The Lure Of Lohit
The lohit river rises in eastern Tibet, in the Zayal Chu range and surges through Arunachal Pradesh for two hundred kilometers, before disgorging itself in the plains of Assam. Tempestuous and turbulent, and known as the river of blood, only partly attributable to the lateritic soil, it flows through the Mishmi Hills, to meet the Siang at the head of the Brahmaputra valley.
The valley of the Lohit is full of surprises. Thickly forested for the most part, it is a botanist’s dream, as alpine vegetation gives way to sub-tropical forests, and then to some of the densest tropical jungles in all of India.rhododendrons bloom in many hues in the upper reaches, orchids reveal themselves in the lower groves. This is indeed a treasure house of medicinal plant and herbs, and the home of Mishmi teeta, the coptis plant, prized the world over for it’s medicinal properties.
The Mishmis hold sway in the hills. In the plains are the Khamptis and the Singphos, fervent Buddhists and migrants from across the Patkai hills from Burma. As the Lohit journeys through, Tibetan theology gives way to animist belief, in turn replaced by Theravada Buddhism and then by Hindu temples as Tibet, South East Asia and the Indian sub-continent mix and merge
BY AIR
The nearest International Airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport-Guwahati. It is connected with the major cities like Delhi, Imphal, Kolkata, Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Lilabari, Silchar, Dimapur, Jorhat and Mumbai.
BY TRAIN
The nearest railway station is Naharlagun/Itanagar. There are daily trains running from Itanagar to Guwahati and Rajdhani express which runs twice a week.
BY ROAD
You can book a cab or travel by public transport from Guwahati.
Tawang is a town in Arunanchal Pradesh, profusely bestowed with pristine nature and a vibrant ethnicity. There is a mesh of India and China which can be witnessed during your trip to Tawang. The popular Tawang Monastery plays a special role in attracting different travelers here. Best time to visit Tawang is between March and October and for season-wise details of the town, you must read further.
| Seasons | Months | Temprature |
|---|---|---|
| Summers | March to june | 5 °C – 22 °C |
| Monsoon | july to September | 15°C – 20°C |
| Winters | November to February | 2°C – 10 °C |
Tawang in summer – From March till June
Summer is best time to visit Tawang. The temperature during this time ranges between 5 degrees celsius and 25 degrees celsius. The days are pleasant and nights are colder. On your visit to Tawang, don’t forget to visit the popular attractions of Tawang, Tawang Monastery, Sela Pass, Taktsang Gompa, Gorichen Peak and Shonga-tser Peak.
Tawang in Monsoon – From July till September
Tawang is mostly wet during monsoon season. Copious rainfall is sprinkled all over the vicinity and the temperature drops. However, Tawang looks even more enchanting during this season. Visit Tawang in monsoon is a good idea, if you love rains.
Tawang in winter – From November till February
Winters in Tawang are chilly and the temperature sometimes drops near the freezing point. The maximum temperature during winters in Tawang gets around 10 degrees. The coldest month of winters is January. If you are traveling to Tawang during this season, make sure you have enough clothing to keep yourself warm.
Things to keep in mind before traveling
- Every tourist visiting Arunachal Pradesh needs to obtain an Inner Line Permit and a Protected Area Permit which can be collected from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati or Tezpur airports.
- The weather in the north-east is pretty unpredictable, so be prepared to have delays due to the bad weather.
- Roads that lead to Tawang, especially from Bomdila onwards, aren’t in the best shape.
- Locals are friendly and helpful. Be patient as not everyone will know fluent Hindi or English.
- Most cell phone networks don’t work well, so inform your family or friends about your whereabouts whenever possible.
- Don’t forget to carry some ready to cook food packets or instant noodles if you’re strictly a vegetarian.
- Carry extra batteries, power banks and most importantly warm clothing.
- Keep at least a couple of extra days in hand in case of any problems like landslides and bad weather on your way.
Day 1 -Arrive Dibrugarh, amidst the lush environs of a hundred tea gardens. Dibrugharh is on the banks of the Brahmaputra. Spend the afternoon on a tea garden, with tea and cucumber sandwiches at the Manager’s bungalow.
Day 2 -Drive through Margherita(yes, there is a town with that name,a and a very pretty town too), classic tea garden country, and on to the thickly forested hills of Arunachal. Halt at Diban, in the heart of the Namdapha Tiger reserve. camp fire at night, n a grassy patch near the Noa Dihing River. Stay at the Diban Lodge.
Day 3 -In and around the Namdapha Tiger Reserve experience the joys of solitude amidst the wilderness-the call of the wild! Namdapha teems with wildlife-tiger, Takin, the clouded leopard, snow leopard, wild buffaloes- and a host of smaller fauna. A naturalist’s paradise.
Day 4 -Drive towards Tezu. The home of Digaru and Miju Mishmi.Skirting the Mishmi Hills. Cross the tempestuous Lohit river by ferry, and halt at Tezu. Unwind at a cultural evening in a Mishmii village, complete with a Beedu, the timeless ritual of song and dance steeped in hoary tradition. Partake of Yu, the local brew, freshly distilled, and mildy heady. Stay at the Circuit House.
Day 5 -Head for the hills-literally! Drive to the Hayuliang ,along the picturesque Lohit river Experience the traditional rope-pully crossing of the river .Visit authentic Mishmi village. Overnight at village.
Day 6 -Visit Chowkam and Namsai – home to the Khamptis and the Singhpos- the only Theravada Buddhists in India. Cross the Lohit and Noa Dihing rivers by ferry, and drive through to Dibrugarh. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 7 -Onward to Majuli, the largest river island in the world, now a UNESCO world heritage site.Majuli is pollution free fresh water island. This is also the centre of the medieval Vaisnavite religion with 26 Satras(monasteries) still existing. Overnite in a Satra.
Day 8 -Visit to the Satras and learn about the ancient faith from the monks. Interact with Mising tribes and witness their exquisite and colorful weaving tradition. Majuli also a great place for bird watchers. It is the Island in the sun.
Day 9 -Visit the Kaziranga National Park – the abode, and the last habit of the Indian rhinoceros- the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. Stay at the Wild Grass Resort.
Day 10 -Elephant safari in the Kaziranga National Park and after a leisurely lunch. Drive to Guwahati Airport and catch a flight back.