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Balpakram National Park complete detail – updated. Geography of Balpakram National Park. Dominant flora and fauna of Balpakram National Park. How to Reach Balpakram National Park. Balpakram National Park is a beautiful place, located in the South Garo Hills district of the state of Meghalaya. Balpakram is a hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya. The literal meaning of Balpakram is the ‘land of perpetual winds’. It was……………
The Balpakram National Park is the home to a wide variety of flora, fauna and marine fossils. The wildlife include Wild water buffalo, Red panda, Elephant, Tiger, Leopards, Wild cows, Deers, Marbled cat etc. There is a great precipice or deep gorge in Balpakram and is popularly compared to the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. It is believed that here, the spirits………….
Total area of the park is 220.00 Km2. It was established as a National Park in the year of 1985. The main fauna of Balpakram is birds. There are hundreds of species of birds are found. But the main attraction is to explore the mythical and fierce some terrain of this high altitude.
National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.
Balpakram National Park
Balpakram National Park is a beautiful place, located in the South Garo Hills district of the state of Meghalaya. Balpakram is a hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya.
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.
The literal meaning of Balpakram is the ‘land of perpetual winds’. It was established as a National Park in the year of 1985. Total area of the park is 220.00 Km2.
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.
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The Balpakram National Park is the home to a wide variety of flora, fauna and marine fossils. The wildlife include Wild water buffalo, Red panda, Elephant, Tiger, Leopards, Wild cows, Deers, Marbled cat etc. The park is the home of the Barking deer and the Golden cat.
The canyon-cum-gorge is yet another attraction that makes your visit to this national park worth the effort. Also the rare medicinal herb called ‘Dikges’ which grows here abundantly gets its fair share in the fame as well.
The beautifully curved trees, the canyons, the dense forests housing some of the extinct, rare species and the unsolved mysteries combine to create a unique experience.
The main fauna of Balpakram is birds. There are hundreds of species of birds are found. But the main attraction is to explore the mythical and fierce some terrain of this high altitude. Acres and acres of vast tableland is covered with ground orchids and other herbs and bush in multi-color blooms present an unforgettable sight.
History
It was established as a National Park in the year of 1985. 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.
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.
Geography
Balpakram National Park is a beautiful place, located in the South Garo Hills district of the state of Meghalaya. It is found at an altitude of more than 3,000 feet.
The park also includes the Balpakram plateau and adjacent forests. The park lies in the southern part of Meghalaya. Garos, the local tribe inhabiting the region, believe this hill to be the sort of resting place for departed souls.
This belief is due to many strange yet natural formations, physical and biological, found in the area.
The location of the Park is such that it is convenient as well as easily accessible to the boundaries of Bangladesh. The park ranging from under 200 to over 800 meters above sea level.
Balpakram is located between latitudes 25°20′ N and 25°30′ N, and longitudes 90°45′ E to 91° E.
There is a great precipice or deep gorge in Balpakram and is popularly compared to the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. It is believed that here, the spirits of the dead dwell temporarily before embarking on the final journey.
A variety of very rare medicinal herbs locally called “dikges” grow abundantly in Balpakram.
Rainfall – 6000 mm
Temperature – Maximum – 45o C
Minimum – 6o C
Dominant flora
The Park is rich in flora, especially medicinal plants and rare and endemic insectivorous plants like the giant pitcher plant and sundew plant. Sanjeevani, locally known as sampanngi, is the magical medicinal plant also found in the park.
Dominant fauna
Mammals – Red Panda, Wild water buffalo, Golden Cat, Tiger, Leopard, Marbled cat, Asian elephants, Indian Bison, Rare stump-tailed macaque, Pig-tailed macaque, Wild boar, Sambar, Slow Loris, Barking deer, Clouded leopard, Serrow, Black Bear, Slow Loris, Pangolin, Flying Squirrel, Hoolock Gibbon etc.
Birds – Mountain Bamboo Partridge, White Cheek Partridge, Grey-Peacock Pheasant, White-throated Bulbul, Bay Woodpecker, Great hornbill, Common hornbill, Peacock, Oriole, Kingfisher, Indian roller etc.
Reptiles – Python, Viper, krait, Mountain lizard, Gecko, king cobra etc.
Other Attractions
Matchru anti
Areng patal
Goncho-dare
Rongsaljong-Agal
Menggo Kol
Wakso-Chiring
Mebit mebang
Chidimak
Dikkini Ring
Rongsobok Rongkol
Siju-Dobkhakol
Tetengkol-Balwakol
Dobhakol chibe nala
Bok bak dobhakol
Best time to visit
The best time of the year to visit the Balpakram National Park is between the months of October to March.
How to Reach
By Air – Nearest airport is Guwahati airport, about 220 Km from the Balpakram National Park. Guwahati airport is well connected by road network to Balpakram National Park.
By Rail – Nearest railway station is Guwahati railway station, about 220 Km from the Balpakram National Park. Guwahati railway station is well connected by road network to Balpakram National Park.
By Road – Balpakram National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Balpakram National Park.
Once we reach Guwahati, we need to hire an SUV towards Baghmara. The SUV can also be hired for the entire journey from Guwahati/Goalpara towards Baghmara. Helicopter services also operate from Shillong and Guwahati towards Tura.
Distance from Nearby and Major Cities
Baghmara – about 47 km
Tura – about 56 km
Shillong – about 218 km
Guwahati – about 220 km
Sikkim – about 652 km
Manipur – about 778 km
Kolkata – about 1128 km
Lucknow – about 1387 km
Orissa – about 1420 km
Delhi – about 1945 km
Hyderabad – about 2420 km
Mumbai – about 2753 km
Accommodations
There are no rest houses in the park. Hotels and Guesthouses are available at Shillong, Guwahati, Tura and Baghmara for accommodation. Baghmara Tourist Lodge, lying at a small hill top is considered a great place to stay.
Other National Park in Meghalaya. Name of National Park, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows……….
| S. No. | Name of National Park | Year of Notification | Total Area(km²) |
| 1 | Nokrek National Park | Meghalaya | 1986 | 47.48 |
