Nongpoh

Nongpoh is the administrative centre of Ri-Bhoi district and sits on a key corridor connecting Meghalaya with Assam, helping it develop as a service town for travel, trade, and district administration. The biggest turning point in its modern administrative history is tied to the creation of the district itself. Ri-Bhoi district came into existence on 4 June 1992, formed by upgrading the former civil sub-division and carving it out of the erstwhile East Khasi Hills district.

After 1992, Nongpoh’s role expanded as district headquarters functions grew—government departments, public utilities, and services clustered here to serve surrounding villages and growth areas. Its location on a major highway route strengthened its economic and logistical relevance, supporting markets and local business activity while also acting as an administrative base for a district positioned between the Khasi hills and the plains.

Culturally, Nongpoh reflects the Khasi hill landscape and community structures typical of central Meghalaya, while its district-headquarters identity gives it a modern civic character—balancing governance, education, and commerce for the wider Ri-Bhoi region.