Balpakram National Park

The Balpakram National Park is located to the extreme South of Garo Hills, Meghalaya at a distance of 90 km from Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills. This place of pristine beauty is also close to the international boundary of Bangladesh.

“Balpakram” means “The land of Eternal Wind” in English. Originally only the plateau was known as Balpakram and the Garo tribe considered a sacred place. Balpakram means a place of perpetual wind and according to Garo mythology this was the place where the spirit of the dead first rested with the spirit of a sacrificed bull, before going on to complete their journey to the heavens.

The Balpakram National Park is overall a Travellers Paradise.Balpakram has its own importance for the Garos and as well as for the Hindus. Garos believe that when a person has discarded his earthly clothing his spirit travels to the Land of Balpakram where it dwells temporarily until its final journey. It is also believed by Hindus when Hanuman was looking for the herb Sanjeevani to cure Laxman, he found it in Balpakram and took the top of the hill from Balpakram leaving a plateau or flat land in its place which is today known to the Garos as Chutmang Peak, the highest point in South Garo Hills.

Balpakram was declared a National Park in 1937. It is a place almost 3000 feet above sea level and covers an area of 200 sq.kms. This park supports a varied types of flora and fauna. There are very few places in the whole world where such a unique concentration of immense numbers of flora and fauna occur in such a small area, and Balpakram is one of them. Elephants and Tigers are the main attraction of the park. Hullock Gibbons, the only ape species found in India can be seen here. Other animals found in the park are Deer, Great Indian Hornbill, Pheasant, Wildcats, Wildcows, Wild buffalo, Leopards etc.

Among the plants very rare species like Pitcher Plants biologically named Nepenthes Khasiana, Orchids and Drosera flourish abundantly. These often attracts wildlife biologists, researchers, nature-lovers and conservationists. Agar known as Aquillaria Agallocha is another endemic plant which is found in the park.

Balpakram is only connected to Tura by road and is at a distance of 167km from Tura. There are however helicopter services from Shilong and Guwahati, to Tura. Rail and Road facilities are also available. Nearest Airport and Rail head is Guwahati in Assam which is 220 kms from Tura.

Best time to visit Balpakram is Mid-April to Mid-June, and best clothing is thin light clothing for this place.The western side of the Park touches the Siju Bird Sanctuary which in turn is separated from the Siju village by the Simsang River. Siju an idyllic destination for a short pleasant holiday. Treks can be arranged to Rongsu village and then to Chitmang whic is small table top mountain, which offers a beautiful view of the Simsang river.

The Siju cave is easily accessible and is inhabited with bats. Adjacent to the cave is the Simsang river where there are many fishermen using dugout canoes who can provide you with a unique boating experience in their canoes. Fossilized crabs, snails and even starfish have been found in Siju village. To drive from Balpakram to Siju or vice versa, one must cross Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills. A sanctuary for the carnivorous pitcher plant is located here. A tourist lodge is available at Baghmara where travelers can stay.

Close to Siju on the North west side of the National Park are a few villages like Rangsu and Khallu. These villages are famous for oranges and the people from the villages go to Rongara to sell their oranges. To reach the markets, they have to trek two days skirting the Balpakram National Park, which is a good trekking route.

So if you wish to experience the magical beauty of Balpakram National Park start booking for your visit now.