North Garo Hills

North Garo Hills is a district in the state of Meghalaya which came into existence on 21 January 2012. The district headquarters are located at Baghmara, after which the administrative unit was named. North Garo Hills comprises part of West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills districts.

The North Garo Hills district was inaugurated by the then Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 22 January 2012. The inauguration ceremony was held at PGS VICTORIA HOSPITAL, BAGHMARA with G M SIDDA as the Guest of Honour.

The total extent of the North Garo Hills District is about 1815 square kilometres. The district is situated at an average elevation of 600 meters above sea level. The district is surrounded by Bangladesh on its eastern boundary.

There are two sub-divisions under the North Garo Hills District. These are the Baghmara sub-division and the Nongstoin sub-division. North Garo Hills district has 4 blocks. These are the Baghmara block, Chokpot block, Rongram block and Resubelpara block.

History

The district was formed in the year 2012 when it was carved out of the existing West Garo Hills district. It is one of the newest districts in India. Before becoming a part of this new district, the North Garo Hills region used to be a part of West Garo Hills.

The North Garo Hills District has a rich cultural history that dates back to several thousand years. However, there are no historical sites present in this district.

Geography

North Garo Hills District is situated in the state of Meghalaya which lies within the Barak Valley.

This district is located between 24.10 degrees to 25.18 degrees north latitude and 91.20 degrees to 92.50 degrees east longitude, which makes it one of the most picturesque places in India. This district has a total geographical area of about 1815 square kilometres.

Typically, the landscape of this district is covered with rolling hills and picturesque mountains. The highest point in this district is Dudongkara which has an altitude of 2,054 metres.

Climate

There is a huge variation in the climatic conditions of this district.

The temperature here varies from 16 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius throughout the year and there is no specific season for best weather.

Administrative Divisions

This district is divided into 5 blocks, namely Baghmara, Matigiri, Rongjeng, Selsella and Resubelpara. In total there are 11 villages under this district.

Demographics

The district is a major player in the tourism industry.

There are about 9,55,543 people living within this district as per the 2011 census.

The population of the North Garo Hills District mostly includes Garos and Hajongs. The total percentage of Scheduled Tribes living here is 98 per cent. The literacy rate of this district is very high when compared to the other Indian states.

The government has prioritized the development of this district in all fields. The state government aims at developing North Garo Hills in a way that it will successfully compete with any other developed region of India.

There are several educational institutions present in North Garo Hills District. These institutions offer education to students from Class 1 to post-graduation level. There are as such 11 higher secondary schools and 29 lower secondary schools in this district.

The health department of the state government has also kept North Garo Hills as a top priority. The main objective of the government is to ensure the better health facilities are provided to the people of all four sub-divisions under the North Garo Hills District.

The district has its own government hospital which offers medical services to the public. It also includes a department for women and child welfare. The staff at this hospital have received extensive training in order to offer high-quality treatment at a reasonable cost.

Culture

The culture of this district is similar to the other parts of the Garo Hills.

There are several sports events that take place annually in North Garo Hills District. These games include sports like archery, cane stick, wrestling and many others. These games serve as an important source of entertainment for not just the locals but also people from neighbouring districts.

The culture of this district is not just limited to sporting events; people here also celebrate several festivals throughout the year with full enthusiasm and excitement. Some of the most famous Hindu festivals that are celebrated with zeal include Rongchu gala, Garo new year etc. On the other hand, some of the important Buddhist festivals celebrated here include Mopin-parab, Buddha Purnima etc.

There are various tribal communities living in North Garo Hills District with their own unique cultures and traditions.

The Nyishi tribe is one of the most prominent tribes among all these communities. This tribe mainly consists of farmers who live in the Upper Assam region and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Nepalis are also one of the many tribal communities residing in the North Garo Hills District. They can be easily identified by their unique Nepali language and physical features. These people mainly consist of tea garden labourers, wood carvers etc.

North Garo Hills is very rich in terms of culture as it has been home to several tribes since ancient times. Some of the popular cultures celebrated by the people here include Karam, Tukchek Ngam etc.

Economy

The economy of this district mainly depends upon agriculture and tourism. The prime crops grown in this region are paddy, maize etc. The region is also known for its agricultural activities during the monsoon season.

There has been a considerable rise in employment opportunities after the launch of several development projects initiated by the government. These schemes include construction work, road work, security forces etc.

The tourism industry of North Garo Hills District has played an important role in the local economy. People from different parts of India visit this district mainly to pay a visit to religious sites and natural attractions like waterfalls etc. There are many tourist resorts that have been established here to promote domestic and international tourism within the district.

There are many famous tourist attractions in North Garo Hills District. Some of these include the popular waterfalls Timlibari and Nangalbibra which attract a large number of tourists every year. The Nokrek National Park is another prime attraction among all these places. This park was established in order to protect one of the endangered species of birds, the Indian Pitta. There is also a dam called Dudhnoi Dam which serves as an ideal picnic spot for the locals and tourists alike.

Rivers

There are several rivers that flow through North Garo Hills District. While the Bangladeshi part of this region depends upon the Feni River for most of its agricultural activities, the Indian side is mainly dependent on Ganol and Dudhnoi rivers.

Waterfalls

One of the major tourist attractions in the North Garo Hills District is its waterfalls. There are many popular waterfalls that attract tourists throughout the year making it one of the most preferred tourist destinations for both domestic and international tourists. Some of these waterfalls include Timlibari, Nangalbibra etc.

Nature Reserves

There are several nature reserves in North Garo Hills District. These reserves not only serve as beautiful tourist attractions but also provide shelter to several species of birds and animals. Some of these famous reserve parks include Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Dudhnoi (Doudhanggiri) Nature Reserve etc. There is also a proposed plan of the government to establish a new reserve forest in the district.

The main ecological system found throughout Meghalaya is the evergreen forest. The North Garo Hills District of Meghalaya primarily has evergreen forests. These forests are a unique habitat for a variety of animals and plants.

Some of the popular species of animals found in North Garo Hills District include barking deer, civet cats, elephants, wolves, wild boars etc. The main birds found here are hornbills, peacocks and parrots.

Hot Springs

The North Garo Hills District of Meghalaya also has a number of hot springs located in the region. These hot springs are basically formed due to the high temperature deep inside the Earth's crust. However, some of these hot springs have been developed into popular tourist destinations because of their healing properties and unique taste.

The popular places where hot springs are located in this region include Dawki, Chenga etc. These hot springs also attract tourists who prefer to try the taste of sulphur water.

Peaks

Another major tourist attraction in this district is its peaks. These peaks offer a panoramic view of the entire region and attract a number of hikers throughout the year. Some of the well-known hill stations located in North Garo Hills District include Rymbai, Jatinga etc.

Religious Sites

There are several religious sites that attract a large number of tourists to this region. These include the popularly visited churches, monasteries etc. Tourists prefer to visit these places during Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations.

North Garo Hills is also home to one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the entire north-eastern region - the Bawol. This shrine is dedicated to the local deity, Lord Badikthiri and attracts pilgrims not only from the North Garo Hills district but also from all over Meghalaya.

The most popular festivals celebrated in North Garo Hills are Christmas, New Year's Eve etc. Tourists enjoy visiting this place during these two occasions because of the various religious and cultural activities that take place. Some of the most popular activities include singing, dancing etc. The best time to visit North Garo Hills is between October and March.

The majority of the population in Meghalaya follows Christianity with a large number of Catholics living throughout this state. The majority of people in North Garo Hills are Christian.

The culture of North Garo Hills District is also closely related to the Garo tribe which is one of the main tribes in Meghalaya.

Caves

Another major tourist attraction in North Garo Hills District is its series of caves. The most popular cave located in this district is the Rymbai Valley Cave which attracts a large number of tourists throughout the year.

Places of interest in North Garo Hills District

North Garo Hills is very rich in terms of both natural and man-made places of interest. Some of the major tourist attractions include Nokrek National Park, Gorilla Nature Park, Shillong Peak Reserve Forest, World's End, Rymbai Valley Cave, Chenga Hot Springs, etc. There are also many activities available for tourists including hiking, mountaineering etc.

People

The people of North Garo Hills District are known as incredibly hospitable and welcoming. They treat their guests with great respect and warmth.

Folk Dance & Music/ Festivals

The Garos, the major tribe of North Garo Hills District are mostly known to follow a dance form called Cheraw.

However, there are many other tribes living in this district including the Hajongs, Rabhas and Tiwas. Each of these tribes also has their own culture, language and traditions. Some of the most popular festivals celebrated by the people of North Garo Hills District include Christmas, New Year's Eve etc.

Language

 The language spoken by the majority of the people in this district is known as Khasi. It is related to both English and Bengali languages. Other popular languages spoken in this region include Hindi, Garo etc. The other major languages spoken in North Garo Hills District are Hajong, Rabha and Tiwa.

Transport

Road transport is the most popular mode of transportation in the North Garo Hills District. There are several National Highways passing through this region, making it possible for people to access different parts of Meghalaya very easily.

How to Reach North Garo Hills District?

People can easily reach this district by boarding any non-stop flights to Shillong or Guwahati.

The nearest railway station to North Garo Hills is Mendipathar.

One can easily catch a bus, jeep or taxi from any major city in Meghalaya to reach the North Garo Hills district. One just needs to drop the name of this region and the transport will take you there without any hassle.

Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya is very well connected to other major cities in India via road and railways. It can be reached very easily by boarding any non-stop flight to Shillong which takes approximately two hours.

From there, tourists can travel around this region using different modes of transport including buses, taxis etc.

Best Time to Visit North Garo Hills District

The best time to visit North Garo Hills is between October and March when the weather in this region remains pleasant. During this period, tourists can enjoy a lot of outdoor activities including visiting caves, watching wildlife etc.

August-September is also a good time to plan a trip to the North Garo Hills District since it is during this period that the annual Hornbill Festival is celebrated.

Districts of Meghalaya

Jaintia Hills Division