Wankhar Entomology Museum / Butterfly Museum, Shillong - Timings, Entry Fee, History & Artifacts

At a distance of 2 km from Shillong Bus Stand, Wankhar Entomology Museum is a specialized museum located in Riatsamthiah area of Shillong. Also known as Butterfly Museum, it is one of the most popular museums in Shillong and among the top places to visit in Shillong.

Established during 1930s, it is a private museum owned by the famous Wankhar family of Shillong. Legend says that, MR. Siddhartha Kumar Sarkar, a Bengali entomologist from Kolkata went to Shillong and married a Khasi lady with surname Wankhar. They took initiative to collect various species of insects and butterflies. Now, the granddaughter of Sarkar namely Ms. Rozalin has been taking care of this museum.

Being the only known museum in India devoted to moths and butterflies, it has a rich collection of 1600 types of butterflies and moths from all over the world. Colourful insects and similar endemic species found in nearby regions can also be seen at the museum. Wankhar Entomology Museum has also played an important role in the conservation of rare butterfly and moth species by starting a breeding program. The museum has a few displays providing insight into the life span and habitat of these insects.

Timings: 10 AM - 4 PM from Monday to Friday, 10 AM - 1 PM on Saturday & Closed on Sundays

Entry Fee: Rs. 50 for Indians & Rs. 100 for Foreigners