11 Nov 2024        10:01:24 am

Geography

Garo Hills

Tags : Garo Hills

Topic: Hills

Why in the news?

• Flash floods and landslips caused by incessant rain have claimed the lives of at least 10 people across five districts in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region. Seven people had died in the South Garo Hills and three in the West Garo Hills, the two worst-affected districts. 

Source: The Hindu 

About Garo Hills:

• These form the western part of Meghalaya and cover an area of approx. 8,000 sq km.
• These are part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests eco-region.
• Situated close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Garo hills are part of the Patkai hill range, which extends across the Indo-Myanmar border. 
• The region, one of the wettest places in the world, is drained by various tributaries of the Brahmaputra River.
• These hills comprises five districts namely North Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, and South-West Garo Hills.
• The Garo Hills are mostly dominated by the tribes known as Garos.
  • The Garos call themselves Achik-mande.
  • They form the second largest tribe in the state of Meghalaya.
  • They are one of the last remaining matrilineal tribes in the world. 
  • Their main festival is the Wangala festival, a harvest festival, which is predominantly celebrated by the Songsareks (those following the traditional religion of animism).
  • The mountain ranges of Arabella and Tura, pass through the Garo Hills, forming the great Balpakram valley in between.
• The highest point in the Garo Hills is Nokrek Peak, with an elevation of 1412 m, which is covered by a thick film of lush forest.
  • The region encompasses the Nokrek National Park. 

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