Garo Hills
"Meghalaya"

The South Garo Hills district lies in the southern part of the state of Meghalaya, and was created on 18th June, 1992 . The district is hilly with difficult terrain with its headquarter at Baghmara, the only town in the district. The district is situated between 25°10’ and 25°35’N latitudes and 90°15 and 91°-0’ E longitude. It covers an area of 1887 sq. Km. It is bounded in the North by East Garo Hills, in the East by the west Khasi Hills district, in the West by West Garo Hills district and in the South by Bangladesh.
West Garo Hills district is located in the westernmost part of the State of Meghalaya. The district is nature's wonderland, blessed with beautiful hills, crystal clear rivers, streams & water falls, green virgin forest and a wide variety of flora & fauna. The district headquarters of West Garo Hills is Tura, which is the second largest town in the State after Shillong.

Tura
is a beautiful village is the headquarters of the Garo Hills. It is set at the foothills of the Tura Peak that is declared as the reserve forests of the state. The places of rarest attractions that top the lists are becoming hot spots for the tourists.Pelga Falls some k.m away from the village Tura is the much liked place by the anglers and picnickers.Chibragee is also among the picnic loving people. The villages showcase the greenery is also a special tourist attraction for the tribal varieties of the Garo tribes.
Sastgre Village
is situated on the hilly crescent like saddle. The village is accessible on jeep drive. One may enjoy the orange plantation also. The place has a big Noker Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve.
Bhaitbari
is the sleeping hamlet that holds the ancient kingdoms ·
Rangapani and Williamnagar
are some of the must visits by the tourists.
Selbagre Hoolock Gibbon Reserve
( Loation: West Garo Hills District ) This small area protected by the community is home to the Hoolock Gibbons, the only ape species found in India. The sacred grove in the reserve is the pride of the village and the community. The Garos never kill or hunt the Hoolock Gibbon as it is a traditional belief among them that if a Hoolock Gibbon is killed, a famine or a curse would befall the entire village.
Bhagmara Reserve Forest
The forest has the variety of rare birds and animals. One may see the birds of different species and elephants. There are varieties of langurs that inhabit the forest reserve. Location: South Garo Hills District At a distance of about 4 kilometers from the main town of Baghmara, this thick forest is inhabited by langurs, birds of different species, elephants, etc. Many tourists have reported sighting herds of elephants as they travel from Baghmara to Balpakram National Park via Baghmara Reserve Forest.
Balpakram National Park
A national wild life park, is about 45 kms from Baghmara, also known as the abode of perpetual winds. An awe-inspiring mini-canyon separates the Garo Hills plateau from the Khasi-Hills plateau across the Sib-bari rivulet. A majestic rocky plateau crowns the western ridge of the cliffs on the Garo Hills side of the mini-canyon. The plateau commands an enchanting view of the beautiful plains of Bangladesh which are criss crossed by meandering rivers and large expanses of silvery inland water. The plateau has borne the unending lashes of summer wind and storm which have blown off all traces of soil, leaving the plateau as one continuous mass of rock and rubble. Scintillating Special Holidays with us. The Garos believe that on death, the soul of every pious Garo flies to Balpakram and abides there for all time to come, making it the abode of human souls.The Balpakram plateau and canyon abound in plants and herbs of immense medicinal value, besides being the home of all sorts of wild animals including wild bison, wild cow and elephants. Government has since created the Balpakram National Park stretching over an area of approximately two hundred and twenty square kilometres, covering the plateau. The National Park can be approached by taking off from the Baghmara-Moheshkhola-Ranikor-Balut-Shil- long Road, at a place called Sib-bari.
During April each year, the entire Balpakram plateau is covered by exquisitely colourful wild flowers and swarms of colourful and beautiful butterflies, making it a veritable dreamland. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.
Balpakram has many mysterious and unnatural phenomena that cannot be satisfactorily explained by modern science and logic. Some of these mysterious sites are:-
Boldak Matchu Karam
On the wayside there is a sturdy Boldak tree (schimawalliche) that has a mysterious depression around its trunk as if eroded by the constant tethering of animals on it. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.The Garos believe that the spirits of the dead tie their animals slaughtered for their funeral to this tree while taking a rest close by hence when one such tree was felled by strong winds, soon after another tree close by started having the same symptoms.
Chidimak
There is small pool in Balpakram which is absolutely charcoal black. It is believed that the spirits of the dead wash and clean themselves here before entering the realms of the dead. Hence the clear water turned black from their sins and soots of cremation. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.
Matchru
Anti or Animal market. In the heart of the vast plateau there is a big stretch of flat rocks that is full of foot prints of all kinds of animals big and small. It is not understood how only that stretch of rock has thousands and thousands of footprints embedded there whereas the nearby rocks are completely bereft of such prints. Myth logically of course it is said that it used to be a market place where all kind of animals gather for their weekly markets. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
Areng Patal
It is a massive rock with a hollow space on its surface that is believed to have powerful magnetic powers. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.This hollow space acts as a veritable death trap to any bird or animal (except for man of course) that goes near it. Any living being that goes near it is magnetically drawn towards the hollow from where it can never come out and die eventually.
Goncho Dare
The rock cliffs of the canyon are said to be the natural habitats of gonchos, the evil spirits who like to take away people from their homes. These gonchos lead their victims over steep precipices and inaccessible rock faces without causing any physical harm. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
Dikkini Ring
To the southern side near Mahadeo village there stands a massive flat rock in the shape of an upturned boat. It is said that one night when Dikki, a legendary hero was making this boat, the cocks started crowing before completed the task and hence the uncompleted boat turned to stone. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.The legend says that spirits work only at night and have to complete their works before cocks crow.
Rongsaljong Agal
On the South Garo and Khasi Hills border there is a very interesting rock tank that is 120 ft long and 90 ft wide. Interesting side of it is that the water here remains perpetually clear and transparent, also it remains at the same level throughout the year. It is surprising that heavy down pours of rain cannot raise its level or the scorching heat of summer reduce it. The Garos believed that it used to be the bathing ghat of Bandi's wife Shore. Her bucket of water fossilized into stone remains in that place. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
Rongsobok Rongkol
Further east to the northern side of Balpakram there is a beautiful cave that contains shining pieces of rock that resemble banana flowers.
Apart from the above mentioned sites there are many mysterious places which you can explore yourself. Indeed Balpakram is so steeped in myths that even the Hindus believe that it is a sacred place. They believe that when Laxman was seriously injured during the war with Ravana and a very rare life saving herb was required, Hanuman found it here but not knowing which plant to take also in his haste to return broke the top of the hills and carried it away. The missing portion of that hill became a deep awning canyon . Explore Special Holidays with us.
Balpakram has been declared a National Park some years ago. This place is about 220 sq kms in area and is 45 kms away from Baghmara. This is a place of not only mythological importance but also the natural habitat of many rare and exotic animals and plant life . It is also believed to be the original of the rare citrus plant Me- mang Narag . Explore Special Holidays with us. Balpakram is exquisitely beautiful when ground orchids and herbs are in bloom. The best time to see is from April to mid June. There is the guest house at Hattisil entrance to Balpakram run by the Forest Department. Explore Special Holidays with us.
Siju Cave
The third longest cave in the Indian sub-continent, it is situated on the bank of the Simsang river just below the village of Siju. The cave is locally known as Dobakkol or the Cave of Bats. The cave consists of innumerable internal chambers and labyrinths which have not yet been fully explored. Explore Special Holidays with us. The depth of the cave is yet to be fathomed although cave-explorers are reported to have so far covered depths of over a kilometer. The cave is totally dark with a perennial stream flowing out of it ,which abounds with different forms of aquatic life. The floor of the cave is covered with a very thick layer of bat-droppings. Beautiful stalactites and stalagmites are found all over the cave.

South-West monsoon and seasonal winds, largely controls the climate of the district. The West Garo Hills district being relatively lower in altitude to the rest of Meghalaya, experiences a fairly high temperature for most part of the year. The average rainfall is 330cms of which more than two-thirds occur during the monsoon, winter being practically dry. The district have mostly dense tropical mixed forest, and a small patch of temperate forest in the higher parts of the Tura range.

The closest airport is the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati from where you can take a bus to Shillong and from there you can reach this hill via bus or taxi.