Butterfly Museum

Butterfly Museum (widely known as the Wankhar Entomology Museum) in Shillong (celebrated across entomological science as India's only privately owned butterfly and moth museum, founded by the naturalist family of S.J. Wankhar in Riatsamthiah, world famous for housing an extraordinary repository of over 1,600 preserved specimens of rare Himalayan and tropical butterflies, nocturnal giant silk moths including the massive Atlas Moth with 30 cm wingspans, iridescent jewel beetles, walking stick phasmids, rhinoceros beetles, and butterfly captive breeding programs aimed at preserving endangered species), located in Riatsamthiah in Shillong in Meghalaya, stands as Shillong's most fascinating natural science institution.

Maintained with passionate dedication across three generations of the Wankhar family, this intimate private museum offers entomologists, nature students, and curious travelers an astonishing look into the micro world of Meghalaya's rainforest insects.

It's the home of the luminous Blue Mormon and Kaiser i-Hind butterfly mounts whose wings shimmer with iridescent structural colors under natural light, the giant glass shadow boxes displaying multi colored rhinoceros beetles with formidable horn pincers, the educational micro breeding tanks where caterpillars transform into chrysalises, the antique entomological pin cabinets, and an intensely peaceful, deeply educational museum atmosphere filled with scientific curiosity and old world colonial charm.

It represents a rich Meghalaya entomology heritage, biodiversity preservation, and educational sightseeing tourism where rare butterflies, giant moths, insect breeding exhibits, and Shillong city tours unite in Butterfly Museum.

Located in Riatsamthiah near Mawkhar in central Shillong, it sits 2 km northwest of Police Bazar, 29 km from Shillong Airport (Umroi, SHL), 97 km from Guwahati Railway Station (GHY), 11 km from Elephant Falls, and 15 km from Shillong Peak, easily reached in 8 minutes by local taxi or on foot.

The 1,600+ Insect Collection & Giant Atlas Moths

The museum boasts one of India's most complete collections of Rhopalocera (butterflies) and Heterocera (moths) collected across the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo hills over the past seven decades.

Star exhibits include the world's largest moth, the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas)—whose wing patterns mimic snake heads to deter avian predators, along with Moon Moths, Swallowtails, and Leaf Butterflies.

Truth is, discovering how dead leaf butterflies use camouflage to blend into dry forest floors will completely change how you view nature's intelligence.

Captive Breeding Conservation & Educational Programs

Living Breeding Laboratory: Beyond preserved mounts, the museum operates a captive breeding setup for commercial butterfly farming and wild ecological restocking, helping local farmers earn livelihoods through sustainable butterfly pupae cultivation.

Curator Guided Tours: The Wankhar family personally guides visitors through the glass display cases, explaining complex insect lifecycles, camouflage adaptations, and forest ecology.

Shillong Heritage & Science Day Tour Plan

The Shillong Science & Culture Circuit: Morning visit to Butterfly Museum in Riatsamthiah (10:00 AM to 11:30 AM: examine 1,600 insect cases with curator guide) -> walk to Mawkhar Presbyterian Church & heritage quarter (11:45 AM to 12:45 PM) -> lunch in Police Bazar -> afternoon visit to Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (2:00 PM to 4:30 PM: explore 7 storey museum) -> evening walk around Ward's Lake (5:00 PM to 6:30 PM).

Visiting Advice: Because this is an intimate private museum in a residential property, prior appointment or calling ahead is recommended, especially for large school groups or research delegations.

After marveling at the delicate wonders of Butterfly Museum, visit Ward's Lake, tour Elephant Falls, or explore Don Bosco Centre.