Guwahati: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has announced a range of premium tourism projects designed to position the state as a leading destination for culture-driven travel while also boosting jobs and supporting the local economy.
One of the most ambitious proposals is the construction of landmark Monolith Towers at New Shillong in the Mawkhanu locality. The planned height of 123 metres would make the structure the second tallest in India, following the Statue of Unity.
According to the Chief Minister, the towers are envisioned as a contemporary attraction equipped with lifts, dining spaces, and a circular glass viewing deck at the summit, offering sweeping views of the surrounding hills.
Sangma compared the vision of the project to internationally recognised structures like the Burj Khalifa, noting that it will feature cutting-edge illumination systems. The plan includes regular laser-based light displays narrating Meghalaya’s history, traditions, and cultural heritage.
He stated that advanced visual technology will be used to provide visitors with an immersive cultural showcase through light and digital storytelling.
The larger Monolith Tower Complex has been conceptualised by INI Design Studio and will cover nearly 214 acres. The project is designed as an integrated space combining tourism, culture, and environmental elements, drawing inspiration from the traditional Khasi and Jaintia monoliths that represent ancestral roots.
Official plans indicate that the site will house five themed exhibition zones highlighting key aspects of the state’s identity, including rainfall, cave systems, living root bridges, indigenous communities, and biodiversity. A 72-metre sky bridge linking the two towers, elevated restaurants, and visitor amenities are also part of the blueprint.
The Chief Minister said this development forms part of a wider strategy to ease traffic pressure in Shillong while expanding tourism infrastructure to newer areas.
Work is also progressing on several other initiatives. These include a Rs 51-crore skywalk and tourism centre at Mawkdok, promoted as the longest cantilever structure in the country, a Rs 30-crore Tribal Heritage Experience Centre at Mandalgre, an eco-tourism resort at Sakaladuma, and a Rain and Bamboo Museum in Mawsynram.
He further revealed that under the PM-DevINE programme, Meghalaya has obtained Rs 233 crore to strengthen tourism facilities in Sohra. The funding will support the development of an experiential complex featuring an amphitheatre and related infrastructure.
Highlighting tourism as a key economic driver, Sangma explained that the government is pursuing an integrated model that balances major infrastructure projects with community participation.
He said tourism growth benefits a broad network that includes residents, small business owners, craftsmen, and farmers. Nearly 1,000 homestays have already been set up across Meghalaya, and the administration aims to increase that number to 3,000 in the coming years.
As an example, he mentioned a local business owner running a six-room homestay in Wari Chora, whose earnings have risen considerably with government-backed tourism support.
Sangma also spoke about assistance being extended to musicians through state-level grassroots programmes. Artists are being given paid performance opportunities, and some music groups are now appearing at national venues such as Hard Rock Cafe outlets across the country.
He reaffirmed that the long-term objective is to develop an environmentally responsible tourism framework that safeguards cultural traditions while generating employment and driving economic progress throughout Meghalaya.