 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Balpakram National Park" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Balpakram National Park | |
|---|---|
 Balpakram Canyon | |
   | |
 Interactive map of Balpakram National Park | |
| Location | South Garo Hills ofMeghalaya |
| Nearest city | Baghmara |
| Coordinates | 25°25′N90°52′E / 25.417°N 90.867°E /25.417; 90.867 |
| Area | 220 km2 (85 sq mi) |
| Established | 27 December 1987 |
| Governing body | Government of Meghalaya,Government of India |
Balpakram National Park is anational park inSouth Garo Hills inMeghalaya, India, located at an elevation of about 910 m (3,000 ft) close to the international border with Bangladesh. It was inaugurated in December 1987 and provides habitat forbarking deer,Asian golden cat,Bengal tiger,marbled cat,wild water buffalo,red panda andIndian elephant. Balpakram means "land of the eternal wind" according to the myth of theGaro people.
The Central government of India has nominated the Garo Hills Conservation Area (GHCA), straddling South and West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya, as a World Heritage Site, which includes Balpakram National Park.[1][2] It has been listed inUNESCOWorld Heritage tentative list.[3]
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(May 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Balpakram National Park is home to wide species of plants and animals. Its vegetation consists of subtropical, grassland, bamboo forest, tropical deciduous trees and carnivorous plants like the pitcher-plant andDrosera.
Species recorded includeIndian elephant,chital deer,wild water buffalo,red panda,Bengal tiger, andmarbled cat. The rivers and lakes in the wildlife reserve are home to various species of birds.
ASchima wallichii tree has a depression on its trunk. Local people believe that it was caused by spirits that take rest here on their way to their abode of the dead and tether animals killed on their funeral.
The best time to visit Balpakram National Park is from late October to May, when the weather is pleasant without rainfall. The park can be reached fromShillong by road fromGuwahati airport to Tura and Baghmara. Entry fees will have to be paid at the park's gate.[citation needed]
