Wankhar Entomology Museum

Wankhar Entomology Museum is a private entomology museum located in Riatsamthiah, Shillong, Meghalaya. Established and maintained by the Wankhar family, it houses one of Northeast India's notable collections of butterflies, moths, beetles and other insects. The museum is known for its extensive display of preserved specimens, including rare and endemic species from Meghalaya and the region, and serves as an educational resource on insect diversity and conservation.

Visitors can expect a compact, family-run museum housed in a residential building displaying thousands of preserved butterflies, moths, beetles, and other insects in glass cases and framed mounts. The collection is organized by species and region, with informative labels. A knowledgeable family member often provides a guided explanation of the life cycles, habitats, and breeding of butterflies. The setting is indoor and educational, focused on close observation of specimens rather than large galleries.

The museum was founded as a private collection by Sundar Singh Wankhar, a school teacher and naturalist, and developed over several decades by the Wankhar family. It represents one of the earliest and most comprehensive entomological collections in Meghalaya, built through field collection, rearing and preservation of insects from the Khasi Hills and Northeast India.

The museum serves as an educational and natural heritage resource highlighting the rich insect biodiversity of Meghalaya. It promotes awareness of butterfly conservation, ecological balance and the natural history of Northeast India for students, researchers and visitors.