West Garo Hills is an administrative district in Garo Hills of the state of Meghalaya in India. Tura town is the administrative headquarters of the district. The district occupies an area of 3714 km². In 2011, its population was 643,291. As of 2011, it is the second most populous district of Meghalaya (out of 7), after East Khasi Hills.
West Garo Hills district is located at the westernmost part of Meghalaya. The district is bounded by East Garo Hills district on the east, by South Garo Hills district on the south-east, Goalpara district of Assam state on the north and north-west and Bangladesh on the south.
History.
On 22 October 1976, the Garo Hills district was bifurcated into the West Garo Hills district and the East Garo Hills district. In June 1992, the West Garo Hills district was further divided into two districts: the present day West Garo Hills district and South Garo Hills district. The Ampati Civil Sub-Division was upgraded to a full fledged district as South West Garo Hills with its headquarters at Ampati. It was carved out of West Garo Hills on 7 August 2012
Economy.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named West Garo Hills one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the three districts in Meghalaya currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Mahendraganj international border crossing.
The Mahendraganj-Baksiganj international border crossing is at the Mahendraganj town in West Garo Hills district in India, on NH12 to Baksiganj in Mymensingh division, Bangladesh. It is an international crossing being further developed as part of the Bharatmala.
Divisions.
Administrative divisions.
West Garo Hills district presently has eight C &amp; RD Blocks
Demographics.
Religions in West Garo Hills (2011)
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Christianity
 (60.20%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Hinduism
 (19.11%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Islam
 (16.60%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Buddhism
 (0.53%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  Others (3.56%)
The district has a Christian majority (most being from Garo community), with having significant Hindu and Muslim population (most being from Bengali community). According to the 2011 census West Garo Hills district has a population of 643,291, roughly equal to the nation of Montenegro, or the US state of Vermont. This gives it a ranking of 514th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 24.02%. West Garo Hills has a sex ratio of 979 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 68.38%.
Tura has a mixed population of Garos or A'chiks (as they prefer to call themselves), Bengalis, Nepalis, Assamese, members of other ethnic groups such as the Hajong, Rabhas and Koches, Bodo and a fair sprinkling of South Indians in the Catholic Church, the teaching profession and the paramilitary forces.
Languages.
Languages spoken in West Garo Hills (2011)
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Garo
 (50.69%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Bengali
 (17.82%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Assamese
 (1.85%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Hajong
 (5.68%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;   Hindi
 (1.48%) ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  Others (21.48%)
Garo (or A'chik) is the most spoken language in the district. Other languages clubbed under Garo include A'Tong. Goalpariya, locally known as Deshi is the second largest language. Hajong, Koch and Rabha are the next largest languages. Assamese is spoken by a small minority. The Muslim non-tribals along with the Rabhas, Koches and Hajongs of the plain belt mostly study Assamese as their MIL, whereas Hindu non-tribals study Bengali as their MIL. A small minority of Hindi speakers are in the district.
Culture.
Places of Interest.
Some places of interest in Garo Hills are Siju Cave, Nokrek Peak, Siju Bird Sanctuary, Imilsang Dare falls, Sosibibra and Rongdong falls.
Some places worth visiting in West Garo Hills are
Flora and fauna.
In 1986 West Garo Hills district, along with its sister districts South and East Garo Hills, became home to Nokrek National Park. The park has an area of .
References.
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