Tura is the largest town in the Garo Hills and the headquarters of West Garo Hills district in western Meghalaya. It sits at the foot of Tura Peak, in the foothills of the Nokrek range, at an elevation of about 349 m. The British made it their permanent administrative base for the Garo Hills in 1867, and it is still the commercial and administrative centre of the region.
This is the homeland of the Garo people, who call themselves A·chik Mande, and the town is a good place to meet a culture that is matrilineal, largely Christian and rooted in the hills. Garo is the principal language alongside English. The best-known cultural event is the Wangala harvest festival, with its Hundred Drums celebration held near Tura around November.
The town itself is modest, so the attraction is what lies around it. Tura Peak, Pelga Falls and Rongbangdare are within a morning's drive. Nokrek National Park, a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve, is about 45 km away. Further south, Siju Cave, the Siju Bird Sanctuary and Balpakram are long trips better planned as overnight journeys.
Tura suits travellers who like slow, unscripted trips. There is no railway and no scheduled flight service at the time of writing, so the way in is a road journey of roughly five hours from Guwahati. Come between November and March, keep expectations about facilities realistic, and use local guides for every forest trip.
Before you plan
Tura at a glance
- Best months
- November to MarchNovember to March; December and January are the driest and most comfortable. May to September is very wet, with landslide risk on hill roads.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 to 3 days for Tura and nearby sights2 to 3 days for Tura and nearby sights; add 2 more nights if you want Siju and Balpakram
- Airport
- GuwahatiGuwahati (GAU) is the main airport, about 220 km and roughly five hours by road. Tura's Baljek Airport is not known to run scheduled services; check before relying on it.
- Railway station
- No railway in TuraNo railway in Tura; Guwahati (GHY) is the usual railhead, about 220 km away by road
- Getting around
- Local taxis and shared sumos along…Local taxis and shared sumos along the main roads; hire a car with a driver for the waterfalls, Nokrek and the south, where there is little public transport
- Daily budget
- Varies widelyVaries widely; guest houses and local meals are modest, while hired vehicles are the main cost, especially for Siju and Balpakram
- Senior comfort
- Moderate in townModerate in town; most outings involve long drives, uneven paths and basic facilities, so choose gentle options such as Pelga Falls
- Language
- Garo is the principal local languageGaro is the principal local language; English and Hindi are widely understood, with Bengali spoken by a sizeable minority
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Tura: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Tura itinerary
One good day
1 day in Tura
Start at sunrise with the Tura Peak climb, which takes about 60 to 90 minutes up with a local guide, and be down by late morning. After lunch and a rest in town, drive the short distance to Pelga Falls, about 7 km away, for the viewpoint and bamboo bridge. Return before dark and spend the evening walking around the town centre.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Tura
Do the Tura Peak walk early, then rest. In the afternoon visit Pelga Falls and spend time by the river. Dinner in town.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Tura
Climb Tura Peak at dawn, rest at midday and visit Pelga Falls in the afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →
