Meghalaya’s Kongthong Preserves The Melodious Heritage
Kongthong’s melodious whistles echo the harmony of the State’s diverse traditions and the serenity of our landscapes, CM Conrad K Sangma said.
NEW DELHI, Sep 28 (The CONNECT)- Kongthong, the enchanting whistling village nestled in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Best Tourism Village (Bronze)’ award at the National Tourism Awards 2023 by the Union Ministry of Tourism.
Kongthong has earned nickname of being the whistling village as the people there whistle in unique tunes to communicate.
Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma said, this recognition is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty that Meghalaya has to offer. Kongthong’s melodious whistles echo the harmony of the State’s diverse traditions and the serenity of our landscapes.
He said the government’s goal is to transform Meghalaya into India’s most preferred tourist destination. “We now have one of the most attractive Homestay Schemes in the country, providing a subsidy of up to 7 lakh rupees per homestay. About 300 homestays were sanctioned in the last year.
Dr. Vijay Kumar, Commissioner & Secretary, Tourism Department, remarked “Kongthong, the whistling village in Meghalaya, stands as a harmonious testament to the rich cultural tapestry of our nation.
The Union Tourism Ministry has long been committed to promoting sustainable and culturally enriching tourism experiences across the country. In line with the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and the Goa Roadmap for Tourism, the ministry unveiled the Travel for LiFE program on World Tourism Day 2023.
Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State of Tourism and Defence, V. Vidhyavathi, Secretary (Tourism); Leena Nandan, Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism were present at the awards event.
