Kingdom of Cloud

Cloud always attracts me. I have experienced some wonderful cloud, during my trip to Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal is the furthest north-eastern state of India. So far tourism is concerned it is still virgin. Experiencing wonderful cloud while traveling through bare hill roads will embed in my mind for ever. While sun light falls on the thick white cloud, it reflects glorious golden ray. Here cloud is majestic. During afternoon cloud wrap a cloth on the P.T. Tso (lake). While walking on the side of the lake, one may feel that he or she is walking through the cloud. Here cloud is colloquial, just like your next door neighbor. At bumla, cloud is like an angel. While traveling through little lesser altitude cloud seems to be a naughtier, more kidding.
Arunachal offers different dimensions of cloud. It is like a heaven where cloud is the role model.

 

  http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-you-want-to-experience-adventurous.html

ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MEGHALAYA TRIP: Our travel plan & some experiences

ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MEGHALAYA TRIP: Our travel plan & some experiences
http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-you-want-to-experience-adventurous.html


I had visited some part of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya (and Guwahati city at Assam) during last week of October and initial of November, 2010. My wife, Shipra was with me. The trip was planned by Late Sanjit Chaudhury (Who was India's one of the finest technologist for steel plant environmental control system). Late Mr. Chahdhury along with his family was with us. My other colleague, Partha was with his family. We were seven members in total.



I am writting here my travel plan. Based on my experience I am giving different contact persons name and contact, at Arunachal, Meghalaya and Assam. The persons and agencies, where from I have got good services, I am mentioning their names. Also, where my expereince was not good, I am mentioning specifically. But these are only based on my personal experience. Anybody can differ from my experience. This travel plan is nothing more than my personal plan & experience. In most of the cases, I had opted for economic option. So if anybody is searching for costly option, then my travel plan will not match. Also, my travel plan was little hectic.


Some important tips from our experience: 1. Collect permission from Arunachal Bhawan (mandatory) 2. Better to visit Arunachal in a group, 3. Must take BSNL post paid mobile for contact, 4. Try to settle your tour and possible spot visits with Car Service before the trip itself, 5. Better not to pay (full amount) to car service before completion of trip.



Day 1: Base Location: Tezpur;
Morning/ Noon: Departure from Home city airport (for Guwahati)
Afternoon: Arrival at Guwahati
3-00 PM: Departure from Guwahati (for Tezpur), at public transport from Guwahati station
Evening: Arrival at Tezpur & night stay,


Staying at Tezpur: Any convenient hotel

Our Team (Shipra, myself, Late Mr. Sanjit Chaudhury, Soumyo, Mrs. Chaudhury, Madhu & Partha)

Day 2: Base Location: Tenga;
8-00 AM: Departure from Tezpur (for Tenga)
Afternoon: Arrival at Tenga
Rest of the day: Relax at Tenga

Staying at Tenga: Hotel Aphet, Contact: Ratan Bhattacharya, Phone: 09436224443, 03782-273506




At Tenga: A real picnic spot

Day 3: Base Location: Bomdila (Avoid Sateurday, because at Saturday, Bomdila market is closed);
8-00 AM: Departure from Tenga (for Bomdila)
10-00 AM: Arrival at Bomdila
Rest of the day: Roaming at Bomdila

Staying at Bomdila: Any hotel, we stayed at Hotel Korfu (Our experience: Ordinary)

Bomdila: A real religious place

Day 4: Base Location: Tawang
8-00 AM: Departure from Bomdila (for Tawang)
Noon: Shela Pass
Afternoon: Arrival at Tawang
Rest of the day: Beauty of Tawang


Day 5: Base Location: Tawang
Full day & night:At Tawang, Pass collection for Bumla, Tawang Monastery & try so-called Madhuri lake, too
Day 6: Base Location: Tawang
Full day & night:Visit Bumla border, and onway sightseeing

Staying at Tawang: Govt Tourist Lodge; Phone: 03794-222359


Tawang: Welcome to world's one of the largest monastery

On the way to Bumla: Natural ice flakes

Day 7: Base Location: Dirang
8-00 AM: Departure from Tawang (for Dirang)
Afternoon: Arrival at Dirang
Rest of the day: Go as you like at Dirang

Staying at Dirang: Dirang Resort; Phone: 09436238290 (Our expereince: Private owned, economical, service satisfactory wrt price)


Dirang: A small busy town, full of life

Day 8: Base Location: Bhalukpong
8-00 AM: Departure from Dirang (for Bhalukpong)
Noon: Arrival at Bhalukpong
Rest of the day: Enjoy Bhalukpong, including Tipi Orchids


Staying at Bhalukpong: Prasanti Tourist Lodge; Contact: Noren Kalita, Phone: 09436256310 (Our expereince: Assam Government owned, economical, service satisfactory wrt price)


Bhalukpong: On the bank of river Kameng

Day 9: Base Location: Guwahati
8-00 AM: Departure from Bhalukpong (for Guwahati)
Noon: Arrival at Tezpur and start for Guwahati, by public transport from Tezpur bus stop
Afternoon: Arrival at Guwahati
Rest of the day: Time pass at Guwahati

Staying at Guwahati: Hotel Prasanti Tourist Lodge (Govt of Assam Undertaking)


Guwahati: A peaceful religeous place

Day 10: Base Location: Shilong
8-00 AM: Departure from Guwahati (for Sholong)
Noon: Arrival at Shilong
Rest of the day: Relax at Shilong and visit don bosco museum, ward lake, etc


Day 11: Base Location: Shilong
8-00 AM: On the way to Cherapunjee (Sohra) & back from Cherapunjee at afternoon


Day 12: Base Location: Shilong
8-00 AM: On the way to Mawlinnong Village & some sightseeing at Shillong during afternoon


Staying at Shilong: Hill Top Guest House, Contact: Mrs. Aisharya; Phone: 09862201461/ 09863141921


Shillong: Full of beauty



Scotland of East

Day 13: Base Location: Guwahati
9-30 AM: Remaining spot of Shillong
2-00 PM: Departure from Shilong (for Guwahati)
6-30 PM: Arrival at Guwahati
Night: Marketing at Guwahati, Buy Assam Silk, etc


Staying at Guwahati: Hotel Prasanti Tourist Lodge


Day 14: Base Location: Guwahati
Early Morning: Kamaksha Temple visit
Afternoon: Guwahati sightseeing, zoo, kalakshetra, etc
Evening: Leave for Guwahati Station
Night: Departure from Guwahati


Day 15: Base Location: Home city
Afternoon: Back to home


Car service & Important Contacts at Different Places:

For Arunachal Pradesh: Car Service: Our Car Service provider was Mr. Ajit Saikia (Our experience: Very Poor);

Possible Car Service: Possible better car service provider can be Mr. Ratan Bhattacharya. Contact: Ratan Bhattacharya, Phone: 09436224443, 09436862031, 09402293105, 03782-273506

At Shillong: Car Service from Hill Top Guest House: Mrs. Aisharya, Phone: 09862201461/ 09863141921

At Guwahati: Kamaksha Temple, Priest: Mr. Chintamani Sarma, Phone: 09854070167, Car Service: Sangeeta Deka: 09864331336, 0361-2130556

For Arunachal Pradesh Information, visit http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-you-want-to-experience-adventurous.html

For Mawlinnong information, visit http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome-to-mawlinnong-asias-cleanest.html

(The write up is dedicated to Late Mr. Sanjit Kumar Chaudhury, who was planner for our trip to Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Mr. Sanjit Chaudhury was a man with great vission and mission. He was not only a great engineer and dedicated manager, but was an honest and varsatile man with varied activities. He was a true silent social worker, who equally valued every human being irrespective of position, status, economic condition, race and  social standard. He had huge contribution to Indian steel industries for establishing pollution control and gas cleaning system. I am fortunate to work with a person like him. He was not only my senior at office, but was a brother, guide and philosopher for me. His unfortunate and sudden death due to brain cancer is a huge loss for many people like me and for Indian engineering sector.)

Arunachal Pradesh: Memorable Places to Travel



Welcome; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



The Land of Dawn Lit Mountains

Do you want to experience the adventurous mountain? Flora and fauna? Thick forest? Sky reaching pine trees? Cold wind? Ice wrapping mountain? Playful ice? Ice scale beside roads? Deep blue lakes? Murmuring rivers? Flowing water falls? Colourful clouds just beneath you? Smiling faces fighting each and every moment of life? Brave solders? Culture, religion and tradition stepping towards future? Just visit Arunachal Pradesh!
I have been there for an week, during last week of October, 2010.


Land of Dawn Lit Mountains; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

  

Orchid of Arunachal Pradesh; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti, from Tipi



Up Above the World so High! Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti ,from Shela Pass



Nature at its best! Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Cloud, Cloud...every where! Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti


Here I want to share some of my memories, some facts and figure about this wonderful landscape, named Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh (Hindi: अरुणाचल प्रदेश) is a federated state of India, located in the far northeast. Itanagar is the capital of the state.
South & southeast part of Arunachal Pradesh has Indian counter part Assam and Nagaland. It shares border with neighbouring countries Burma and Bhutan at the east and northwest. Northern part of the Arunachal Pradesh has Tibet, which is occupied by China. Tibet has a Government-in-exile, which is headed by Buddhist monk, His Holiness Dalai Lama. The present geography of Tibet is governed by China.
In Sanskrit, Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn lit mountains". Most of the people of Arunachal Pradesh are of Tibeto-Burman origin. A large number of migrants have reached Arunachal Pradesh from many other parts of India.

Buddhist Tourism

Tashi Delek!



Lake at Shela Pass; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Some sources said, around 13 percent of the population of Arunachal Pradesh follows Buddhism. The Buddhist population of the state resides in the region Tawang, West Kameng, remote regions in close vicinity of Tibet and near the Burma border. Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in the first three region while The revada Buddhism guides the life of people living near the Burmese border.



Flags for peace and harmony; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Buddhism is a reality in the life of Arunachal. Everywhere this reality can be seen. Even at the high altitude of Sela Pass (above 13700 feet), Dalai Lama's speech is written. Everywhere the colourful Buddhist flags written with Tibetan style script can be seen. Tibet-India border of Bumla is also not an exception.

Major Buddhist Centre in Arunachal Pradesh:



Buddhist School at Tawang; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Tawang:
Tawang is the head quarter of Tawang District. This is the most acknowledged centre for Tibetan Buddhism practices.
The 400-year-old Tawang Monastery provides some historical evidence of the Buddhist tribal peoples. Historically, Tawang had a close relationship with Tibetan people and Tibetan culture, for example the sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.
Dalai Lama’s visit to tawang caught international attention during November 2009. China objected to this visit of Dalai Lama, though he had previously visited Tawang several times since he forced to leave Tibet in 1959, by Chinese aggression. India rejected Chinese objection and said that the Dalai Lama was an honoured guest in India and could visit any place in India. Thousands of people including those from neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bhutan, attended his religious discourse.
He was received and welcomed by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The residents of Tawang were elated to have the Dalai Lama among them. The whole town enjoyed the occasion as festival.
Tawang monastery is one of the major centre of Buddhism. Students from childhood practice Buddhism in this historic monastry.

Tawang Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



From Tawang Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Bomdila:

Bomdila is the head quarter of West Kameng District and one of the major centres of Tibetan Buddhism.

Lets Go Bomdila; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

This town has many Buddhist gompas (temples). These gompas also has schools, where students learn basics and higher level of Buddhism. The students in these schools practice all the basics of living hood. Students perform the traditional Tibetan art and culture, under guidance of experienced lama.

Little Lamas at Bomdila; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Determination for Peace; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Cultural Group of Bomdila; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Tibetan Dance; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Students of Bomdila Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Long way to go; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Working Lamas at Bomdila Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Dirang Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti



Relax; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Dirang:

Dirang is a town of West Kameng District. This town has also Buddhist gompas (temples). These gompas also create awareness about the Buddhist practices. Ahimsa is practiced in these gompas with great care and honesty.

Tibetan Culture & Buddhism:

Tibetan Centre at Arunachal Pradesh; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

The people in Arunachal is religeous. They believe in the concept of Lord Buddha. Lots of Tibetan people has migrated to this wonderful land after the forceful aggression of China in the Tibetan kingdom. There are Tibetan rehab office in Arunachal, too. Tibetan culture has tremendous impact on Buddhism of Arunachal Pradesh.

Eco-Tourism:

Arunachal Pradesh is full of life, full of flora and fauna, full of orchids, and full of difefrent anumals which balance the eco system as a whole.

Bhalukpong:
Bhalukpong is located in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Bhalukpong is the border between two states of India, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Bhalukpong is known for picnics, rafting and angling on the banks of river Kameng and trekking and hiking. It is told that, Bhalukpong is worth a visit at the time of the Nyethidow festival in March.Bhalukpong in Arunachal Pradesh is a mesmerizing place for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventurers. Bhalukpong is a little town on the Kameng River and lies along the dense forests that form the border of the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tipi Orchidarium:

Orchid of Tipi; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Arunachal has the largest range of orchids in India. There is an Orchidarium at Tipi which is near to the banks of the Bharali River in the West Kameng District. Tipi is close to Bhalukpong. It shelters 500 or more varieties of orchids. These orchids grow abundantly in various parts of Arunachal Pradesh. In the Orchid research centre, scientists create new hybrid varieties of orchids using the latest techniques of biotechnology.

Leisure Place:
 Arunachal Pradesh is a perfect place for leisure. The hills, murmuring rivers, chanting birds create an ambience for relax.

At the bank of River Kameng; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti, from Tenga

Tenga:
Tenga is a perfect place for holiday. River Kameng and the surrounding hills makes this place a perfect destination for holiday. Tenga is a multilingual place. Apart from Arunachal’s natives, also lot of people from other part of India, especially Bengali people reside here. Local people celebrate typical Bengali festivals, like Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja. Also, Indian solders provide full supports to all the people and tourist.


War memorials:

Jaswant Garh: A place for brave heart, peace and harmony; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Indian peace keeping force are always present in the border areas. They help the common people with all resources. India has a long history of Ahimsa (peace), but to ensure its dignity and integrity Indians are always brave. Indian military are the face of brave India.
In the memory of died soldiers of 1962 war with neighbour country, there are many war memorials at different places, like War Memorial at Tawang, Jaswant Garh, etc. Apart from war memorials, Ice packed Bumla border, near to Tawang, is a place to visit, where Modern India's strength can be seen.

As a whole Arunachal Pradesh is modern India's new tourist venture. If you want to explore Incredible India, then don't miss Arunachal Pradesh; It is truely a land of dawn lit mountains.

For Tour & Travel Plan of Arunachal Pradesh, visit http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/arunachal-pradesh-meghalaya-trip-our.html
To see the wonderful pictures of Arunachal Cloud, visit: http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/kingdom-of-cloud.html
(The write up is dedicated to Late Mr. Sanjit Kumar Chaudhury, who was planner for our trip to Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Mr. Sanjit Chaudhury was a man with great vission and mission. He was not only a great engineer and dedicated manager, but was an honest and varsatile man with varied activities. He was a true silent social worker, who equally valued every human being irrespective of position, status, economic condition, race and social standard. He had huge contribution to Indian steel industries for establishing pollution control and gas cleaning system. I am fortunate to work with a person like him. He was not only my senior at office, but was a brother, guide and philosopher for me. His unfortunate and sudden death due to brain cancer is a huge loss for many people like me and for Indian engineering sector.)


Late Sanjit Chaudhury (at right) in his typical style and myself: Ice bed at Bumla