Tura

About Tura

Tura is the largest town in the Garo Hills and serves as the administrative capital of West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya. It sits about 220 km west of Shillong by road, in a part of the state that most tourists never reach. This is precisely what makes it worth the journey. The Garo Hills have a completely different character from the Khasi Hills around Shillong: lower in elevation on average, densely forested, and home to the Garo people, one of the few matrilineal tribal communities in Asia where inheritance passes through the mother’s line. Tura is the gateway to some of the most significant protected areas in northeast India, including Nokrek National Park, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the home of the original wild citrus species from which cultivated oranges descended. The town itself has basic hotels, markets, and road connections that make it a functional base for exploring the western reaches of Meghalaya without having to camp. A dedicated two-to-three day itinerary is needed to do justice to the Garo Hills.

Top Attractions in Tura

Nokrek National Park, about 45 km from Tura, is the primary draw for nature-focused visitors. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protecting rare wildlife including the Asian elephant, clouded leopard, and hoolock gibbon, as well as the wild Citrus indica, the ancestor of all domesticated oranges and lemons. Entry requires permits obtained through the Forest Department in Tura, and guided safaris are mandatory. The biodiversity here is exceptional and largely undisturbed.

Tura Peak rises to about 872 metres just above the town and is reachable by a trail from the base. The summit provides views over the Tura plains and the forested hills rolling south toward Bangladesh. The trail passes through secondary forest with birdwatching opportunities.

Siju Caves, about 80 km from Tura near the Simsang River, is one of the longest cave systems in the Indian subcontinent. The caves are home to a massive bat colony, with an estimated million-plus horseshoe bats that stream out at dusk in an extraordinary natural display. The cave interior has formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and some sections require wading through shallow underground streams. Kyllang Rock is a massive granite monolith about 78 km from Tura, rising abruptly from the flat plains. It can be climbed with some effort and offers wide views across the Garo countryside.

Balpakram National Park, about 130 km from Tura, is a dramatic landscape of deep sandstone gorges and dense forest. The Garo people consider it a sacred place where the souls of the dead reside. Wildlife includes elephants, tigers, and wild buffalo. It requires a separate permit and a jeep capable of handling rough forest roads.

Why Visit Tura

Tura opens up a part of Meghalaya that operates entirely outside the standard tourist circuit. The Garo culture, forest ecology, cave systems, and national parks here are of genuine importance and rarely crowded. If you have a week or more in Meghalaya, including the Garo Hills turns a standard itinerary into something much more complete.

Best Time to Visit Tura

October to February is the best window. The monsoon is intense in the Garo Hills (June to September) and forest roads become difficult to navigate. The wildlife in Nokrek is most visible in the drier months when animals concentrate around water sources. January and February are the coolest months, making jungle walking comfortable. The bat emergence at Siju Caves happens year-round but is most dramatic during the dry season when the colony is at full strength.

How to Reach Tura

By Air: Tura has a small airport (RUP) with limited flights from Kolkata. Connectivity is infrequent, so check schedules before planning around it. The more reliable option is to fly to Guwahati and drive to Tura: the road distance is about 220 km via Goalpara in Assam, taking around 6 to 7 hours.

By Rail: The nearest major railheads are Guwahati and Goalpara Town in Assam. From Goalpara, the drive to Tura is about 100 km on roads that pass through the Meghalaya foothills.

By Road: State buses and shared cabs connect Tura to Guwahati and to other parts of the Garo Hills. The drive from Shillong via Guwahati takes approximately 8 to 9 hours and is best done in stages. Private vehicle hire is the most practical option for covering the sights around Tura.

Nearby Destinations

Shillong is 220 km east, the state capital and the starting point for most Meghalaya itineraries. Guwahati in Assam is the main air and rail gateway and a more practical stepping stone for reaching Tura than routing through Shillong. Jowai is in the opposite direction, but rounds out a full east-to-west crossing of Meghalaya for travellers with enough time.

Plan Your Tura Trip

Tura rewards travellers who set aside at least two to three days for the Garo Hills. For the complete picture of Meghalaya from the Khasi Hills to the Garo plateau, explore all Meghalaya destinations.