How To Reach Tura

Tura is a hilly town located in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya in north-eastern India. It also serves as the district headquarters of the region and is packed with calm flowing rivulets and lush green plains of sheer scenic beauty. Tura is a popular holiday getaway in the state and is a flourishing town packed with plenty of tourist attractions around the region. Tourist favourites like the Siju caves and the Balpakram and Nokrek wildlife sanctuaries lie just ahead of Tura, which makes it a well-frequented destination among most travellers who visit the region. While it is essentially a remote town that remains untouched from unnecessary human interferences, it can be reached easily via road travel. Here is a list of the most convenient ways to reach Tura.

Since Tura has no connectivity with flights, the nearest airport for travellers flying into the state is situated in Shillong. The Shillong Airport is only around 35 km away from Tura but has limited operations domestically, most of which are from Kolkata. Better connectivity to other major cities can be availed from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, which is located around 200 km away from Tura. Public and private transportation is available from both airports though to allow for easy transfer to Tura. If budget is not a concern for you, Pawan Hans has helicopter services operating to Tura from both Guwahati and Shillong.

There is no direct rail connectivity to Tura. The nearest train station is located in the city of Guwahati in Assam. Travellers who don’t prefer the option of flying can catch a train to Guwahati railway station and then catch a bus or private car to cover the 200 km distance to Tura. Train travel in the North-east is especially wonderful with its sceneries of lush green hillocks and sprouting waterfalls greeting you on your way.

Tura is connected to Guwahati in Assam and Shillong in Meghalaya through National Highway 40. There are daytime sumo services that run from both cities to Tura, apart from overnight buses. Public buses are run by MTC (Meghalaya Transport Corporation) on a daily basis and are available for Tura from the Interstate Bus Terminus in Beltola, Guwahati. Private buses are available from Machkowa in Guwahati, with both day and night services. Taxis to Tura can be hired from Tourist Taxi Stand near Police Bazaar in Shillong, and from near the ASTC Complex in Guwahati.

Travellers do have the option to walk around and explore the beauty of Tura on foot. But most of the key tourist spots here are located at large distances apart, and the best way to go around here is to hire a private car and visit all the spots on your itinerary at your own leisure.