Music villages, coffee trails, and climate-smart tourism

Shillong, April 20: Imagine a Music village and cultural experience hub nestled in Wahkhen, a Living Root Bridges Museum with scenic hiking trails in Wahlyngkhat, or a Rain and Bamboo Interpretation Centre coming up in the misty Mawsynram Circuit. Add to that a Silk Experiential Centre in Umden, a Coffee Experience at Marngar, and a heritage Indigenous Cultural Centre in Shillong.

All this is coming up in Meghalaya’s ambitious new project —the Integrated Eco-tourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development Project. Backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and executed by the Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, the project promises to blend ecological preservation with climate-smart agriculture and community-led tourism.

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The ADB has cleared the concept of the $80million Integrated Eco-tourism and Sustainable Agribased Livelihood Development Project in Meghalaya and is scheduled to be cleared this year only. Tenders have been floated for the various activities.

The ADB says the project aims to enhance economic development and livelihood opportunities for the people of Meghalaya by integrating nature-based tourism with climate-smart agricultural practices. It will adopt a cluster-based approach, focusing on key tourism destinations with significant natural and cultural attributes.

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The project will include (i) the Development of nature-based tourism infrastructure and services and (ii) the Enhancement of high-value climate-smart agriculture value chains, (iii) strengthening of community capacities and governance, and (iv)
Improvement of sustainable financing mechanisms of the state.

“By linking climate-smart agriculture with tourism, the project will diversify economic opportunities for local beneficiaries beyond immediate tourism services. This integrated approach ensures that the benefits of tourism and agriculture are maximised through coordinated efforts, leading to more sustainable and impactful outcomes,” the Bank says.

To cite an example, the proposed Music village project for Wahkhen Village, in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, aims to establish a comprehensive cultural tourism ecosystem by integrating the region’s indigenous musical heritage with sustainable infrastructure development.

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Despite its rich Khasi musical traditions and craftsmanship, Wahkhen’s tourism potential remains largely untapped, with the Mawryngkheng Bamboo Trek being the primary attraction. The project addresses critical gaps such as the absence of
structured cultural experiences, inadequate tourism infrastructure, and poor connectivity to adjacent heritage villages. Key components include the development of a Traditional Music school featuring workshop areas, training facilities, halls, performance spaces and associated amenities; enhancement of the village square as a structured tourist arrival hub; and infrastructure upgrades to approach roads,” the Bank says.

Similarly the Rain and Bamboo Interpretation Center and related works at Mawsynram-Dogrum will create eco-friendly and sustainable tourism infrastructure for promoting cultural & natural heritage of Mawsynram region also income generating opportunities for the local youth to address the issue of rural unemployment anf distress urban migration.

The development of the Marngar Coffee Experiential Centre will promote coffee tourism in the destination. It will create income-generating opportunities for the local youth to address the issue of rural unemployment and distress urban migration.

Also Read: Paddle Power: Williamnagar’s first Kayaking drive makes a big splash

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