Arunachal Pradesh Adventure

ARUNACHAL PRADESH ADVENTURE

Ten days of high-altitude passes, Buddhist monasteries, orchid-filled valleys and the wildlife-rich grasslands of Kaziranga – this loop through Western Arunachal Pradesh begins and ends in Guwahati, taking in Bhalukpong, Dirang, Tawang, Bomdila and Kaziranga National Park along the way.

Cross the Roof of the Journey – Sela Pass:

A dramatic high-altitude crossing at over 13,700 ft, marked by the pristine, often snow-fringed Sela Lake – one of the most memorable drives in the Eastern Himalayas.

Step Inside the Largest Monastery in India:

Tawang Monastery, nearly 400 years old and home to over 700 monks, houses a magnificent 8-metre statue of the Buddha and a library of centuries-old manuscripts – a place of real spiritual weight.

Ancient Monasteries of the Mountains:

From the hilltop monastery at Bomdila to the nunnery at Gyangong and the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama at Urgelling, this route is threaded with Buddhist heritage found nowhere else in India.

Chase the Cascades – Nuranang Falls:

One of Arunachal Pradesh’s most photographed waterfalls, fed by the Nuranang river as it tumbles down from Sela Pass – expect a light spray and, on a clear day, rainbows at the base.

Come Face-to-Face with the One-Horned Rhino:

Kaziranga’s jeep and elephant safaris put you eye-to-eye with the rhino in the wild, with tigers, elephants and wild water buffalo also calling this UNESCO World Heritage Site home.

Stand at the Edge of India – Bum La Pass:

An optional excursion to the India-China border and the legend-steeped Madhuri (Sangetsar) Lake, open to Indian nationals only and subject to weather and army clearance.

For the full day-by-day plan, click on the Itinerary tab.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH ADVENTURE

Day 01: Arrive Guwahati / Drive to Bhalukpong (280 kms, 7-8 hrs drive)

Arrive at Guwahati (by flight or train) and meet our representative for the drive towards Bhalukpong, gateway to Western Arunachal Pradesh.

Bhalukpong: Situated on the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border on the banks of the Kameng river, Bhalukpong is a quiet riverside town known for angling, orchids and its border checkpoint where permits into Arunachal Pradesh are verified.

Check in at hotel, rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Bhalukpong.

Day 02: Bhalukpong / Dirang (140 kms, 5-6 hrs drive via Bomdila)

After breakfast, depart for Dirang via Tenga Valley and Bomdila.

Tipi Orchid Sanctuary and Research Center: An Orchidarium at Tipi (5 kms from Bhalukpong) on the way to Bomdila is the Botanical paradise. About 300 species of orchids can be seen in the flora – glass house. Some of them are rare and endangered species. By the side of the glass house there is an orchid museum too.

Nag Mandir: Just before entering the Tenga Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, perched on a small hillock at a vantage point is this temple. The temple is nice and well maintained, and gives a beautiful view of the Tenga valley.

Nechiphu Tunnel and Waterfall: Continuing towards Dirang, the road passes through the Nechiphu Tunnel, a strategic all-weather tunnel cut through the mountainside that has considerably eased travel on this stretch. Close by, the Nechiphu Waterfall tumbles down alongside the road – a pretty, easy stop to break the drive before descending into the Dirang valley.

Dirang: A picturesque valley town on the Dirang river known for its apple and kiwi orchards and hot springs.

Afternoon visit:

Dirang Dzong: Built in 1831 AD and set atop a hilltop, this four-storied stone fort represents the culture of the Monpa tribes and once served as the centre of administrative activity in the region.

Thupsung Dhargye Ling: A temple and learning institute for the study of Tibetan Buddhism, whose name, given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, means “Place of Flourishing of the Buddha’s Speech”.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Dirang / Tawang (140 kms, 5-6 hrs drive via Sela Pass)

Before leaving for Tawang, visit:

Sangti Valley: 12 kms beyond Dirang, this picturesque valley is a favoured destination for birdwatchers and home to a sheep breeding farm and a traditional Chuskar water mill; it hosts endangered black-necked cranes nesting here from Tibet during the winter months.

Thereafter, drive to Tawang, crossing Sela Pass (13,700 ft), one of the highest motorable passes in India, and Jaswant Garh War Memorial, dedicated to Rifleman Jaswant Singh of the 1962 Indo-China war.

Sela Pass: Marked by the pristine Sela Lake, this high-altitude pass connects Dirang and Tawang and is often snow-covered in winter.

Arrive Tawang, check in and rest. Overnight at Tawang.

Day 04: Tawang Local Sightseeing

Full day exploring Tawang town.

Tawang Monastery (Vihar): Tawang Monastery, about 400 years old and situated at an altitude of approximately 10,000 ft, is the second largest Buddhist monastery in India. It also holds the distinction of being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama. The monastery is home to more than 700 monks. It was founded by Merag Lama Lodre Gyamtso in 1681, in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. As per legend, the site of the monastery was chosen by the horse of Merag Lama – unable to decide on a location, he was praying in a cave one day seeking divine guidance, and when he emerged he found his horse missing, only to locate it standing quietly on a hilltop. Taking this as a sign of divine blessing, he built the monastery at that very spot. The monastery is also called Galden Namgey Lhatse, meaning celestial paradise. It houses a magnificent 8-metre-high statue of Lord Buddha, and its ancient library holds an excellent collection of thangkas – painted with the blood from the nose of the 5th Dalai Lama – along with valuable Buddhist manuscripts, mainly Kanjur and Tanjur, numbering 850 bundles.

Tawang War Memorial: Dedicated to the martyrs of the 1962 Sino-Indian war, this 40-foot-high memorial is stupa-like in design and locally called ‘Namgyal Chortan’. The names of 2,420 martyrs are imprinted in gold on 32 black granite plaques.

The Craft Center: The craft center in Tawang sells beautiful masks, hand-woven carpets, jewellery in silver, coral and amber, ‘chubas’ (the local dress) and delightful, affordable mementos.

Gyangong Ani Gompa: Ani Gompas – literally ‘Nunnery’ – are run by women monks; no male monk is seen near them, only sharp-eyed, clean-shaven nuns busy managing day-to-day operations. Gyangong Ani Gompa is the oldest Ani Gompa in the Tawang district, set in the lap of a far-off mountain laced with natural scenery, and comes under the administration of Tawang Monastery.

Urqelling Monastery: The birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, the only Indian to have risen to such a high position within the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism so far. Inside are several stupas (vihar), and people from all walks of life visit during the Buddhist New Year to seek blessings for the year ahead.

The Giant Buddha Statue: A newly built statue and a must-visit while in Tawang – its location means it can be seen from most parts of town. The life of Buddha is depicted on the walls inside the prayer room underneath the statue, which was consecrated by Padma Shree awardee H.E. Thegtse Rinpoche on 20th June 2016, and is well worth spending an hour or so at.

Overnight at Tawang.

Day 05: Tawang Excursion – Bum La Pass / Madhuri Lake

Full-day excursion towards the India–China border.

Bum La Pass: Located at over 15,200 ft on the McMahon Line, Bum La is a restricted border pass open to Indian nationals only, subject to permits and weather/road conditions.

Madhuri (Sangetsar) Lake: A scenic lake formed after a landslide, named after the lake’s appearance in a Bollywood film shot here.

Note: This excursion requires an additional permit and vehicle charge, and is available to Indian nationals only. It is subject to army clearance and can be cancelled at short notice due to weather.

Overnight at Tawang.

Day 06: Tawang / Bomdila (180 kms, 6-7 hrs drive)

Retrace the route back over Sela Pass towards Bomdila.

Nuranang (Jung) Falls: Nuranang Falls, also known as Jung or Jang Falls, is a splendid and stunning waterfall around Tawang. The Nuranang river originates from Sela Pass and, before meeting the Tawang river, forms this beautiful waterfall. A short detour from the main road leads to the falls, followed by a short walk to reach its base – the road isn’t in the best shape, but the visit is well worth it. Enjoy the light spray from the waterfall, with rainbows often forming at its base.

Bomdila: Headquarters of West Kameng district, Bomdila sits at around 8,000 ft and offers views of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges, apple orchards and a mix of monasteries belonging to both the Mahayana and Theravada traditions.

Overnight at Bomdila.

Day 07: Bomdila / Kaziranga (300 kms, 8-9 hrs drive)

Morning visit to Bomdila Monastery and the Craft Centre before descending out of the mountains towards Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

Kaziranga National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to over two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses, along with tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.

Arrive Kaziranga by evening, check in at resort. Overnight at Kaziranga.

Day 08: Kaziranga National Park – Safari & Orchid Park

Early morning, enjoy an elephant safari in the central (Kohora) range of Kaziranga, then return to the resort for breakfast.

Afternoon visit to the Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park, home to more than 200 species of orchids, with traditional dance forms, songs and ethnic foods to enjoy.

Late afternoon, enjoy an exclusive jeep safari in the western (Bagori) range of Kaziranga.

Overnight at the resort.

Day 09: Kaziranga / Guwahati (220 kms, 5 hrs drive)

Drive back to Guwahati. Depending on arrival time, visit Kamakhya Temple, one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas, perched on the Nilachal Hills overlooking the Brahmaputra.

Overnight at Guwahati.

Day 10: Departure from Guwahati

Transfer to Guwahati airport/railway station for onward journey. Tour ends.

THE PACKAGE COST INCLUDES:

1. All transport by a dedicated vehicle for the entire trip
2. Accommodation on twin-sharing basis as per the itinerary
3. Daily breakfast at the hotel
4. Permits required for entering Arunachal Pradesh
5. One elephant safari and one jeep safari at Kaziranga National Park
6. All parking, toll charges and driver’s allowances
7. 5% GST as applicable

THE PACKAGE COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

1. Any meals other than breakfast mentioned above
2. Entrances to monuments, parks and attractions not mentioned above
3. Any additional safaris beyond the one elephant and one jeep safari included
4. Bum La Pass / Madhuri Lake excursion vehicle and permit charges (optional, Indian nationals only)
5. Charges of an accompanying or local guide, if required
6. Any expenses of a personal nature – camera fees, laundry, telephone, insurance, tips, portage
7. Any expenses not mentioned in the cost inclusions above