MOUNTAIN ESCAPES
| BHALUKPONG |
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| Bhalukpong guide
>>>Bhalukpong travel guide and tourist information on Bhalukpong, how to get to
Bhalukpong, also details on sightseeing in Bhalukpong, best time to visit Bhalukpong and
accommodation in Bhalukpong. |
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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 of Bhalukpong 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 team 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 other endangered species of 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 to Bhalukpong
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.
Best time to visit Bhalukpong
The Nyethidow festival in March is celebrated with pomp in Bhalukpong and this is a good
time to be here. Weather-wise, Bhalukpong is splendid between October and April. The
summers are mild and the winters are cool.
Accommodation in Bhalukpong
Besides some small middle rung and economy hotels, you can stay at the Forest Rest House
and the Inspection Bungalow with permits, or at the Assam Tourist Lodge in Bhalukpong. It
is also possible to stay at Tezpur in the Circuit House, the Dak Bungalow or the Tourist
Lodge.
Note:
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 or The
Liaison Officer, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Chanakyapuri, Kautalya Marg, New Delhi:
Tel: 91-11-23013915/56
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 Arunachal
Pradesh
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