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Balpakram National Park
The Balpakram National Park is one of the famous tourist spot in the Indian state of Meghalaya, and lies to the south of Garo Hills. Baghmara, the headquarters of Garo Hills is at a distance of 90 kilometers from this park. The location of the Park is such that it is convenient as well as easily accessible to the boundaries of Bangladesh. This national park came into existence in 1987, when it was declared as the popular national park of the state of Meghalaya. The park has an immense natural splendor and hence it offers a picturesque view for a large number of tourists which it draws. It is found at an altitude of more than 3,000 feet. This park engrosses an area of approximately two hundred square kilometer that consists of several attractions for its visitors. It is known for its densely grown forests and the wildlife that has its abode here and is also preserved here. The Balpakram National Park is one of the preferred destinations for enjoying a holiday and having a look at the bio- diversity of the country. Besides the wild animals that have their abode in this park, one can also get to see various other species of flora and fauna that dwell from other places and also are worth watching.
There are a number of wild beasts that are seen in the Balpakram National Park, some of them being the species of Elephants and Tigers. Hullock Gibbons is the bare primate species that one can find only in India. Various other wild beasts along with their species found are leopards, wild cows, wild buffalo, wildcats, deer, pheasant, lions, Great Indian Hornbill etc to name a few. Apart from these, various different types of species of plants are also having their habitat here. One of the most endangered and barely found species are the Drosera, Pitcher Plants (Nephenthes Khasiana), Orchids etc. This national park can be considered as the most popular place especially for the biologist researchers for their experiments and work related to it.
|District(s)||South Garo Hills|
|Time zone||IST (UTC +05:30)|
|Area||200 sq kms|
|Elevation||3000 above sea level|
|Climate||South West Monsoon|
|Precipitation||High with 6000 mm (236 inch) annual rainfall|
|Summer||37 °C (99 °F).|
|Winter||mean high of 25 °C (77 °F) and low of 7 °C (44 °F)|
The Balpakram National Park derived its name from Balpakram that literally means "the land of perpetual winds". One can find there, a deep gorge in Balpakram and is usually made a comparison with the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. People have a belief that in Balpakram, the spirits of the dead come here temporarily before going for the final journey. Hence, this place is considered as sacred to the Garos as dead spirits have an abode here. It has been found that the Garos have a deep belief in spirits and myths and have similar mythologies just like the mythologies of the Greeks. In addition to this, the Balpakram Park has various mysterious stories as well as unnatural phenomena that nobody can easily explain and satisfy the queries or leaves many questions unanswered even by modern science and different logics.
Few of the mysterious sites can be listed as follows: Boldak matchu karam, Matchru, Chidimak, Areng patal, Dikkini ring, Goncho Dare, Rongsaljong Agal and Rongsobok Rongkol etc.
The list does not end here and therefore besides these sites, there are many more mysterious spots that one can explore himself. Even the Hindus consider it to be a sacred place because of myths that are spread so much that there is no clear picture about the truths. Hindus believe that Laxman while having the war with Ravana, got seriously injured and for his cure there was a requirement of very rarely found life saving herb then Hanuman found it here only. However Hanuman did not know which to take so in his haste of returning he had broken the top of the hills as well as carried it away. People believe that the portion of that hill that was missing had become an awning canyon that was too deep. This place covers an area of around 220 sq kms and is at a distance of 167 kms from Tura. This place is a natural habitat for various exotic plants and animals as well. It can be believed to be the original abode of Me-mang Narang, the rarely found citrus plant. One can get to see an exquisite beauty of Balpakram when ground orchids are blooming.
Best Time To Visit- Detailed Information
If one has plans to see the wildlife of Meghalaya state, one must visit the Balpakram National Park which draws many tourists from different parts of the world. The best suitable time for visiting this place is from November to March. One can avail a guest house at Hattisil while entering Balpakram that is being run by the Forest Department. During monsoons, visiting Balpakram National Park should be avoided.
Distance From - National Park
Balpakram can be reached only by road. However there are regular helicopter services from Guwahati and shilling to Tura and close by airport and rail head is Guwahati which is 220 kms away from Tura.
The close by town of Tura lies below Nokrek Peak, which is 1457m (4780ft) above sea level and serves as a platform for exploring the surrounding hills.
How To Reach There
Reaching Balphakram National Park : Tura can be reached by road from Guwahati. One cannot find any motorable roads here so trekking is the only option.
Reaching By Air:
Guwahati is the nearest airport that leads to the Balpakram National Park from Shillong and Guwahati.
Going By Rail:
The nearest railway station is Guwahati that lies 220 kilometers away from the Tura.
The Meghalaya government offers different modes of transport which leads to this park. The closest village from the Balpakram National Park is Tura which is nestled at a distance of 167 kilometers.
(1) Guwahati –Paikan-Tura-Baghmara-Balpakra
(3) Guwahati/Goalpara-Dudhnoi-Rangeng-Nangalbibra-Siju- Baghmara(Shortest,but plenty of coal loaded trucks are moving this way,also road condition will be a concern)
(4) Guwahati/Goalpara-Krishnai-Mendipathar-Sangsak-Darugiri-Nangal bibra (Empty trucks are entering through this route)
(5) Guwahati/Goalpara-Krishnai-Mendipathar-Sangsak-Darugiri-William Nagar-Nangal Bibra
For Tourist Guide Map of Maghayala Click Here
Things To Do In - National Park
The endangered wild animals of national park evoke various visitors interested in botanists, zoologist and naturalist. The park has different areas where one can experience adventure activities such as trekking and climbing. There are species of herbs and shrubs used as sources of medicine in medical forms.
The best season to visit the park is from April to June. During these months, the park has full flourished amazing species of butterflies that come here from different regions.
Reservations and Permits for Balphakram National Park: The Permits to visit the park and reservation can be acquired from Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Tura, Meghalaya.
Accommodation: There are no rest houses in the park. Tourists visiting the park stay in rest house of Tura looked after by the forest department. Mahadeo, a tourist lodge is also there, which is managed by the tourism of Meghalaya at the edge of Balphakram plateau, in the months of September, February and March. One might need woollens and rain gear.
In case of plans to explore the Balpakram National Park, one should book his accommodation beforehand. The state of Meghalaya facilitates its tourists with a number of benefits both within the park as well as in the vicinity of the park. It includes lodges, rest houses, hotels and resorts which can be found to be well equipped and that too at price which is pretty affordable for its visitors to have a nice and pleasant experience.
Climate of Balphakram National Park: Meghalaya state enjoys its monsoon season from months of June to September and due to its height, experiences a cool climate throughout the year. December to March is the best time to visit here.
This park has three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon. Winters are found between November and February, when the climate is mild and dry, with maximum temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) and minimum of 7 °C (44 °F). The nallahs and beels (small lake) dry up in this season. Summers are between March and May when climate is hot, with maximum temperatures of 37 °C (99 °F). In this season, beasts are usually seen near water bodies. The monsoon season lies from June to September, and shoulders the responsibility of most of Balpakram’s annual rainfall i.e. 6000 mm (236 inch).