Featured Cultural Expedition

Wangala Festival Tour — Garo Hills & Assam

8 Days · Assam · Meghalaya

Expedition overview

A festival journey to the Garo Hills of Meghalaya anchored by the Wangala 'Hundred Drums' harvest festival, combined with Manas National Park, Bodo villages, the bell-metal craft of Sarthebari and Kulsi river dolphins.

Why choose this expedition

Wangala is the largest Garo festival — 100 drums, traditional dance and Garo cuisine.
Manas safari and a Bodo village lunch on the same day.
Watch Sarthebari's bell-metal craftsmen make ritual and household ware.
Two traditional Garo villages — Selbalgrey and Garubada — beyond the festival ground.
Close with Gangetic dolphins on the Kulsi river on the drive back to Guwahati.

Itinerary highlights

Manas National Park
Bansbari Range
Bodo tribal villages
Sarthebari bell-metal craft
Rangsapara — cleanest village
Selbalgrey traditional Garo village
Hoolock Gibbon Reserve
Wangala Hundred Drums Festival at Rongram
Garubada weaving village
Kulsi river dolphins

Cultural highlights

Bodo tribal lunch in Manas
Sarthebari bell-metal village
Rangsapara Garo village
Wangala Festival at Rongram
Garubada weaving village

Tribal communities encountered

Bodo
Garo

Wildlife & nature

Manas — Bengal Florican, golden langur, pygmy hog
Hoolock Gibbon Reserve near Selbalgrey
Gangetic dolphin on the Kulsi river

Photography opportunities

Garo dancers and the 100-drum ensemble at Rongram
Bell-metal craftsmen of Sarthebari at the forge
Bodo women weavers in Manas villages
Hoolock gibbon in the Garo Hills
Dolphins surfacing on the Kulsi at sunset

Festival experiences

Wangala (Garo, Nov)

Day-wise itinerary

Day 1
Guwahati to Manas
Arrive in Guwahati and drive west to Manas National Park on this Meghalaya travel experience, arriving in time for an evening bonfire beneath the Bansbari forest canopy.
Day 2
Manas & Bodo villages
Walk through Bodo villages on Manas National Park's edge, share a traditional lunch with local families, then embark on an afternoon Bansbari range safari.
Day 3
Manas to Bongaigaon via Sarthebari
Visit Sarthebari's renowned bell-metal craftsmen on this Northeast India tour, watching ritual vessels take shape at the forge, before continuing west to Bongaigaon.
Day 4
Bongaigaon to Tura via Rangsapara
Pause at Rangsapara, celebrated as Assam's cleanest village, then cross into the forested Garo Hills on this Meghalaya tour and settle into Tura by evening.
Day 5
Selbalgrey & Wangala
Explore Selbalgrey's traditional Garo village and the surrounding Hoolock Gibbon Reserve before joining the hundred-drums celebration at the Wangala Festival in Meghalaya.
Day 6
Garubada weaving & festival ground
Discover Garubada's intricate weaving traditions in the morning on this Wangala Festival tour, then return to the festival ground for more Garo dance, music and communal celebration.
Day 7
Tura to Guwahati via Kulsi
Journey back toward Guwahati on this Meghalaya travel experience with a peaceful boat ride on the Kulsi river to photograph Gangetic dolphins surfacing at sunset.
Day 8
Departure
Depart from Guwahati airport after a memorable week of Meghalaya travel, festival colour, ancient craft traditions and rare wildlife across Assam and the Garo Hills.

Responsible travel notes

Buy Garo weaves and bell-metal directly from the village producers.
Ask before photographing dancers and elders in regalia.
Respect ritual restrictions during Wangala — some performances are not for outsiders to photograph.
Carry out all plastic and packaging from village stays.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Wangala Festival held?: Annually in the second week of November at Asanang/Rongram, near Tura in West Garo Hills.
Do I need a permit for Meghalaya?: No Inner Line Permit is required for Meghalaya. Standard ID is sufficient.
How do I reach Tura?: Drive from Guwahati (≈8 hrs) or fly Guwahati–Tura via small aircraft when seasonally available. We arrange ground transport.

Related festivals

Wangala Festival
Meghalaya

Related expeditions

Plan this expedition

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Living Roots Expeditions designs each journey with handpicked village hosts, local guides and ethical partners.

Email us at hello@livingrootsexpeditions.com