Boldak Matchu Karam

As mentioned in another article, Balpakram (National Park) is home to several mystical sites with no logical or scientific explanations. One such site is known as Boldak Matchu Karam.

Boldak (Schima wallichii) is the Garo name for an evergreen needlewood tree. The one that stands at Balkpakram has mysterious markings which have seemingly been etched onto the tree trunk due to jute ropes.

It is customary within the community to slaughter cattle when a person dies; these slain cattle are taken to the spirit realm by the spirit of the dead to be kept as domesticated property.

The community believes that spirits of the dead tie their cattle to this tree with jute ropes and rest up on the way to the spirit realm. The constant tethering of cattle over the ages has left such deep markings on the trunk of the boldak.

Due to a cyclone some years back, the tree got uprooted. Similar markings started showing up on a rock that stood close to the tree.

The mysterious part of it all is another boldak tree started growing in the same place; the same markings became etched onto its trunk when it had grown strong enough. It seemed as if they had made the stone their temporary rest stop while the beloved tree was not there.