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Meghalaya

Tura (Garo Hills)

Garo hills base for Nokrek, Siju caves and a hundred drums

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Best time to visit Tura (Garo Hills)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to December
  • Shoulder: January to April, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? OctoberNovemberDecember

Tura (Garo Hills) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb stays dry at 10-26 C and still works for the Nokrek trail and the long road south to Balpakram.

Summer March to May Shoulder

March-April is hot at this low altitude and hazy with jhum burning; May brings the first Garo hills downpours.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Jun-Sep the Garo hills take huge rain and the Williamnagar and Baghmara roads slide, so travel becomes guesswork.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov is the payoff: harvest under way, the 100 Drums Wangala at Asanang 18 km out, and clear ridge air.

What Tura (Garo Hills) is actually like

Garo town with basic hotels and no traveller circuit; you will be the only outsider on most shared jeeps

Things to do in Tura

The local places worth your time in and around Tura, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Tura Peak

    Viewpoint · 4 km out

    Wooded hill straight above town, about two hours up to the observatory and back; start by 7 am, it clouds in later

  • Nokrek National Park

    Wildlife · 45 km out

    Biosphere forest around the highest peak of the Garo hills, with wild citrus groves; permit and guide from the Tura forest office

  • Pelga Falls

    Waterfall · 7 km out

    Wide falls on the Ganol river where Tura families picnic on Sundays; shallow enough to wade, come midweek for it empty

  • Asanang

    Village · 18 km out

    Ground where the Hundred Drums Wangala is danced every November; outside the festival week it is a quiet Garo village

  • Tura Bazar

    Market · in town

    Town market for Garo produce, dried fish and jackfruit; busiest on weekend mornings and the last place to stock up for Nokrek

Getting to Tura (Garo Hills)

Guwahati 220 km by bus, 6-7 h via Goalpara; Baljek airport near Tura is built but not operational

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
340 m
State
Meghalaya
Coordinates
25.5126, 90.2172

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Tura (Garo Hills)?

October to December is peak season in Tura (Garo Hills). January to April is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Oct-Nov is the payoff: harvest under way, the 100 Drums Wangala at Asanang 18 km out, and clear ridge air.

How many days do you need in Tura (Garo Hills)?

3 days is the usual stay. Garo town with basic hotels and no traveller circuit; you will be the only outsider on most shared jeeps.

How do you get to Tura (Garo Hills)?

Guwahati 220 km by bus, 6-7 h via Goalpara; Baljek airport near Tura is built but not operational. Practical ways in: road.

Is Tura (Garo Hills) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Tura (Garo Hills)?

Nov: 100 Drums Wangala at Asanang (dates shift yearly). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Tura?

Tura Peak, Nokrek National Park, Pelga Falls, Asanang and Tura Bazar. Wooded hill straight above town, about two hours up to the observatory and back; start by 7 am, it clouds in later.

Nearby, and where to go next

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