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Indian
States
Arunachal
Pradesh
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Cities
(
Bhalukpong )
Location:
52-km
From Tezpur (Assam), Arunachal Pradesh
Known For: Gateway To Bomdila And The Tawang Monastery
Main Attractions: Wildlife Tours, Tipi Orchidarium, Jeep
And Elephant Safari
Best Time To Visit: October To May
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.
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.
Air: Nearest Airport at Tezpur.
Rail: Nearest railhead at Rangpara.
Road: From Tezpur regular buses ply to Bhalukpong
and other major cities of Arunachal
PLACES TO STAY
Accommodation can be arranged in forest rest houses or small hotels
and lodges.
NEARBY CITIES
Tezpur: 52-km
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