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Combining Nature's Generosity And A Remote Rural culture 
On
the edge of the luxuriant forest of the Pakhui Game Sanctuary, along the
Kameng River lies the village of Bhalukpong - the gateway to Bomdila and
the Tawang Monastery.
For the energetic visitor, keen to experience the remote outdoors, few
places can match the dimensions of faraway Arunachal Pradesh. Nature's
generosity is evident here.
And in its mystical wonderland, straddling India's northeastern corner,
the village of Bhalukpong holds a special place. It lies 52-km from
Tezpur , on
the edge of a luxuriant forest that blends with the Pakhui Game Sanctuary,
in the southwestern corner of the state, where the Kameng River flows
across into Assam
.
The village also serves as the gateway to Bomdila
and the Tawang
Monastery on the northwestern tip of the Arunachal Himalayas. As with the
Kameng, four other major rivers that rise in this range, drain into the
Brahamaputra, lying within the Inner Line, entry permits are necessary.
PRIME
ATTRACTIONS WILDLIFE
Wildlife Tours 
To
get there, the visitor must first reach Guwahati. The route branches off
the Guwahati - Shillong road and moves initially towards the
Kaziranga
National Park , refuge of the one-horned Rhinoceros. Diverting once
again, the road crosses the
Brahmaputra
to reach Tezpur
on its north bank. Bhalukpong is endowed with the cross - border blend of
the natural and the cultural. The visitor may thus combine Mahaseer
fishing in the Kameng with a visit to the forest where the great pied
hornbill glides in elegantly to roost on the high treetops, while down
below lies a window to the tribal life of the frontier.
Tipi Orchidarium
The Tipi Orchidarium nearby has a rare collection of nearly 500 species.
It's like being in a different time zone here. For a start, early morning
risers will see an inspirational dawn. Earlier than anywhere else in the
country, it spreads quite unlike the beleaguered day beak over a
metropolis. The sun too seems to possess greater zest. From the forest
rest house one can soak in a fabulous view of the Kameng as it snakes away
towards Assam.
Jeep And Elephant Safari
And if one would like to explore, one can get a first-hand feel of the
great route that lies ahead to Bomdila and the
crossing of the Sela Pass to the Tawang Monastery. If a second day is
available, one may drive down to the entry gates at the nearby Pakhui Game
Sanctuary. In the early morning, the elephants with their 'Mahouts' will
be ready to venture into the forest, the air redolent of the rich foliage
below and the tangled canopy overhead.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Bhalukpong is October to April, well before the
monsoon currents start building up. Ideally, the trip must also include
time for extended driving to cover the state's other attractions in the
capital, Itanagar, and places such as
Ziro in the Apatani Plateau or the
unique Namdapha National
Park, in its far east.
HOW
TO GET THERE Air: Nearest Airport at
Tezpur .
Rail: Nearest railhead at Rangpara.
Road: From
Tezpur
regular buses ply to Bhalukpong and other major cities of Arunachal
Pradesh.
PLACES TO STAYAccommodation can be arranged in forest rest houses or small hotels and lodges.
NEARBY CITIESTezpur: 52-km