WEST GARO HILLS

NOKREK BIOSPHERE: About 40kms. Via Asananggiri and Sasatgiri but just 2 kms.from Tura peak; teeming with wild life, Nokrek hill is the home of very rare species of citrus locally known as Memang Narang –orange of the spirits. This Memang Narang is considered to be the most primitive and progenetor of all other varieties of citrus plants in the world with a view to preserve this rare species of citrus indica the first gene sanctuary of the world has been established here.

CHIBRAGRE: Lying at the confluence of Ganol and Rongram rivers, just 9 kms from Tura on the Tura Guwahati road is an ideal spot.

BHAITBARI: This small sleeping hamlet of Bhaitbari came into national focus when ruins of ancient kingdom dating back to 4-8 A.D were discovered here a few years ago. This place is just 8 kms.from Phulbari near Assam border and in nearer via plains road along Assam border.

RANGAPANI: 40 kms from Tura, near Mankachar on the Assam border there still lies the earthly remains of the great general Mir-Jumla the army general Moghul Emperor Auranzeb. Mir-Jumla died of malaria while returning from his excursions to the North East. His tomb maintained by the local Muslim association lies in this village.

EAST GARO HILLS

WILLIAMNAGAR: Named after the 1st Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Capt.Williamson Sangma this riverine town built on the curve of Simsang river is the Headquater of East Garo Hills. It is 313 kms. From Shillong via Guwahati and is 76 kms from Tura.

RONGRENGGIRI: 5kms from Williamnagar is noted for being the last battlefield where the Garos bravely resisted the British.

SISOBIBRA: 12kms away from Williamnagar on the Tura Williamnagar road, a beautiful place on the banks of Simang river is of historical importance, for it was here the legendary hero Togan Sangma along with his co-patriot Gilsang Dalbot fell to the bullets of the British soldiers while bravely them. A memorial has been erected at the place where the warriors fell down. District Council has constructed a twin cottage near memorial place where visitors can stay.

ADOKGRE: 10 kms from Dhupdhara on the Assam border, Adokgre was the first camp in Garo Hills when the Garos coming from Tibet under the leader ship of Jappa-Jalimpa arrived the promised land of Garo Hills. It was from here they made their last recce and distributed the land according to their Machongs (clan).

NAKA-CHIKONG: 15 kms from Dhupdhara, its is a big rock with deep hollows, in the middle of Ildek river in Badaka village just 3 kms from Adokgre, this big rock is mythologically believed to be swarming with fishes, you can get tons of fishes any season of the year, but there is one belief, if any one inadvertently touches the big rock under whose hole the fishes are, all fishes immediately disappear from the river. The Hindus consider this a sacred place and regularly come here for worship and picnic.

RESUBELPARA: 15 kms from Williamnagar Sub-Divisional head quarter of Resubelpara Sub-Division; there is a hot spring here.

NAPAK: 45 kms from Williamnagar there is a lake formed by damming of the upper tributary of a river during the great earthquake in 1897. Napak was once the land of the spirits until one women working in the Jhum accidently killed a spirit `s baby. The spirits feeling insecure then migrated to Balpakram where they settled till now.

SOUTH GARO HILLS

SOUTH GARO HILLS: Comprising of the South Garo Corner of Garo Hills, South Garo Hills district perhaps offers the best potentials for tourism development. It was from this area great mind and great leaders were born.

BAGHMARA: Baghmara the head quarter of the District is a fast growing town ship. It is situated on the banks of Simang river on the international Bangladesh border. Nearly just below the picturesque Dilsa hill where the State Tourism Department had constructed a Tourist bungalow there is the Baghmara wildlife sanctuary for the unique botanical wonder of the State-an insectivorous pitcher plant known as Memang Koksi or the spirit `s basket.

NENGKONG: 14 kms. North of Baghmara and 132 kms from Tura, Siju is famous for Dobakkol or the bat cave with impressive stalagmites and stalagtites. It is one of the longest cave in the Indian sub-continent and contains some of the finest passages to be found any where in the world. The magnificent limestone rock formations inside specially named princess Di `s chamber by the excavators will fill any visitors with awe.
Close by on the other side of Simsang River Siju bird sanctuary is the home for many rare and protected bird and other wildlife. The migratory Siberian ducks also come here during winter months. At the entrance to this bird sanctuary after a steep climb of nearly 1 km there is a stretch of fantastic rock formations that will take your breath away.

BALPAKRAM: Usually referred to as the land of perpetual winds, Balpakram is sacred to the Garos as the abode of the dead spirits. As mentioned earlier, the Garos are deeply spiritual and believe in myths as interesting and awe-some as the Greek mythologies. In support of their beliefs, there in Balpakram are many mysterious and unnatural phenomena that cannot be satisfactory 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. 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 symtoms.

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.

MATCHRU: Anti or Animal market. In the heart of the vast plateau there is a big stretch of flat rocks that is full of footprints 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. Mythologically of course it is said that it used to be market place where all kinds of animals gather for their weekly markets.

ARENG PATAL: It is a massive rock with hollow space on its surface that is believed to have powerful magnetic powers. This hollow space acts as a veritable death trap o 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 cliff 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 harm.

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 cock started crowing before completed the task and hence the incompleted boat turned to stone. The legend says that spirits work only at night and have to complete their works before cocks crow.

RONGSALJONG AGAL: On the Khasi Hills border there is a very interesting rock tank that is 120 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 same stone remains in that place.

RONGSOBOK RONGKOL: Further east to the northern side of Balpakram in the Khasi Hills border there is a beautiful cave that contains shinning 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.
Balpakram has been declard a National Park some years ago. This place is about 220 sq kms in area and is 167 kms from Tura. This is a place of not only mythological importance but also the natural habitat of many rare nd exotic animals and plants life. It is also believed to be the original aof the rare citrus plant Me-mang Narang mentioned before in Nokrek Biosphere. 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 guesthouse at Hattisil at the entrance to Balpakram run by the Forest Department.

EMANGRE: This is the only village where the traditional wood craving on the posts and beams of the Nokpante – the bachelor `s dormitory still survives.

DOMBE WARI: 3 kms from Eman Asakgre there is a legendary lake on top of the hill believed to have been created by a merman when they eloped away with a beautiful wife of one boastful man. Some people say Dombe the beautiful women is still alive in the underground water Kingdom.