India's North-East. Paradise Unexplored.
It was mid-December and I made a trip to one of the loveliest regions of India's North-East. An early riser, Arunachal Pradesh, as the name goes by, likely to a paradise with never-ending lenghty chains of misty mountains and hillocks, waterbodies-mighty and dainty, an amazing plethora of flora and fauna, rich valleys,
picturesque townships and ancient tribes- all makes it a heaven-on-earth. Largest of all the North-Eastern states, with an area of 83,743 sq km, Arunachal is blessed with a delightfully variegated climate, pristine greenery and with a home to various land and avian life. Being the most scantily populated and isolated state in the entire NE, with only as much as 13 persons per sq km, has added to the allure of this mysterious land. It's very isolation has proved to be a blessing in plenty of ways, keeping this God's own land far from the ills of over-development and the following consequent problems. Henceforth, Arunachal is taken to be a perfect holiday destination alongwith it's haunting beauty which charms and lures the visitors to imbibe of it's natural beauty, tribal culture, craft traditions and splendid wildlife.
Arunachal shares borderlines with China in the north, Myanmar in the east, Bhutan in the west and the states of Nagaland and Assam in the south.
AND THE JOURNEY BEGINS:
There is a number of listed recommended tourist circuits, but as said, Arunachal is best accessible from a small town named Tezpur in Assam, besides North Lakhimpur. But, Tezpur is a more convenient starting-point. I reside in Tezpur itself. Hence, it proved to be quite beneficial, cutting down my additional travel expenses, which would have been rather charged from any other part of Assam. Abided by the law, foreign tourists require restricted area permits to visit this state. Similarly, the Indian tourists need an Inner line permit which can be obtained from the respected Deputy Commissioners of the the district of Arunachal as well as from the officeof the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in Tezpur. Therefore, I obtained one from the latter, few days ahead of the big day. I started off my journey on the 13th of the month at 12 noon from my den in my personal four-wheeler. Otherwise, buses are also available and the journey takes about 10 hours.
Passing by the spreaded paddy fields on both the sides of the road and dense green forests, I finally reach the entry passage to the land of hills and valleys. The journey was a rare sight and on the contrary, very perilous. Arunachal is huge and travelling around it's vast and mountainous tracts can be arduous. Hidden amongst it's verdant valleys are the tribal villages offering dynamic insight into the fashioning of this land and its people. The stunning combinationof it's haunting beauty, the treasure house of exotic flora and fauna and it's rich tribal heritage makes Arunachal a fascinating journey for the discerning traveller.
After a long journey, I reached Dirang, a little town located at height of 1497m and just 47kms from Bomdila and the place arranged for my stay. Dirang is famous for its pretty gompas and colorful Kalchakra celebrations. Dirang was a lovely town with my mornings filled with clement sunlight, sparrow chirpings and panoramic views of the mountains.I visited the National Yak Research and Breeding Centres at Nigmadung and the Sheep Breeding Farm where yaks and sheeps are reared and offers a sight that can be quite enlightening. Again, there were these beautiful apple orchards on the the top of the hills were seasonal apple fruit trees are grown.
As you climb to the higher reaches of the mountain road to Tawang, the forest thins out and air becomes increasingly colder. My further plans were to see the TawangMonastery, which is supposedly the second largest Monastery in Asia and the largest one of its kind in the country which controls 17 Gompas in the region. But disappointingly, I had to cut down the plans due to heavy snowfall which resulted in blockage of the passage way to the upper. However, I resolved to move on a bit ahead to some kilometres and see the knee-deep snow. The sinuous road to Tawang passes through the dragon gates on the awesome heights of the great Se La Pass, 45km from Dirang, is the world's second highest motorable pass. I managed to get some shots inspite of the chilly atmosphere. The month of December sees heavy snowfall in the state. Apparently, December is not the favourable time to visit this state, unless one wants to enjoy the breath-taking sights of the snow-clad mountain peaks, forests, houses and everything else-all wrapped up in white.
Being a nature lover, I was left entirely spellbound by the scenic beauty of this place. It felt like a never-ending journey, moving on and on with luscious green life enroute. Arunachal is vast, its terrain difficult, but vacationing here might be adventurous- an exciting and incredible experience- reminding you again of the
wonderful privelege it is to savour the delights of wild beauty at its best. Put on your favourite shoes and set off for this wonderland. I betcha, this place will not disappoint you at the least. The first to be kissed by the sun and a place worth travelling to, Arunachal is all set to blaze ahead on the tourist trail.
This place would appear heavenly if:
1.You are a nature lover.
2.An thrilling explorer.
3.A culturist.
4.Keen traveller.
5.Adventure seeker.
6.And last but not the least, in search of tranquility and a cut off from the hectic normal schedule.
I will keep it to this for now and take a leave from you. :)
This land has a lot more to say which is hard to be concluded within a few pages. I put in a lot of efforts to show you the minimal yet the much of it. But, for the more cravings, travelling and capturing the beauty of such places through one's own. Remember, life is short. Travel today. :)
Ahoy: For more photos, visit my facebook page on travel by clicking on the link below.
With love,
The Travel Bug.
