Dr. Vikas Nimesh and Bibhudutta Sahu highlight the mesmerizing location of Nokrek National Park in Garo Hills, Meghalaya, which has become increasingly popular among local tourists. With evergreen cover, undulating hills, and occasional sightings of elephants and hillock gibbons, Nokrek National Park has become a prime destination for social media influencers, reel creators, and locals looking for a day-long getaway. The recent development of better road connectivity leading up to the park has created a surge of visitors, with an average weekend inflow of 2000 tourists per weekend.
As eco-tourism is on the rise, there is a need to sustainably manage the influx of tourists and balance the livelihoods of local communities while retaining the environmental balance of the biosphere. Local interventions, supported by the government, could include creating a parking bay for all vehicles in Chandigre, introducing E-Vehicles as the means of public transport within the park, clearly defined rules and regulations for visitors, provision of E-Vehicles from Chandigre to Nokrek Peak, training and monitoring on the efficacy of the E-Vehicles, and financial literacy for local communities. With strategic waste management, potential for revenue generation through recycling and upcycling of waste materials, and collaboration between tourism, transport, and renewable energy departments along with local communities, Garo Hills can be placed on the map of clean corridors for long-term sustainability in the state of Meghalaya.
