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Trekking in Arunachal Pradesh
Location :
Arunachal Pradesh
Highest Altitude : Se La Pass -
14,000 ft.
Best Time To Trek : October To
February
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.
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.
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