The Land of the Dawnlit Mountains
A year has past since we stepped out of our house for a trip. Also, Soham just finished his class 10th board exams. So we decided to go for a long family car trip. We decide the route that we would follow, that is, Naihati – Siliguri – Guwahati – Nameri National Park – Bhalukpong – Bomdila – Sela Pass – Tawang – Bomdila – Kaziranga – Siliguri – Naihati. Total distance covered 3350km.
DAY ONE :- we started at 5am. in the morning. At
7am. we reached Krishnanagar. 1.30pm Maldah and had lunch there. 3.30 dalkhola. 7.30 pm. Siliguri. enjoyed a cup of tea after the long drive. At 8.30 malbazar. total distance covered today 608 km. decided to stay over
night.
Day two :- At 6 am in the morning we leave Malbazar.
Then we cross Doars, Hasimara, Alipurduar, Barpeta road, Guwahati, at 5.30pm. we stayed at Guwahati for the night.
Day three :- At 6 in the morning we start for Nameri National Park. At 1.30 pm we reach our destination for the day. We booked a jungle trek on reaching there and started off at 2 in the afternoon. The trek lasted for 3 hrs. we then stayed for the night at nameri eco camp.
Day four :- At 7, morning, we leave Nameri for Bhalukpong. It is a 1 hr. drive for
30 km. There we got our ILP (Inner Land Permit) for Arunachal on spot from Bhalukpong Gate Office. After submitting our ID proof along with 2 copies of passport size photographs, it took us 1 hr. to get the ILP. After Bhalukpong, its a 100 km. drive to Bomdila, 2,217 m. (7,274 ft.). We pass by Sessa Orchid Sanctuary on the way. It took us 5 hrs. to reach Bomdila. We reached there at 2.30 pm. The road
condition is not so good. When driving uphill, you have to use 2nd and 3rd gear, mostly. Bomdila has a lot of hotels. We took shelter in hotel Highlanders' Inn which is on Bomdila Monastery Road. Its a nice hotel at a moderate
price. Bomdila is the headquarters of West Kameng district in the state
of Arunachal Pradesh in
India.
Day five :- We leave bomdila at 7 am.
We took our breakfast at Dirang. We cross snow covered Sela Pass, 13700 ft. at 1.30pm. Reached Tawang at 4.30pm.
Sela pass : Its a high-altitude mountain pass which is the only link between
heavenly Tawang and the rest f the World. This pass is totally snow
covered in the winter season. The road is very very
scenic. The max height is 13,700ft. Once you cross the gate (not gate actually),
you enter into a totally different world. The other side of Sela pass was covered with
snow.
Then Jaswant Garh is
located at a distance of around 21 kilometres from Sela Pass
towards Tawang. This Garh is
a home of a warrior, Jaswant Singh who laid down his life
during the war that was fought against Chinese soldiers. He fought alone, continuously,
against the Chinese Army for 72 hours, during the Indo-China war that occurred in 1962. The place is open
to travellers to pay a tribute and salute this great
warrior.
Then you cross the Nuranang Waterfalls that lies in between Tawang and Bomdila road. This
waterfall is magnificent and is about 100m high. This waterfall is also known as
Jung Waterfalls as it is located in a place called
Jung.
Day six :- We move around in Tawang to visit some places of interest. We visited –
Tawang Monastery, also known as the Golden Namgyal Lhatse, is one of the
largest lamaseries of Mahayana sects. This is the second oldest Monastery in the
entire world after Lhasa. With a control over 17 Gompas in the region, this monastery is believed to be 400
years old.
This largest monastery in Asia stands erect at the base of a hill at a height of 3,000 metre above sea level. Dating back to 17th century, the monastery was constructed by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance with the desires of the 5th Dalai Lama. It was believed by Monpas that Merek Lama was born at Kipti. He became a Lama at a very young age and commenced his career of meditation and praying. A large image of Buddha of 18 feet (5.5 m) height is deified; it is gilded and decorated, and is in a lotus position.
This largest monastery in Asia stands erect at the base of a hill at a height of 3,000 metre above sea level. Dating back to 17th century, the monastery was constructed by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance with the desires of the 5th Dalai Lama. It was believed by Monpas that Merek Lama was born at Kipti. He became a Lama at a very young age and commenced his career of meditation and praying. A large image of Buddha of 18 feet (5.5 m) height is deified; it is gilded and decorated, and is in a lotus position.
Tawang War Memorial , a 40 foot high multi-hued memorial,
has a structure constructed in stupa design. Dedicated
to the martyrs of Sino-India War held in 1962, this memorial is nestled among
beautiful peaks, which overlooks the Tawang-Chu
valley. Popularly known as Namgyal Chorten, the memorial has names of 2,420 dead soldiers. The
names of the soldiers are etched in gold on around 32 black granite
plagues.
Madhuri Lake situated at
12000 ft above sea level. Formed as a result of an
earthquake, which
occurred in 1950.this water body is crystal clear and reflects the color of the blue sky.
Numerous dead tree trunks, which once were alive (before the earthquake) emerges
from the blue water of the lake creating a strange yet beautiful imagery before
visitors. One can stroll around the lake with their families and enjoy the
natural beauty of the place. which occurred in
1950.
Pangang Teng Tso Lake, one of the most famous lakes of
Arunachal Pradesh, is located at a distance of 18 kilometre from Tawang
Township. Popularly known as P.T. Tso Lake, this lake
is one of the ideal spots for picnic. The word 'Tso'
in Monpa dialect means Monpa. During the winter months, the lake remains entirely
frozen.
Day seven
:-Back to Bomdila via Sela Pass.
Day eight :- Bomdila to Kaziranga. We reach Kaziranga at
3.00pm. we book an Elephant ride for the next day at Bagora Range Office's Entry Point. We stay there at Bonroja Motel.
Kaziranga National Park (Assamese: কাজিৰঙা ৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় উদ্যান, pronounced is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. The sanctuary, which hosts
two-thirds of the world's great one-horned
rhinoceroses
is a World.
Day nine :- After taking an Elephant Ride we start from there at 7am and reach Siliguri at 9.30pm. Its a 680km. drive.
Day ten :- We reach at home safely.
