Cherrapunji

The original name for this town was Sohra, which was pronounced "Churra" by the British. This name

eventually evolved into the current name, Cherrapunji. The word "cherrapunji" means 'land of oranges'.

Despite perennial rainfall, Cherrapunji faces an acute water shortage and the inhabitants often have to

trek for miles to obtain potable water.Irrigation is also hampered due to excessive rain washing away the

topsoil as a result of human encroachment into the forests. The Meghalaya state government has renamed

Cherrapunjee back to its original name, "Sohra". There is a monument to David Scott (British

Administrator in NE India, 1802–31) in the Cherrapunji cemetery. The history of the Khasis – the

inhabitants of Cherrapunji – may be traced from the early part of the 16th century. Between the 16th and

18th centuries these people were ruled by the syiems (rajas or chiefs) of Khyrtim in the Khasi hills. The

Khasi hills came under British authority in 1883 with the submission of the last of the important syiems,

Tirot Singh.
The main pivot on which the entire superstructure of Khasi society rests is the matriarchal system.