In which Indian state are the Garo Hills located, forming part of a well known hill range in the north eastern region of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Garo Hills are an important physiographic feature of north eastern India and are frequently mentioned in Indian geography. Together with the Khasi and Jaintia hills, they form a well known hill system that influences climate, vegetation, and tribal culture in the region. Many exam questions test knowledge of which hills lie in which state, so it is vital to correctly match the Garo Hills with their host state. This question asks you to identify that state from among four options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The hills in question are the Garo Hills.
• They form part of a hill range which also includes Khasi and Jaintia hills.
• Options given are Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
• We assume standard school level Indian geography which places Garo Hills clearly in Meghalaya.

Concept / Approach:
The concept here is basic physical geography of north eastern India. The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills lie almost in a west to east alignment within the state of Meghalaya. Meghalaya itself means abode of clouds and is known for heavy rainfall and hilly terrain. By contrast, Nagaland and Mizoram have their own distinct hill systems, and Assam is more associated with the Brahmaputra valley. The approach is to recall this classic triplet of hills in Meghalaya and match Garo Hills to that state.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills are often studied together in Indian geography. Step 2: Identify that this group of hills lies within the state of Meghalaya, which is famous for high rainfall and hill stations like Cherrapunji and Mawsynram. Step 3: Note that the Garo Hills are located in the western part of Meghalaya and are inhabited by the Garo tribal community. Step 4: Review the options and find Meghalaya as one of the given choices. Step 5: Select Meghalaya because it correctly matches the location of the Garo Hills.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling typical map based questions that depict Garo Hills in western Meghalaya, Khasi Hills centrally, and Jaintia Hills towards the east, all within the boundaries of Meghalaya. Textbooks repeatedly describe Meghalaya as consisting of these three main hill regions. Assam is usually represented by the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, Nagaland by the Naga Hills, and Mizoram by the Mizo Hills. No standard reference places the Garo Hills predominantly in any state other than Meghalaya, which provides strong confirmation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Assam: Assam borders Meghalaya and has nearby hills such as Karbi Anglong, but the Garo Hills themselves are not located in Assam, they lie within Meghalaya.

Nagaland: Nagaland is associated with the Naga Hills and Eastern Himalaya foothills. It does not contain the Garo Hills, so this option is incorrect.

Mizoram: Mizoram is known for the Mizo Hills and Lushai Hills region, which is distinct from the Garo Hills of Meghalaya.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up hills of the north eastern states because all of them are hilly and largely tribal. Another common mistake is to remember the names Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia but forget that all three are in Meghalaya, leading to random guesses. Some aspirants also confuse Garo Hills with Naga Hills or other hill ranges due to similar contexts in exam questions. Regularly studying a labelled map of the north eastern states, along with their main hill ranges, can prevent these errors.

Final Answer:
The Garo Hills are located in the Indian state of Meghalaya, therefore Meghalaya is the correct answer.