How to get to Tura: Garo Hills

How to get to Tura:

The nearest International Airport is the Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata.

Flights to Guwahati: Flights to Guwahati from Kolkata are available up to about 2 pm everyday. Indian, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines, Deccan and Indigo are some of the airlines that service this route. Direct flights are also available from New Delhi.

Trains to Guwahati: Guwahati is also well connected by rail. Trains are available everyday to Guwahati from Kolkata’s Howrah Station. This journey will take you minimum 18 hours. Guwahati also has direct trains from New Delhi. The Rajdhani Express takes about 36 hours one way. Trains from the South India are Bangalore-Guwahati Express, Chennai-Guwahati Express and Guwahati-Trivandrum Express.

By Road to Guwahati: Buses ply from Kolkata to Guwahati via Siliguri. You have the option of breaking you journey to stay overnight at Siliguri.

Guwahati to Tura:
There are three ways to get to Tura:
(1) Pawan Hans helicopter service run by Meghalaya Transport Corporation: Flies every Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays From Guwahati to Tura the fare is Rs.1525/- and from Shillong to Tura is Rs.1200/- only.
(2) Buses that start early morning (latest 7 am) or late evening (latest 8:30 pm). This journey will take you 7 hours. The tickets are not more than Rs 250 per head. The bus stations are at (name of locality).
(3) Sumo (jeep) services are available twice a day (7 am and 2pm) from (locality) in Guwahati. These tickets will cost about Rs 300 per head and the journey will take 5 hours.

Where to Stay:
1 - Rikman Continental, Tura Bazaar. Ph: +91 3651 220759/ 223858. Room rates range from Rs 450 to Rs 1500. Hotel and Bar attached.
2 – Hotel Sundare (pronounce: soon – daa – ray), Tura Bazaar. Ph: N/A. Room rates range from Rs 350 – Rs 1200.
3 – Orchid Lodge, Araimile, New Tura. Ph: +91 3651 232039. Room rates range: N/A
4 – Hotel Nataraj, Tura Bazaar, Tura. Ph: +91 3651 223189. Budget hotel.
5. Bed and Breakfast: One can stay with a Garo family as a paying guest which will be arranged on request.

Places to see:
Garo Hills is yours to discover. It is still one of the most untouched places of North East India. The indigenous people of this tribal area are A’chiks – most popularly known as Garos. Their language falls under the Tibeto-Burman Category. Besides discovering the unique traditions and culture of the people, there are many things to explore geographically and environmentally.
1 – Hullock Gibbons: Garo Hills is one of the very few places on this planet that still has a significant number of hillock gibbons in the wild.
2 – Balpakram: Popularly known as Grand Canyon of the East "Balpakram" is a National Park.
3 – Rongbang Dare: This waterfalls in East Garo hills is simply spectacular makes a wonderful picnic spot.
4 – Dombe Wari: This waterfalls in South Garo hills is not easily accessible. The trek to this waterfalls from the nearest motorable village (Enamgre?) will take you about 4 hours. Ask your guide about the beautiful folklore that tells you about how this waterfalls was formed.
5 – Pelga Falls: Must see one of the most beautiful water falls of Garo Hills; besides others like Rongbang Dare etc.
6 – Siju Caves, Nengkong Caves: These limestone caves are famous for their pristine interiors. However, only a few caves have been explored and chartered. The rest of it is uncharted because the caves run very deep and far.
7- Siju Bird Sactuary: Varities of migratory birds etc can be found here.
8 – The 100 Drums Festival at Asanang: Post harvest Festival of the Garos
9 – Flora: The Venus Fly Trap and the Pitcher plant
10 – Fauna: Elephants, tigers, clouded leopard, leopard, leopard cats, birds, etc.