Sacred Groves in Meghalaya
The sacred groves in Meghalaya are known as Law Lyngdoh, Law Niam and Law kyntang, depending on the places where they are located.
105 sacred groves have been documented in the state. Ryngkew, Basa, Labasa are some of the deities to whom these groves are dedicated.
Bamboo, Needle wood, Indian birch, White Pear, Royal Robe, Balsum of Peru, Phurse Champ, Lac tree and Plot’s Elm are among the most commonly found plant species in the sacred groves.
A number of perennial streams originate from 58 of these groves. Ancestral worship is traditionally performed in the sacred groves. In forested areas, the focus of worship is on ancient monolithic stones erected in memory of the departed elders.
List of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya
| Sl.No. | Sacred Grove Name | Sacred Grove Location | Area (Hectares) |
| District – East Garo Hills | |||
| 1 | Bora Miapara | Bora Miapara | 1 |
| 2 | Ganna Ram Rock | Megapgiri | 30 |
| 3 | Jongola | Jongola | 1 |
| 4 | Kimpra Hills | Risubakrapara | 20 |
| 5 | Konkal Hills | Risubakrapara | 10 |
| 6 | Miapara Rongadom | Miapara | 1 |
| 7 | Rautagiri | Rautagiri | 37 |
| 8 | Walchi Ruram Hills | Risubakrapara | 25 |
| District – East Khasi Hills | |||
| 9 | Diengkain | Wmwai | 400.0 |
| 10 | Diengliengbah | Rngiksheh | 0.50 |
| 11 | Ingkhrum | Cherrapunji | 0.25 |
| 12 | Ingkhrum | Cherrapunji | 0.25 |
| 13 | Kharai Law Lyngdoh | Nongkhieng | 150.0 |
| 14 | Khlaw Ram Jadong | Mawsmai | 50.0 |
| 15 | Kynsang | Mawlong | 150.0 |
| 16 | Law Adong | Mawsmai | 400 |
| 17 | Law Adong Laitryngkew | Laitryngkew | 20.00 |
| 18 | Law Adong, Khlieh Shnong | Cherrapunji | 90.0 |
| 19 | Law Blei Beh | Mawsmai | 120.0 |
| 20 | Law Dymmiew | Sohrarim | 200 |
| 21 | Law Kyntang, Khlieh Shnong | Cherrapunji | 90.0 |
| 22 | Law Lieng | Sohrarim | 20.0 |
| 23 | Law Lyngdoh | Mawphlong | 75.0 |
| 24 | Law Lyngdoh Lyting Lyngdoh | Lyntilew | 100.00 |
| 25 | Law Lyngdoh Mawshun | Mawshun | 100.00 |
| 26 | Law Lyngdoh, Smit | Nongkrem | 6.0 |
| 27 | Law Mawsaptur | Sohrarim | 50.0 |
| 28 | Law Nongshim | Mawmihthied | 5.0 |
| 29 | Law Suidnoh | Lait-Ryngew | 80.0 |
| 30 | Law-ar-Liang | Lait-Ryngew | 25.0 |
| 31 | Lawthymmal | Cherrapunji | 2.00 |
| 32 | Law–u-Niang | Lait-Ryngew | 10.0 |
| 33 | Lum Diengjri | Khada Snoing | 25.0 |
| 34 | Lum Shillong | Laitkor | 7.0 |
| 35 | Madan Jadu | Lait-Ryngew | 5.0 |
| 36 | Maw Kyrngah | Wmwai | 1200.00 |
| 37 | Mawlong Syiem | Mawsmai | 120.0 |
| 38 | Mawlot | Phyllut | 20.0 |
| 39 | Raid Shabong Law Adong | Wahpathew-urksew in Pynursla | 700.0 |
| 40 | Niangdoh | Wahlong | 0.0 |
| 41 | Mawmang | Khada Snoing | 15.0 |
| 42 | Mawryot | Wahlong | 40.0 |
| 43 | Mawsawa | Mawmluh | 50.0 |
| 44 | Mawthoh | Wmwai | 30.0 |
| 45 | Nongbri | Pyndeng-Nongbri | 5.0 |
| 46 | Pohsurok | Cherrapunji | 0.50 |
| 47 | Pom Shandy | Mawsmai | 80.0 |
| 48 | Rangbaksaw | Cherrapunji | 1 |
| 49 | Rilaw Khaiti | Wahlong | 35 |
| 50 | Swer | Lum Swer | 12 |
| 51 | Umkatait | Dieng Ksiar | 100 |
| 52 | Umthri | Nongduh | 80 |
| 53 | Umtong | Wmwai | 400 |
| 54 | Wahkhem | Khadar Blang | 10 |
| 55 | Wanning Sawkpoh | Shngimawlein | 7 |
| 56 | Lum Shyllong | Laitkor | 7 |
| 57 | Rijaw | Wahlong | 35 |
| 58 | Diengliengbah | Rngiksheh | 0.50 |
| District – Jaintia Hills | |||
| 59 | Blai Law | Raliang | 50.0 |
| 60 | Dpepat Myndihati | Sutnga | 15.0 |
| 61 | Ka Pun Lyngdoh | Raliang | 15.0 |
| 62 | Khlaw Blai | Dien Shynrum | 15.0 |
| 63 | Khlaw Byrsan | Raliang | 50.0 |
| 64 | Khloo Lyndoh | Jowai | 15.0 |
| 65 | Khloo Paiu Ram Pyrthai | Jowai | 150.0 |
| 66 | Law Kyntang | Shanpung | 400.0 |
| 67 | Lawianlong | Jowai | 12.0 |
| 68 | Lumtiniang Mokaiaw | Syndai | 25.0 |
| 69 | Mokhain | Jowai | 45.0 |
| 70 | Poh Lyndoh | Shanpung | 30.0 |
| 71 | Poh Moorang | Raliang | 20.0 |
| 72 | Poh Puja Ko Patti | Raliang | 4.0 |
| 73 | Trepale Jowai | Jowai | 70.0 |
| District – Ri Bhoi | |||
| 74 | Nong Lyndoh, Nongkhrai | Nongpoh | 90 |
| 75 | Pahamodem | Umsaw Nongkhrai | 900 |
| 76 | Sohpethneng | Nongpoh | 90 |
| District – West Garo Hills | |||
| 77 | Angalgiri | – | 20.0 |
| 78 | Asigiri | – | 4.0 |
| 79 | Damalgiri | – | 50.0 |
| 80 | Daronggiri | – | 25.0 |
| 81 | Goragiri | – | 25.0 |
| 82 | Jelbongpara | – | 20.0 |
| 83 | Jhanjipara | – | 7.0 |
| 84 | Sadolpara | – | 30.0 |
| District – West Khasi Hills | |||
| 85 | Boro Miaparara-Rayggadam | Bora Miapara | 1 |
| 86 | Ganna Ram-ram Rock | Bokma Megap giri | 30 |
| 87 | Jongola Ranggadam | Jongala | 1 |
| 88 | Kimpra Hills | Resubakrapara | 20 |
| 89 | Kongkal Hills | Resubakrapara | 10 |
| 90 | Kyllai Lyngngun, Mariam | Nobosohphoh Syiemship | 80 |
| 91 | Law Adong Lyngdoh, Mawlong | Nongkhlaw Syiemskip | 200 |
| 92 | Law Kyntang, Mawlangwir | Maharam Syihip | 300 |
| 93 | Law Kyntang, Mawten | Maharam Syihip | 100 |
| 94 | Law Kyntang, Whawiaw | Maharam Syihip | 100 |
| 95 | Law Lyngdoh, Kinglang | Maharam Syihip | 200 |
| 96 | Law Lyngdoh, Nonglait | Mawiang Syiemship | 50 |
| 97 | Law Lyngdoh, Nonglyngkien | Maharam Syihip | 90 |
| 98 | Law Lyngdoh, Rangmaw | Maharam Syihip | 400 |
| 99 | Lawren | Nongstoin | 10 |
| 100 | Lum Blei, Nonglyngkien | Maharam Syihip | 55 |
| 101 | Lum Sanglia, Nonglyngkien | Maharam Syihip | 45 |
| 102 | Rautagiri Sacred grove | Rautagiri | 37 |
| 103 | Wahlang-Nongklung | Nongklung | 10 |
| 104 | Walchi Ruram Hills | Resubakrapara | 25 |
| 105 | Nonsynrih Sacred Grove | Nonsynrih | 100 |
(Source: Tiwari B.K., S.K. Barik and R.S. Tripathi, 1999, “Sacred Forests of Meghalaya- Biological and Cultural Diversity”, and Barik, S.K., H.N.Pandey, B.K. Tiwari and B. Singh, 2006, ” Sacred Groves of Meghalaya: A sceintific and conservation perspective”, Regional Centre, National Afforestation and Eco- Development Board, North- Eastern Hill University, Shillong.