianity, Islam, Sanamahism, and Judaism. Manipur primarily has an agriculture economy with sufficient hydroelectric power capacity. Manipur is famous for introducing polo to Europeans.
MEGHALAYA
Meghalaya means “the abode of clouds”. Meghalaya shares its borders with Bangladesh and Assam. Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It is famously known as the “Scotland of the East”. Meghalaya’s majority fall into Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes. English is the official language of the state. Meghalaya follows the matrilineal system, where lineage & inheritance are from women and the daughter is the one who inherits all wealth since she looks after her parents. Meghalaya is the wettest region of India and practices agriculture, with potatoes, rice, maize, pineapples, bananas, papayas, and spices as its primary produce. Mawmluh cave came into limelight some time back for fossils.
MIZORAM
Mizoram has Aizawl as its capital city. Mizoram which means “land of the Mizos”, shares its borders with Tripura, Assam, Manipur and its international border with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mizoram is the second least populous state in the country, with people from diverse tribal origins calling it home. Mizoram has the highest concentration of tribes with a Christian majority, with high literacy rate and the population practices agriculture & land cultivation as their primary sources of income.
NAGALAND
Nagaland shares its borders with the state of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Myanmar and Manipur. The state has Kohima as its capital, and Dimapur is its largest city. It is one of the smallest states in India, consisting 16 major tribes, namely – Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Kachari, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchunger and Zeme-Liangmai (Zeliang), each distinct with own character, customs, language and dress codes. English is the official language of Nagaland and the majority follows the Christian faith. Agriculture is the most popular occupation with rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes being some of the common produce. Nagaland is mountainous to a larger extent.
SIKKIM
Sikkim shares its borders with Tibet, Bhutan & West Bengal, and lies close to the Siliguri corridor. Sikkim is the least populated and second smallest among all Indian states. Sikkim is famous for its biodiversity and the highest peak in India, Kangchenjunga (3rd highest on Earth). Sikkim’s capital is Gangtok. Sikkim was a princely state with a very high literacy rate and per capita income. Sikkim is multiethnic and multilingual with English, Nepali, Sikkimese and Lepcha languages (few more Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa and Tamang). The religions practiced are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Sikkim has a large agriculture and tourism sector with high cardamom and spice production.
TRIPURA
Tripura is the third smallest state in the country and shares its borders with Bangladesh, Assam and Mizoram. Earlier, it was an independent princely state under the British Empire. One major highway connects Tripura to India. Agartala is the capital of Tripura. The state is acclaimed to be one of the most literate states in India and is famous for its archaeological sites Unakoti, Pilak & Devtamura.