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Experience The Wilds
Arunachal Pradesh is the northeastern
tip of India with its borders touching China, Bhutan and Burma (Myanmar).
Its endless variations of scenic beauty are the first to greet sunrise in
the country. The state is proud of having more than 500 rare species of
Orchids. Its rivers are ideal for angling boating, rafting and its rugged
terrain is suitable for trekking, hiking and holidaying in a serene
atmosphere. The sixth Dalai Lama was born on the soil of Arunachal Pradesh
and the 13th found refuge and safety here.
The picturesque and hilly terrain, Arunachal Pradesh is criss-crossed by
innumerable mighty rivers and rivulets. Once described as the 'Hidden
Land' it has now opened its doors to outsiders. The mountain peaks show a
great variation, ranging from 6,400 -1,829 m.
The striking feature of the topography is that the mountainous routes
follow the river system except in places where the mountain sides are very
steep. These offer perfect opportunities for trekking and other adventure
sports. So long closed to visitors, the terrain and the environment is
totally untouched. What could be more inviting to adventure-loving people?
Southern Flank
The southern flank of the Arunachal Himalayas is visible from the plains.
This part of the range includes peaks as secluded as Kangto, among the
highest and unconquered peaks in the world. A puzzling approach and thick
jungle has kept these summits virtually off limits to mountaineers.
Five of the main tributaries of the
Brahmaputra River rise in these ranges: the Kameng, Subansiri,
Siang, Lohit and Tirap. Geographical seclusion has made the people of
these valleys self-contained. Cross communication is a relatively recent
phenomenon. The total population of the state is small and it retains much
of the original forest cover.
Se La Pass -
The western most district is west Kameng, named after the Kameng River,
which drains the basin of Groi Chen and Kangto peaks. From the inner line
check post at Bhalukpong, 52-km from Tezpur the road winds through the
Tipi Orchidariurm to Bomdila. It crosses the crest of the Se La Pass at
14,000 ft finally reaching the Mahayana sect Buddhist monastery at Tawang.
These are the environs of the Bailey trail the old border trade route over
Tukung La from Tibet, first used in 1913 by the British surveyors.
Selected Tourist Routes :
Certain tourist routes have recently been opened in Arunachal Pradesh.
The first of these routes originates at Itanagar and links up to Ziro in
the center of the state 150-km away, at an altitude of 1,754 m in the
resplendent Apatani plateau. The trail pushes farther east and north,
crossing Sunansiri River at Daporijo to reach Along.
Here, one meets the peripatetic harbinger of Mansarovar, the Siang, still
within its white water section. In 1991, an Indo-Japanese team rafted the
length of the river in India, putting in near Geling in west Siang
district, just a few km short of the Indo-Tibetan border. The final
section of this circuit goes down to Pasighat and re-enters north Assam
before returning to Itanagar.
Day excursions include Ganga Lake, the state museum and a ride on the
elephant back to the salubrious camp on the nearby Dikrong River.
Margherita Railhead
This circuit covers the well-known Namdapha National park in the Tirap
district near the east end of the state, not far from the Burmese border.
The designated entry and exit point on this circuit is the railhead at
Margherita, also reached by National Highway 38 from Tinsukia. Coaches
continue up to Miao for entry into the park. Unique in that its elevation
varies between 200 and 4,500 m, the park is also unmatched as the home to
four large cats: Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard and Snow Leopard.
Thick Forests
Using Pasighat as the base,
where the Brahmaputra enters the plains, a reasonably good road meanders
up-river through thick forest. Neat settlements at Yembung, Pangin and
Boleng lead to the Siamang Bridge, 110-km from the base. The route is a
photographer's delight. Here also lie promising tracts for catch and
release Mahaseer angling. Again for Pasighat,
aside from the
Dibrugarh
ferry, there is another access via the 415-km drive from Tezpur roughly
parallel to the north bank of the Brahmaputra.
ENTRY PERMITS
Indian nationals intending to visit any part of the state may obtain an
inner line permit from the Arunachal Government office at Delhi or
Itanagar. For the permitted areas, the total time allowed to foreigners is
10 days. The usual stipulations of entry permit, group size and advance
application also hold good. These can be filed with any Indian mission
overseas, foreigner's registration offices, the home commissioners of the
state in Itanagar or its resident commissioner in Delhi.
more...
BEST TREKKING SEASON
The best season is from October to February. For the energetic leisure
seekers keen to undertake a rare wilderness experience, few destinations
in the world would match the dimensions of Arunachal Pradesh.
HOW
TO GET THERE Air: Nearest Airport is situated at
Tezpur .
There are daily flights from
Calcutta .
Rail: The nearest railhead is north Lakhimpur in
Assam 60-km from
Itanagar.
Road: Itanagar is connected to the other state capitals in the
North East. There are regular bus services from Itanagar
to Bomdila.