Parks-and Sanctuary -in-Tura
Tura is a beautiful place, a tourist spot with many parks and caves in and around the place. It ha a sanctuaries, and also known national parks. Below are some of the popular parks and cave that are in Tura:
The Balpakram National Park
It is located to the boundary South of Garo Hills, Meghalaya is at a distance of 62 kms from Baghmara, headquarters of South Garo Hills and 167Km from nearest major town Tura. Balpakram National Park is also close to the international boundary of Bangladesh Known as "land of perpetual winds'. It is concealed in mystery, drenched with charm, blessed with the most awe-inspiring scenery, magnificent and charming tribal lores, along with amazing variety of wild life, legend, beliefs and sentiments. In simple terms, it is a “Traveler’s Paradise”.This is the place is for travelers who are ready to face tough challenges. There is a great crevice or deep gorge in Balpakram and is mostly compared to the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. It is said that the spirits of the dead dwell temporarily before entering on the final journey. It is an abode to the rare Lesser Panda, the Stag like Serow and the Indian bison. A variety of very rare medicinal herbs locally called “dikges” grows abundantly in Balpakram. The Govt. of Meghalaya created Balpakram National Park on 15th February 1986 after noticing the immense significance of the areas for conservation and its mythological richness. Balpakram is the land of beautiful beauty, lying at an altitude of almost 3,000 ft. above sea level, covering an area of 200sq. kms. It is a vast plateau of dense forest, with wild life. It is undoubtedly one of the richest spot in bio-diversity in the country. Many unique and exotic species of flora and fauna are in this park - many almost extinct. Very different forms of wildlife found in the area had naturally evoked a lot of interest among the elite circles of botanists, naturalist, and zoologist.
Nokrek National Park
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is one of its kind biosphere reserves in the entire Northeast.. The entire biosphere reserve is hilly with red loam soil. It can vary from clayey to sandy loam and is rich in organic matter and nitrogen. The rock formations in the park is primarily gneisses, granulites, migmatites, amphibolites and banned iron formation, intruded by basis and ultra-basic bodies. The area consists of patchy sedimentary rock composed of pebble bed, sand stone and carbonaceous shales. The park has varied flora and fauna. It is covered by a virgin canopy of thick, tall and lush green forests. Bombax ceiba, sterculiavillosa, trewia nudiflora, phragmites karka, arundo donax, imperata cylindrical, ipomea reptans, enhydra flushians are found in the park area. Nokrek is famous for having a vestige population of red panda that generates curiosity across the world. It is also an important habitat of Asian elephants.
The park is the home to eight species of cats ranging from tiger to marbled cat. There are seven species of primates in Nokrek. Near the main trek to the peak one can spot the rare stump-tailed macaque and the pig-tailed macaque. Hoolocks are also found in abundance in the park. The park is the home to a large number of animals and reptiles which include clouded leopard, golden cat, wild buffalo, elephant, tiger, serow, capped langur, fishing cat, pangolin and python etc. Nokrek is also an important bird area. Hornbill, peacock, pheasant and green pigeon are found in the national park. Other than the varied flora and fauna of the Nokrek National Park the most famous sites in the park include the famous Nokrek Peak and the Rongbang Dare Waterfall. The best time to visit the park is from October to May.
<>Siju Bird Sanctuary
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<>Siju Bird Sanctuary in Meghalaya is in the district of South Garo Hills near the Siju caves. The nearest city to Siju Bird Sanctuary is Baghmara. Siju Bird Sanctuary is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the northeastern region. Siju Bird Sanctuary of Meghalaya, which is located in the hilly region, is a perfect destination for people who like bird watching of different species. The sanctuary was made so that the birds do not feel caged and away from human disturbance. The entry of the Siju Bird Sanctuary is beautifully embellished by rock formations. The Meghalaya Siju Bird Sanctuary is a suitable destination for children. The sanctuary is also is a home to many unique as well as the endangered ones apart from the common birds.Such birds are taken more care of because their extinction would mark the end of their species. Though you can visit Siju Bird Sanctuary at Meghalaya during anytime of the year, the best time to visit would be winters when you can find many foreign birds migrating to the sanctuary to escape the cool or hot weather of their respective native land. If you visit Siju Bird Sanctuary in winter, you have to look out for Siberian duck that lands here.