Garo Hills in Meghalaya offers a variety of tourist attractions, including national parks, caves, waterfalls, and cultural sites. Key places to visit include Balpakram National Park, Nokrek National Park, Siju Cave, Tura Peak, and various waterfalls like Rongbangdare and Pelga Falls.
Intertwined with the striking terrain of Garo Hills are legends and Garo folklore. At Chisobibra, you can learn about the legacy of the Garo Warrior/Matgrik - Pa Togan Nengminja, the most famous freedom fighters from amongst the Garos. During the British Expedition to annex Garo Hills to British India, they faced the last major Garo resistance to their intrusion at Rongrengiri. After days of seize, they succeeded on 12th December, 1837 to fell the Garo Warrior Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma who led the Garos, at Chisobibra near Rongrengiri. This broke the Garo resistance and the British annexed Garo Hills with ease. A park and a simple memorial to Pa Togan Nengminja has been erected at Chisobibra within Rongrengiri Reserve Forest. A function to commemorate the fallen martyr Pa Togan, is held annually at the site of the Memorial, on the anniversary of his martyrdom.
Located at Mongpangro, a tiny village near Mendipathar, Jolding Wari is a popular destination for tourists coming to Resubelpara town. It is believed that this magnificent lake was formed during the Great Earthquake of 12th June, 1897.
The prime attraction here is the presence of numerous natural rock formations, conical in shape resembling Shivlingams. It is located about 7 Kms away from Resubelpara town. It is a famous sought after destinations among the Hindu pilgrims
A famous hotspot among picnic lovers and anglers, Naka Chikong is well- known for its natural beauty, scenic river and beautiful rock formations. It is located in Badaka village.
Located at Rajasimla village, it is one of the famous waterfall in the region. It is an ideal spot for picnic and trekking
Located at Babukona village close to Assam-Meghalaya border along the Resubelpara-Krishnai inter-state (Khaldang) road, it is one of the few waterfalls to be discovered by the people of the area very recently. According to the villagers, this particular waterfall came into existence post the devastating flood of 2014 which caused extensive damage to the surrounding areas and plains destroying thousands of crops, plantations and agricultural produce worth several crore of rupees.
Outdoor activities like camping, hiking, angling, bird watching, trekking can also be aggressively promoted to boost tourism in the area.
Located roughly 15 Kms away from Resubelpara town in Boda A.pal village, it is a deep lake nestled on top of a hillock amidst the thick lush green forests and deep canopy of forest cover. Legend has it that this lake was once home to the great spirits and dwarfs (Te.teng) who settled here for thousands of years. It is believed that this spirits (Mi.te) would bath in this lake and after bathing dry all their clothes including the Ganna (traditional Garo dress) on a large rock located on the bank of this lake. It is because of this practise by the spirits that the word "Ganna Ramram" or a place where the Ganna's are dried up came into being. But one fine day the spirits learned that they are being watched clandestinely by people from surrounding villages and their privacy being compromised. Ever since then, the spirits and their clothes could no longer be sighted. The soothing ambience of this lake makes it an ideal spot for picnicking, camping, angling, hiking, bird watching or simply to laze around in the solitude of nature.
Legend has it that there were two Goddesses by the name Rongma and Mring, who were sisters. It is believed that the two Goddesses fought for some reasons and as a result Rongma was defeated by Mring. Hence, the name "Rongma Gitil" or the "Fall of the Mother Rock" derived its name. It is located in Chachinat village.
It is located about 6 (six) Kms from Soksan Gate (Mendipathar) and famous for 'Rang' the Traditional 'Bell'. Whenever there is any meeting at the locality, the watchman rings the Bell and the whole locality gathers. This Bell remain in the form of Rock in the midst of the thick forest.
Located at Ildek Akong village, this beautiful river is a must visit site among the tourists. It is a very popular destination among the locals.
Located in the heart of Resubelpara town. The lake is a large reservoir of deep water body spread over a wide geographical area teeming with exotic species of fish of varied size and colour. The soothing ambience and cool waters of the lake make it an ideal spot for angling, camping, picnicking or simply to laze around in the solitude of Mother Nature. The lake has immense potential for promoting water-based adventure sports activities.
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.
Siju and its nearby areas have several caves some are explored while others are not fully explored, besides there are rich flora and fauna in the area, limestone formations, fossils and vast stretch of lovely sandy beaches and orange fruits. Siju village is located 30 Km from Baghmara and the Siju cave is at a distance of 5 Km from the Siju Bazar on the bank of the mighty Simsang river. It is also called Do bakkol. It is one of the most studied caves in India and some areas have also been mapped.
Wari Chora...
The Nokrek National Park is about 45 kms via Asananggre and Sasatgre but just about 2 kms from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills, provided you are an avid trekker. Nokrek is the highest peak in Garo Hills and has been declared a National Biosphere under the control and management of the state forest department. The peak is teeming with very rare plants and animals deep inside the thick jungle. The park is also home to a very rare species of citrus-indica endemic to this place which the locals call me.mang narang which when literally translated means the 'orange of the spirits'. This discovery led to the establishment of the National Citrus Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve at Nokrek which covers an area of about 47 sq.km.
A majestic hill stands on the eastern flank of Tura, the largest town in the Garo Hills region of the State. It peaks eight hundred and seventy two metres above sea level over looking Tura. Local legend has it that the peak provides a sacred abode for the Gods and claims that it was traditionally known as Dura but the British mistook it for Tura, before it came to be known as such. Since the Tura hill and its peak constitute the water catchments area of Tura town, the whole Tura-range has been declared as a reserve-forest.
A Tourist Bungalow, an Observatory and a Cinchona plantation are located at Tura Peak and its environment. A magnificent view of the lower Brahmaputra Valley as well as the golden yellow plains of Bangladesh is available all year round to viewers on Tura Peak.
During the British regime, the Deputy Commissioner of Garo Hills, used to reside during summer, in a cottage located at the peak and commute down to Tura each day on elephant-back. A decent foot track developed for the Deputy Commissioner's use is still in existence. It facilitates tourists and adventurers reaching Tura peak with ease and comfort.
Pelga fall just located at the distance of 7 kms from Tura has become increasingly hot spot for anglers and picnickers in recent years. The tourism developed this place by constructing a footpath and view point. A typical traditional Garo bamboo bridge constructed over Ganol river is another added attraction.
Bhaitbari Any tourist who is interested in history can visit Wadagokgre which is one of the most interesting and attractive places in West Garo Hills. It is a place where an excavation was taken up by the pre-history branch of the Archeological Survey of India and proved that this was one of the biggest cities, a religious centre cast out of the Bramaputra river from the fourth century A.D. or even earlier. The excavation so far have clearly demonstrated that Wadagokgre was a sprawling township with Buddhism, Hinduism and amalgamation of the two being widely practiced in that area. The ancient township was located on the bank of the Bramaputra river which nearly 2000 years back was flowing nearby. The township was well-fortified and had a large number of tanks inside and on the other prestigious heights were located a number of burn bricks temple. Nearly 20 temple sites which have been there might have been palatial complexes and habitational areas for the population of the town. But the most interesting aspect of the survey report is that this is the only site where inside the entire fortified area including the habitational areas not a single bone was found. Wadagokgre is located at about 75 kms. from Tura. One PWD inspection bungalow is available at Baitbari at about 4 kms. distance from Wadagokgre.
Located on the hilly crescent - like saddle, at the foot of the Nokrek peak, in the West Garo Hills district, Sasatgre village is accessible by a jeepable road from Oragitok village which lies on the Tura-Asanangre-Williamnagar State highway. The distinguishing feature of this village is that although all the houses are built in the typical Garo Pattern and design, they are spacious, airy, well-built and firm. The winds of development, change and prosperity have not changed the way of life of the Sasatgre villagers and they continue to be the repository of undiluted Garo custom, culture and convention.
Sasatgre has been blessed by nature in so far as orange plantations are concerned and the village is surrounded by healthy, dark green orange bushes, which are highly productive. The village now falls on the periphery of the Nokrek Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve.
Lying in the junction of two rivers, the Ganol and Rongram is Chibragre, a picturesque place which is very popular among picnickers and anglers alike. The river Ganol originates from Nokrek Peak which flows steadily eastward teeming with fish and also believed to be the home of the mythological Sangkni and Na.nil or water serpents. The river has huge rocks that surround pools with deep caves and hollows underneath.
Rombagre is situated at the distance of 35kms from Tura on the side of Williamnagar-Tura PWD Road. There is a beautiful water pool that has been preserved and protected by the local villagers in the Simsang River where schools of fish are found swimming in the clear waters turning the place virtually into a tourist spot as many travellers are often found enjoying the fish in the protected water pool. Besides, there are lovely picnic spots in and around Rombagre which attract many people from far and near for seasonal picnics every year.