Photographer Steve McCurry's India in pictures

Meghalaya, one of the Seven Sisters states in the northeast region of India, is not only geographically beautiful, but also is a place full of powerful legends. Have you heard of the legend of Thlen** or the blood-sucking serpent There are some who believe it and some who don&rsquot calling it an evil conspiracy of a psychopath. We will never know for sure.

Let's turn from the supernatural to the geography of the region, the people who live here. Meghalaya is vibrant in its own way, the attire&mdashpeculiar to the place, the locals&rsquo love for betel-nut (locally known as kwai), houses with high flying and symbolic red flag with a rooster on it which signifies that the family is still Seng Khasi or Khasi Hindu (note Meghalaya is predominantly a Christian state), stories about Lum Symper or Living Hill (the Khasi Hindus perform their rituals there in order to &ldquomake the hill come to life&rdquo), the locals&rsquo love for archery, the rock formations, ritualistic monoliths, famous waterfall with a tragic story. &nbspMeghalaya&mdashthe abode of clouds (in Sanskrit), is not just about the Asia&rsquos cleanest village or the state&rsquos reputation as a matrilineal society or the highly debated Uranium mining. You have to travel across the state to understand what Meghalaya is about. 

This pictorial essay is to help you plan.

(** Thlen is a legendary blood-sucking serpent that has a master. It&rsquos on the lines of black magic where the Thlen demands blood sacrifices in order to fulfil the wishes of the believers.)