Capitals of Seven Sisters of India: Seven Sister States of India, Capitals, Summary And More

Capitals of Seven Sisters of India: Can you recall the names of the states located in the north-east of India? Did you know that among the eight north-eastern states, seven are sisters and one of them is their brother? These states command special importance not only because of their location but also their cultural and historical uniqueness.  They are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. Let's find out more about them. 

What are the seven sister states of India?

The seven northeastern states are known as the seven sister states of India. These states are- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. The term seven sisters of India is often used to refer to these states of northeast. Sikkim is usually called the brother of these states. 

Why are they called the seven sisters of India?

The states are known as the seven sisters due to their interdependence and similarity with each other. Another reason behind the term is that the single way to reach these northeastern states is via the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken Neck’. 

What are the capitals of the seven sister states of India?

Let’s take a look at the capitals of the seven states of India. 

Arunachal Pradesh

Speaking literally, Arunachal Pradesh means the land of dawn-lit mountains. It is the largest among the north-eastern states of India. As per NCERT, it became a full-fledged State of the Republic of India on 20 February 1987. Till 20 January 1972, it was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Thereafter, it became a Union Territory and renamed as Arunachal Pradesh. An interesting thing to note is that Arunachal Pradesh shares international borders with four countries- Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east and Tibet and China in the North. The capital, Itanagar, derives its name from the 14th century CE ‘Ita fort’ (brick fort) located in the capital complex. 

Assam

Assam is often regarded as the gateway to the northeastern states. The state is connected to the rest of the country through a land strip called the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, near Siliguri. Assam shares an international border with Bhutan and Bangladesh. Dispur is the capital. According to NCERT, Assam majorly consists of two river valleys: the valley formed by the River Brahmaputra and its tributaries in the north; and the valley formed by the River Barak and its tributaries in the south. Between these two valleys run the long range of hills (Karbi, North Cachar and Barail), which account for much of the state’s greenery and wildlife. It is because of this unique topographical feature that the State is also known as the ‘Land of Red River and Blue Hills’. 

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Manipur 

Manipur, literally, means the ‘Land of Jewels’. On its north, west and south-west, Manipur shares borders with Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram respectively. Imphal is the capital of Manipur. The state consists mainly of two zones, the plain in the central part known as the Imphal Valley and the hills. Meiteis reside in the valley, while the hills are inhabited by tribes such as the Kuki, the Puram, the Tangkhul among others. 

Meghalaya 

The word ‘Meghalaya’ is made from two terms — ‘megh’ meaning ‘cloud’ and ‘alaya’ meaning ‘abode’ in Sanskrit thus it means the ‘Abode of the Clouds’. As the name suggests, Meghalaya is known for receiving the highest rainfall in India. The state is also well known for its lush hills and mesmerizing waterfalls. On the north and east it is bounded by Assam and to its south and west by Bangladesh. Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. The tribal groups of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo are the inhabitants of the state. Meghalaya was conferred full statehood on 21 January 1972. 

Mizoram

 Mizoram means ‘Land of the Hill People'. Its capital is Aizawl. It shares an international boundary with Myanmar in the south and east, and Bangladesh in the west. According to NCERT, Following the signing of the historic Memorandum of Settlement between the Government of India and the Mizo National Front in 1986, it was granted statehood on 20th February 1987. Mizoram has the highest concentration of tribal people among all states in India. 

Nagaland

Nagaland is another seven sister state. It shares its border with Assam and Myanmar in the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam in the north and Manipur in the south. Its capital is Kohima. As per NCERT,  at the time of independence of India in 1947, Nagaland remained as a part of Assam province. In 1957, the Naga Hill district of Assam and the Tuensang frontier were united and formed a single administrative unit. Then Statehood was officially conferred on 1 December 1963. 

Tripura 

Tripura is the third smallest state in India. Agartala is its capital. Tripura shares a common boundary with Assam and Mizoram on the north-east and is bounded by Bangladesh in the north, west and south. Tripura was a princely state at the time of British rule. In 1949,the state became a part of independent India. 

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Note: All images have been taken from NCERT book India Unity in Cultural diversity.

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