Balpakram National Park of Meghalaya detailed [MAP]

Balpakram National Park

Balpakram National Park was officially notified and established as a protected area in 1986. Spanning 220 square kilometers, it is located in the South Garo Hills district of the state of Meghalaya in northeast India. Geographically, Balpakram National Park lies between 25°25′ North latitude and 90°52′ East longitude based on the geographic coordinate system.

The notable features of Balpakram National Park include a wide variety of wildlife species such as Asian elephants, tigers, barking deer, gaurs, clouded leopards and the vulnerable red panda. The park serves as significant habitat for the red panda, sparking scientific interest globally. Geographically, the area contains deep valleys, forests stretching across canyons, and several geological formations, creating a scenic landscape.

Balpakram National Park Overview

Where is Balpakram National Park located?

Balpakram National Park in Meghalaya is situated within the Garo Hills, which represent an extension of the Meghalayan Plateau. This gives rise to the area’s distinctive undulating hills, valleys, plateaus and deep gorges. One of the park’s most stunning geographical features is the Mahadeo Gorge, with an immense vertical drop of over 600 meters showcasing the steep topography.

Balpakram valley’s river system suggests a unique climate and vegetation type, with a high monsoonal activity, as reported in “Modern pollen deposition in relation to vegetation and climate of Balpakram valley, Meghalaya, northeast India: Implications for Indo-Burma palaeoecological contexts” by Basumatary et al. (2014).

Adding to the visual spectacle are shola forests interspersed among montane grasslands, creating a unique vegetation mosaic influenced by the region’s relief and rainfall patterns. Along the park’s northern and western boundaries flows the Simsang River, also known as the Goneshwari River. The river’s presence allows the formation of riparian habitats while also supplying water resources.

Balpakram National Park Map

Biodiversity in Balpakram National Park

Flora

Balpakram National Park harbors tropical deciduous and subtropical vegetation types within its boundaries, as reported by Bonnefille et al. (1999).

The deciduous forests consist of tree species such as sal (Shorea robusta), teak (Tectona grandis) and garjan (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus) interspersed with bamboo undergrowth and open grassy patches.

Subtropical vegetation includes a diversity of broad-leaved evergreen species along with shrubs adapted to year-round humidity. An intriguing aspect of the park’s flora is the presence of insectivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp.) as well as sundews (Drosera spp.) with specialized adaptations to trap and digest insects. These carnivorous plants alongwith combination of vegetation types and unique species enables the landscape to support rich wildlife as well as human settlements in the buffer areas.

Fauna

Camera trap surveys conducted in Balpakram National Park have revealed the presence of 53 mammalian species. Prominent among them are threatened species such as the clouded leopard, Asian elephant and endangered primates like hoolock gibbons. Seven primate species inhabit the park, aided by the fruiting trees and dense vegetation.

The camera trap surveys in Balpakram National Park were conducted as part of a three-year project called “Assessing Mammal Presence in the Balpakram–Baghmara Landscape, Meghalaya, India.” A camera-trap photograph of the Small-toothed Palm Civet in Balpakram National Park was captured on April 2, 2013

As a birding hotspot, Balpakram shelters over 300 avian species including the magnificent great pied hornbill, grey-headed fish eagle as well as rare species like Blyth’s kingfisher. The heterogeneous landscape with its mosaic of grasslands, woodlands and wetlands allows this high bird diversity to thrive. Reptiles are also well-represented with numerous species of snakes, lizards and pythons suited to the subtropical climate.

History of Balpakram National Park

The establishment of Balpakram National Park has an intriguing backstory. In 1986, the area comprising today’s national park was purchased by the Government of India from local landowners with appropriate compensation provided to them. This facilitated planned relocation and resettlement of several villages and hamlets that previously existed within the earmarked boundaries.

Over the past few decades, the acquired land has transitioned into a mosaic of primary and secondary forests as fields gradually reverted to a wild state. The primary forests likely represent remnants of old-growth vegetation while the secondary forests emerged on previously cultivated jhum lands left fallow for 25-30 years. Hence, Balpakram National Park in its current state is an outcome of both ecological succession and conscious conservation efforts involving stakeholder negotiations.

Balpakram in UNESCO’s tentative list

Balpakram Landscape, along with the adjoining Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, has been included in UNESCO’s tentative list as a site of rich biodiversity and important geomorphological processes. Fossil deposits offer clues into the area’s geological past, while the spectacular karst topography has given rise to caves like Siju-Dobkhakol – one of India’s longest at 4,772 meters.

Adding to its draw is the linkage of these protected areas through habitat corridors that facilitate wildlife migration. Culturally also, Balpakram holds significance in Hindu mythology as a sacred landscape with folk tales revolving around the Mahadeo gorge and its origin from Lord Hanuman’s actions. Indigenous communities also revere the landscape for its mysterious sites like Matchru peak and Rongsaljong caves. Recognition from UNESCO and the prevalence of legends signify Balpakram’s outstanding universal value for both science and society.

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