Land of the Rising Sun Beckons

Arunachal Pradesh situated on the easternmost sentinel of India is endowed with picturesque townships, remote helmets, sleeping villages, serene lakes and Gompas radiating a heavenly fervor with nature. From time immemorial, this land of the rising sun has been an amalgamation of religion, nature, and history. Buddhist pilgrimage finds a major center here, which also makes its monasteries a prime attraction of the place.

One of the major tourist destinations of Arunachal Pradesh is Tawang. First one has to travel to Tezpur, a town in Assam and drive uphill toward the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and upwards beyond Assam’s green plains and valleys- its pretty impressive. The figure is even more impressive-3,500 m! As you drive in from Bhalokpong (first check gate of Arunachal Pradesh), and cross Tipi you can realize the beauty of the land. Winters are severe in Tawang and several kilometers of the route to the top are under snow.

Bad weather conditions may also lead to landslides at times, particularly when there are heavy showers. Just beyond Bhalokpong is Tipi there is a huge orchid house- a must see for everyone traveling to Tawang. Take a night halt at Bomdilla. Perched at a height of 2,500 m its famous for its three Buddhist monasteries. A stopover at Bomdilla refreshes you for the rest of the journey early next morning. From here, it takes about 4 to 5 hours to reach Tawang.

On a very snowy day, if travelers find it difficult to roll their vehicles up the ice smeared roads Army troops are omnipresent to help them out. It is the Indian Army, which has been maintaining the entire stretch. The roads are almost one-way type but not to worry, the Army guys will go out of their way to help you. In our next post we will visit places in and around Tawang.