National Parks in Meghalaya

Balphakram National Park is located south of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, close to Indo-Bangladesh border.
- Balpakram means “land of the eternal wind” according to the myth of the Garo people.
Its vegetation consists of subtropical, grassland, bamboo forest, tropical deciduous trees and carnivorous plants like the pitcher-plant and Drosera.
Major Fauna: Barking deer, Asian golden cat, tiger, marbled cat, wild water buffalo, red panda, elephant.
One of the prominent rivers in the vicinity of the national park is the Simsang River (Goneshwari River or Someshwari River).

Nokrek National Park is located close to Tura Peak in West Garo Hills. It forms the core area of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve.
- The park is named after the Nokrek Range, which is a prominent hill range within its boundaries.
- The Nokrek Range is part of the larger Garo Hills, which are a series of hills and plateaus that extend across the western part of Meghalaya.
The Nokrek region is also an Important Bird Area.
All important river of Garo Hills region rise from the Nokrek Range, of which the Simsang River (known as Someshwari in Bangladesh) is most prominent.
Vegetation: Evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous.
Major Fauna: Red panda, Asian elephant, stump-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, hoolock gibbon.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Meghalaya

The Baghmara Pitcher Plant Sanctuary is located in the South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, on the banks of Someshwari River that divides the Garo Hills into two parts.
This wildlife sanctuary is a protected area for pitcher plants.
This sanctuary is known for its population of the endangered pitcher plant species Nepenthes khasiana, locally known Me’mang-Koksi or ghost basket.
Baghmara Pitcher Plant Sanctuary is the only Sanctuary in Meghalaya where in-situ conservation of Pitcher Plant is being carried out.

The Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the East Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya.
The Sanctuary is home to many Schedule I species such as Hoolock gibbon, Serow, Slow loris, Pied Horn bill, Leopard etc.

The Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
The sanctuary is situated within the Eastern Himalayan Global Biodiversity Hotspot.
The Umtrew River marks the western boundary of the Reserve Forest and the Sanctuary.

The oldest and the first Wildlife Sanctuary of Meghalaya situated in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya
Siju Wildlife Sanctuary is situated near the Simsang River, which is the longest river of Meghalaya. The Simsang River flows along the western edge of the sanctuary.