Meghalaya One Of The Happiest Places In India
Despite ranking second in poverty, Meghalaya has been named the 10th happiest state in India by HappyPlus Consulting. Discover how natural beauty, community spirit, and traditional culture contribute to joy in this charming hill state—with a touch of British humour.
Once again Meghalaya has shown us that money cannot buy happiness always.
By all accounts, Meghalaya ought to be moaning into its morning tea. After all, the state ranks second in India’s poverty index—a dubious honour if there ever was one. But no, the good folk of Meghalaya have given poverty the old heave-ho and secured themselves a sprightly 10th place on the Indian Happiness Index. That’s right—while their wallets might be a tad threadbare, their hearts are evidently full to the brim.
According to the latest report by HappyPlus Consulting—a jolly band of psychologists and data crunchers based in Mumbai—the people of Meghalaya are among the happiest in the country.
Now, let’s not be too surprised. Meghalaya isn’t called the “abode of clouds” for nothing. With waterfalls cascading down like they’ve got somewhere important to be, hills that look like a watercolour painting left out in the rain, and enough greenery to make even a Amazon blush, the state’s natural beauty is enough to lift anyone’s spirits. Add to that a deep respect for traditional artistry and culture, and you’ve got a heady cocktail of contentment.
The survey, which ranks states based on life satisfaction, emotional well-being, freedom of choice, and whether or not you feel your local councillor is pinching the stationery, crowned Himachal Pradesh as the happiest of the lot. Another hill state. Coincidence? I think not.
Hill folk, it seems, have cracked the code. Perhaps it’s the mountain air, or the lack of incessant honking. “People here love to live within nature and respect it,” the report observes, with the kind of poetic earnestness you’d expect from a yoga retreat brochure. It’s all very zen.
Nipping closely at Himachal’s heels is Mizoram, which seems to be positively glowing with community spirit and high literacy. It’s hard to be miserable when everyone around you is reading books and giving you a cheery wave.
In third place, we have the Andaman & Nicobar Islands—essentially, paradise with a PIN code. Then there’s Punjab, where joy seems to bubble up between the bhangra beats and butter chicken. Gujarat follows suit, buoyed by industry, heritage, and that “can-do” Gujarati knack for enterprise (and possibly, snacks).
Sikkim and Puducherry float in next, with their serenity and laid-back charm—Sikkim all snow-capped and meditative, and Puducherry carrying that oh-so-French nonchalance like a beret tilted just so.
Arunachal Pradesh struts in at number eight, lush and culturally rich, followed by Kerala—where the literacy’s high, the healthcare’s top-notch, and even the coconuts seem a bit smug about it.
And there, rounding out the top ten, is Meghalaya. Not the wealthiest, nor the flashiest, but content all the same. It’s as if the state has collectively decided to whistle a happy tune, and hang the rest.
Meanwhile, poor Uttar Pradesh is sulking at the bottom of the list, possibly wondering whether anyone noticed it slipped in late, trousers unpressed and shoelaces untied.
The folks at HappyPlus—clearly a cheerful bunch themselves—say that happiness is a cocktail of life satisfaction, emotional health, community bonds, and not feeling like you’ve been short-changed at every turn. They’re trying to spread this warm fuzziness around like marmalade on toast, using science and smiles.
So what can we learn from this? That perhaps joy doesn’t live in bank accounts, but in waterfalls, warm neighbours, and a shared love for nature. And that sometimes, being skint isn’t the end of the world—especially if you’ve got a view that knocks your socks off.
As for Meghalaya, it’s safe to say they’ve got happiness wrapped up in a snug little shawl and tucked away somewhere between the hills and the clouds. And isn’t that just the ticket?
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