South Garo Hills

The South Garo Hills district came into existence on 18th June 1992 after the division of the West Garo Hills district. The district headquarter is Baghmara.

The district is located in the southern part of the state and bounded by West Garo Hills district in the west, East Garo Hills in the north, West Khasi Hills in the East and Bangladesh in the South.


Flaura and Fauna


The majority of forests fall in this region and the tropical vegetation covers the elevated area up to 1000. The Flora and Fauna of the district is very wide as evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, bamboo thickets and grasslands including riparian forests are found in the district, and a person can enormous number of animals, birds in the district forests.

Rivers


Someswari, Moheskola, Moheskola, Mahadeo are the important rivers.

Attractions


Balpakram, Boldak Matchu Karam, Chidimak, Matchru, Areng Patal, Goncho Dare, Dikkini Ring, Rongsaljong Agal, Rongsobok Rongkol, Siju Cave

Important places to visit

Baghmara


Baghmara is the head quarter of the South Garo Hills District. It is situated on the banks of Simsang River on the Bangladesh border. Baghmara is famous for its Baghmara Wildlife sanctuary which is a unique botanical wonder of the State, and an insectivorous pitcher plant known as memang Koksi or the spirits basket.

Nengkong


Nengkong is 14 km north of Baghmara. The place has 3 known caves.

First cave is the Tetengkol Balwakol which is 5, 33 kms in length and is also the 2nd longest cave in the Indian Sub-Continent.

Dobakkol chibe nala is almost 2 kms long. The 3rd cane is the Bok-bak dobakkol which is 1 km long.

Siju Caves


Siju Caves are located near Naphak Lake. Siju Caves are the third longest cave in the Indian Sub –Continent. The caves are made from limestone. The Simsang stalactites in these caves resemble those of the Blue Grotto in the Isle of Capri.

Balpakram


Balpakram in South Garo Hills has a National Wildlife Park. The literal meaning of Balpakram is the "land of perpetual winds".

The place is having a great rock face 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 reside here for sometime before leaving to their final journey. Balparam is home to the rare Lesser Panda, the Indian bison and the Stag like Serow.



Facts & Figures


Year of formation 18th of June 1992
Area 1850 Sq. km
Forest Land 100062 Hectare
Latitude 25° 27' N
Longitude 90° 42 ' E
Population (2001) 99100
Male 51000
Female 48100
Population density 54 Per Sq. km
Sex Ratio 941
Literacy Rate 55.82%
No. of Blocks 04
No. of Towns 01
No. of Villages 595
Postal Code 794102
STD Code 03639


How to reach


Baghmara, the headquarters of the district, is connected by road with nearest town Tura as well as with the state capital Shillong. The road distance between Baghmara to Tura is 122 kms.

The road distance between Baghmara to the state capital Shillong is 445 kms. Buses and taxis by private transport services run regularly connecting Baghmara with the nearest town of Tura. The nearest railhead is at Gauhati, the capital of Assam which is about 342 kms from Baghmara.

There are Auto services in and around Baghmara for the convenience of office goers and others.