The mystery behind the hundreds of monoliths in Meghalaya

Nartiang is a small village, 65 km from Shillong. Today, it’s just a dot on the map but it has a rich history. Nartiang used to be the summer capital of the local Jaintia kings.

What sets it apart, is a large monolith park, located just off the main street. This park is one of its kind. The tallest monolith here is over 26 feet tall.

So what’s the story behind these strange stones? How did they get here? And what do they signify?.

Monoliths in Meghalaya are a way to pay tribute to a person or commemorate an important event.

The 26-foot tall monolith was erected by U Mar Phalyngki. He was a lieutenant and the monolith commemorated a battle victory. The monoliths here date back to 1500 to 1835 Arguably, this is the largest collection of monoliths in a single place. The standing monoliths are dedicated to male ancestors whereas the flat ones are dedicated to the women.

A winding path takes you around the looming monoliths, which may seem spooky but are also very captivating.

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