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Arunachal Pradesh has
a number of remote towns and villages in the mountains that make exciting holiday
getaways. One of these is the village of Bhalukpong in the foothills - a wonderful place
for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, hikers, rafters and anglers. |
The little town is on the
Kameng river and lies along the dense forests that form the periphery of the Pakhui
Game Sanctuary. Bhalukpong is a gateway to popular destinations like Tawang and
Bomdila, but it has its own special charm too.Strategically placed near the border to
Assam, Bhalukpong lies close to the region where the Kameng enters Assam. Here the Kameng
and other rivers teem up with the mighty Brahmaputra as it rages down the Himalayas to
flood Assam. If you are driving in via Guwahati, the Kaziranga National Park - the
sanctuary of the one-horned rhinoceros is en route. From Kaziranga there is another
diversion as the road crosses over the Brahmaputra to enter Arunachal.
Placed thus on the crossroads
between Arunachal and Assam, between the Kameng and the Brahmaputra rivers, the Pakhui
sanctuary and the Kaziranga National Park, Bhalukpong has evolved as a happy blend of
cultures and environments. It seems to have absorbed the best of all worlds and maintains
its own relaxed pace.
While in Bhalukpong, you simply
must spend some time in the Pakhui Game Sanctuary. This 826 square kilometres of
luxurious forest is home to the Bengal tiger, the great pied hornbill and a few endangered
birds. There are a host of other birds, both resident and migratory, including the white
winged wood duck which is considered one of the most gravely endangered bird species in
India. Pakhui also shelters herds of elephants, gaurs, leopards and barking deer.
Another wonderful attraction at
Bhalukpong is rafting downriver using an inflatable rubber dinghy and angling for mahseer
in the Kameng. Angling season begins in early October right up to April. Though you can
fish here throughout the year, the river is in full spate during the monsoons; this is
also the spawning season for fish and you would do yourself and the fish a favour by
avoiding angling during the monsoons. Rafting as an adventure sport is becoming
increasingly popular in the area.
Spend some time visiting the Tipi
Orchidarium, 7 km from Bhalukpong. This is a wonderful greenhouse with an amazing
range of over 500 orchid species and hybrids.
Part of the attraction of
holidaying in Bhalukpong is its easy accessibility from Tezpur, 52 km away. This, combined
with the town’s natural beauty and the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, make
Bhalukpong the treasured retreat that it is.
Getting there:
From Kolkata, the simplest way to get to Bhalukpong is to first reach Tezpur (1100 km) in
Assam, by air or rail. Bhalukpong is 52 km from Tezpur and can be easily accessed by road.
Permits: Indian tourists
visiting Arunachal Pradesh require an Inner Line Permit, which takes approximately three
weeks to be issued. Contact The Liaison Officer, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, 4B
Chowringhee Place, Kolkata: 700013; Tel: 91-33-2486500.
Foreign tourists intending to visit
Arunachal need clearance from the Home Ministry and a Restricted Area Permit, which takes
approximately three weeks to be issued. The Permit is valid for 10 days. A minimum of four
and a maximum of fourteen tourists must travel together on a tour arranged through an
approved travel agent.
For more information on permits,
see Travel
Documents, Arunachal
Pradesh
