Come March, Meghalaya will organise a gala Rs 4 crore-plus festival to showcase its rich tourism potential.

The event, Meghalayan Age Festival, will be held at Wenfield in Thadlaskeiñ in West Jaiñtia Hills district from March 7-15.

The festival has been named following the discovery of the Meghalayan Age (from 4,200 years ago till the present). The Meghalayan Age, established by professor Ashish Sinha of the department of earth sciences at California State University, was marked by a mega drought that affected many civilisations worldwide. “We have named the festival Meghalayan Age after the geological age we live in. This scientific fact was established two years ago based on geological evidence found at Mawmluh caves in our state,” chief minister Conrad K. Sangma told reporters here on Thursday.

Global media houses, tour operators, social media heads, ambassadors of various countries, World Bank and BRICS Bank officials, among others, will attend the festival. A national conclave on tourism will also be held from March 13-15. Central ministers, chief ministers of northeastern states and others have been invited.

The nine-day Meghalayan Age Festival, which will incur an expenditure of Rs 4.34 crore, will feature glamping, hot-air ballooning, caving, hiking, live performances and culinary treats. Excursions will be held to Sohra, Kudengrim village, Shnongpdeng, Nartiang and Shillong while caving will take place at Krem Rupasor, Krem Synrang and Krem Kurung-Krang-Muhabon. Visitors can stay at the camp site in luxury tents but this would be on invitation only. Others can stay in Airbnbs, guesthouses, hotels and homestays.

“We will promote high-end tourism in the state. But this does not mean that we will not concentrate on other tourists. We are open to all,” Conrad said.

He said the government intends to continue with the festival and could auction its organisation to private parties in the future.