[Sujoy76]

Lost in the Land of the Rising Sun

There is something undeniably fascinating about a Road Trip. The ribbon of asphalt that stretches out before you, always promises adventure, a sense of freedom and the thrill of the unknown. A road trip always gives you a chance to escape the mundane and create memories of lifetime. After completing our Zanskar Road trip in June. I was longing for another Road trip and looking for an opportunity to plan for one more Road trip this year. Durga Puja gave me that opportunity and presented the perfect window for another Road trip. Having driven to the Northern part of India for last couple of years, this time we planned for the eastern sector and what could be the best option other than “Arunachal”, the land of the Rising Sun. Once the destination was fixed, it was time to plan the itinerary. Like Ladakh, the travel map of Arunachal too is spread across vast area starting from the Tawang at the western part to Dong, at the eastern most part of it. Our Arunachal itinerary finally boiled down to Shergaon, Bomdila, Dirang, Tawang circuit. This circuit needs no introduction. Probably the most famous region in Arunachal Pradesh. Popular for the friendly Monpa population, Buddhist Monasteries, High passes, and Lakes.

While driving from Kolkata, Arunachal has two popular and most availed entry points. One is through Balemu and the other one is through Bhalukpong. People travelling from Kolkata normally prefers the Balemu entry point as it gives the opportunity to travel through Shergaon, a beautiful place famous as the Apple Bowl of Arunachal Pradesh. Shergaon has many stay options, most of them are homestays. I too planned for entry via Shergaon and accordingly started looking for accommodations so that they can be booked in advance. However, the time being October (Durga Puja Holidays) I couldn’t find a single homestay with availability of room for the date of my arrival. Finally, had to reschedule the itinerary and planned our entry via Bhalukpong. Getting ILP is a straightforward process nowdays. With the help of online option the ILP was done in advance.

The following itinerary was prepared:

Day 1: 11.10.2024 – Kolkata to Bongaigaon – 867 Km.
Day 2:12.10.2024 – Bongaigaon to Jamiri – 367 Km.
Day 3: 13.10.2024 – Jamiri to Sangti Valley – 90 KM.
Day 4: 14.10.2024 – Sangti Valley – Dirang.
Day 5: 15.10.2024 – Dirang to Tawang – 144 Km.
Day 6: 16.10.2024 – Tawang.
Day 7: 17.10.2024 – Tawang.
Day 8: 18.10.2024 – Tawang to Zemithang – 70 Km.
Day 9: 19.10.2024 – Zemithang to Shergaon – 207 Km.
Day 10: 20.10.2024 – Shergaon to Guwahati – 219 Km.
Day 11: 21.10.2024 – Guwahati.
Day 12: 22.10.2024 – Guwahati to Jaldapara – 352 Km.
Day 13: 23.10.2024 – Jaldapara.
Day 14: 24.10 2024 – Jaldapara to Kolkata – 707 Km.

However, as the trip progressed, we had to modify the itinerary according to the situation.

Some pictures to begin with.

Happiness is in the journey.

Chasing horizons and dodging deadlines.


Untold stories ahead.


Every road leads to new stories with my favorite adventurers.


Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.


Drive, discover, delight.


Odometer going up, worries going down.


Escape and breathe the air of new places.

Day 1: 11.10.2024. Kolkata to Bongaigaon. 870 Km. 18 Hrs.

It's time to write a new Chapter!!

First day of our trip and we had to cover a long distance. So, we planned to leave at midnight considering the fact that at night traffic will be comperatively less and we can cover some distance freely. However,the day being Maha Asthami, we expected to encounter heavy traffic till we leave Kolkata. There is only one route that will take you to North Bengal. The erstwhile NH-34 and new NH-12. There are multiple choke points on this route till Barasat where, probably NH-12 is at it's worst state.

We took blessings from Maa Durga and the wheels rolled at 12.30 A.M. Driving through Kolkata during Durga Puja can be challenging due to traffic rerstrictions and other road rules. We drove through the lit up and beautifully decirated roads, giving a feel of festivities.

Fortunately, we did not encounter any traffic congestion and our exit from Kolkata was smooth. After crossing NSCBI Airport, joined NH-12. From here till next 50 Km we drove through single lane road, whcih did not give a feel of National Highway. After driving 50 Km, we reached Barajaguli and hereon started driving on full fledged four lane NH-12. The surface was smooth and First Pitstop was planned at Krishnanagar. Recently I have discovered a food joint named Shankar Mistanna Pratisthan at Krishnanager conveniently located at NH-12. Kudos to NHAI for the quality of work they have done.

Reached krishnanager at 3 A.M. Coming to Shankar Mistanna Pratisthan, this is a famous stop amongst people travelling between Kolkata and Siliguri, specially the Volvo Coaches. While being on the road for long hours during roadtrips the most common problem is finding clean washrooms for relieving oneself. This food joint has thoroughly impressed me with its amenities. Something which I had seen at the food joints at Murthal. Those who do road trips would easily understand why I am emphasising on this point. Nevertheless after sipping hot cup of tea we continued our journey onward.

Much needed tea break. My eyes revealing the story.

Ready to move after first Pit Stop.

The surface at Baharampur Bypass has disappointed me. This Bypass was thrown open for operation a year back roughly but the surface has deteriorated so much so that at some point it gave me a feeling like I was offroading. At the break of daylight we crossed Malda. We had planned to stop at Pardeshi Dhaba at Malda for breakfast. However, it was closed by the time we reached Pardeshi Dhaba. As the day progressed, our stomachs grumbled in unison but we couldn't find a place for breakfast. Although we passed by many dhabas but none of them had started their business at that time. So, without any option I continued driving and crossed Raiganj Bypass. This bypass has saved roadtrippers from the ordeal of driving through the congested lanes of Raiganj. The surface on NH-27 before and after Kisanhanj is in bad shape till Islampur. Finally, managed to locate a dhaba at Dhantala, few kilometers ahead of Islampur. It was 11 A.M and all of us were feeling very hungry. Ordered for hot tawa roti and dal tadka and filled our stomaches so that it can withstand our energy requirements for next 4-5 hours.

Smiling faces after recharging our batteries.

Crossed Islampur without any issue. Thanks to the bypass. Took the diversion from Ghoshpukur and drove towards Jalpaiguri following G Map on NH-27. At Dhupguri I made a mistake of following G Map on NH-27 and it took me through a single lane broken road towards Alipurduar. Although this stretch of surface is called NH-27 but it does not have any quality of a National Highway.

Some beautiful moments near Fulbari.

The surface is in pathetic shape here. Had to negotiate heavy traffic while crossing Alipurduar town and after strugling for couple of hours, joined NH-317 (which I should have taken from Dhupguri itself) somewhere near Majherbari tea estate. Here on the road was good and gradually we started approaching Bengal Assam Border. Sankosh river demarcates the border between the two states here. After crossing this river , we were welcomed into Assam.

Cockpit view.

When we approached Bongaigaon it had become dark. We reached the hotel, Cygnett Park Meghna around 6.30 PM. After being on the road for almost 18 Hrs all of us were tired and specially feeling Hungry. The rooms were cozy and comfy. Initially we had planned for going to the city to witness Durga Puja but cancelled that as all of us were running low on battery Hence the plan was cancelled and it was early dinner and bedtime for us.

Day - 2: 12.10.2024 Bongaigaon to Jamiri. 367 Km. 11 Hrs.

Never underestimate the FOG !!

Review about Cygnet Park Meghna.

Location: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 4.5/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4.5/5

All set for the journey ahead.

After driving for more than 18 Hrs yesterday all of us needed some good amount of sleep. The hotel did not give us any chance to feel uncomfortable and we had nice and tight sleep. Today’s plan was to start by 8 A.M and reach Jamiri in daylight. There are two routes to enter Arunachal Pradesh from this part. First route is via Shergaon and the other one is via Bhalukpong. Most of the people prefer to travel via Shergaon so that they can explore this beautiful place enroute Dirang or Tawang. Many people are not aware that Arunachal Pradesh has most delicious apples! Shergaon is known as the Apple Bowl of Arunachal Pradesh. Shergaon has been recognized as the Best Tourism Village 2023 in Silver Category.
We left the hotel at 9.30 A.M. Skipped the Breakfast at the hotel as we planned to do it on the go. Initial 95 Km on this route runs on NH-27.

Highway on my plate.

We had a sumptuous breakfast at Barpeta with handmade roti and tadka on the way. Thereafter, Diya did a bit of Pandal Hopping on the go. We crossed some beautiful Puja Pandals while moving towards our destination and stopped by them, so that Diya can enjoy some moments at the pandals. Here, the Durga Idol is decorated with the Gamosa which symbolises the Assamese identity and culture.

Diya enjoying her moments at a local Durga Puja Mandap.

I was thoroughly enjoying the drive but didn't expect that to last for initial 95 Km. From our Hotel at Bongaigaon, after driving for 95 Km Google Aunty shown me a diversion from NH-27. The other route was a longer one which runs through Nalbari and meets with this route at Orang. I followed G Map and took the diversion and after driving for just few Km discovered that it was State Highway 10 and it runs through villages. It was narrow and at certain points the surface was completely broken. But the surrounding views were mesmerising. Drove many kilometers with lush green paddy field on both of the sides of the road. For once thought of flying my drone over here but resisted the temptation and continued driving. From the point of Diversion drove next 175 Km through the State Highway. In between drove past many tea estates. Finally joined the BCT Road (Balipara Chariduar Tawang) road and heaved a sigh of relief. I was longing to get on to the Highway again. Hereon the drive was comfortable. So, after driving on the broken and dusty roads, past Balipara and the Nameri National Park, the hills of Arunachal, till now looming in the distance, started coming into view. Quite naturally, the weather changed along with the landscape – we could feel the chill in the air as we crossed Assam-Arunachal border at Bhalukpong. We reached Bhalukpong after sundown. A small town located along the southern reaches of the Himalayas, Bhalukpong was the location for the inner line check post. The formality of ILP checking was smooth and we entered the Land of the Rising Sun. The journey resumed after the clearances; the Kameng chu (river) was our constant companion. However, dur to the darkness around, we could not enjoy the mesmerising view of this river resembling a silver ribbon meandering across a sea of green.

Had it been daylight I would have enjoyed the views but as it became dark and we started climbing up to the hill I couldn't do anything but to concentrate on the road and drive on. As I continued to drive upward the visibility started deteriorating due to the fog. After crossing Tippi and Sessa we approached Nechiphu, which is famous for extreme foggy conditions prevailing around Nechiphu Pass, causing hindrance to general traffic and military convoys for many decades. However, after construction of the Nechiphu Tunnel conditions have improved a bit but that may be during the day time. While driving towards Nechiphu Tunnel, negotiating the curves on the road, suddenly, had a glance at the G Map on my infotainment screen. It was all Red for next 14 Km till entrance the tunnel. For once I thought there might be huge traffic congestion due to which G Map was showing the road as RED. I was completely unaware of what was in store for us for next one hour of may be more than that. I did not have an iota of idea that we were going to pass through the scariest moments of our life. Perhaps this is what road trip is all about.


So, cutting short to the story as I entered the Red Zone (as shown in G Map) all of a sudden, the visibility reduced drastically. it almost became zero. I could barely see the bonnet of my car, leave aside seeing the road ahead. The fog was so dense and gradually the density kept on increasing and to make matters worse for me, here the road had multiple hairpin bends with gradual ascent. I tried to follow the white marker at the middle of the road and told Sharmila to look for the left shoulder of the road which was the mountain side. My right side was the danger zone and the edge of the road was hardly visible. One moment I could locate the middle marker and the next moment it was discovered that I had come close to the right extreme. Slowly and cautiously, I kept on driving while regretting for not chosing to stay at Bhalukpong for the night. I had no idea that fog could play this havoc. As the road was moving upward, I had to maintain a bit of momentum to move up as I could not afford to stall the car in between under that condition. Not a single vehicle crossed me, neither from behind nor from the opposite side as well. The ordeal lasted for more than an hour and finally after driving for more than 10 Km through the nightmare, finally we broke through the fog and entered the Nechiphu Tunnel. It appeared to us like we had discovered water in the middle of a desert. Such was the level of relief. It was scary. A lifetime experience perhaps. After crossing the tunnel, it took us another 40-45 mins to reach Jamiri Homestay. As it was downhill drive after the tunnel, it was not difficult, especially after driving through last 15 Km.
We were welcomed with tea and snacks at the homestay.

Cherish every moment, they all matter.

Relieving the stress.

Nicely decorated Jamiri Homestay.

The rooms were prebooked. It was almost dinner time. We had nothing much to do. It took some time to get out of the Nechiphu Trauma. Finished our dinner with Red Rice, Chicken Currey and local dishes. The weather was cold but bearable. We were getting a hint of what to expect hereon. It was raining when we went to bed. An eventful day went off well.

Day - 3: 13.10.2024. Jamiri - Bomdila - Mandala Top - Sangti Valley.
150 Km. 7 Hrs..

The gorgeous and secluded Sangti Valley !!

Review about Jamiri Homestay.

Location: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 5/5

Third day of our trip. The alarm clock went off at 6.30 in the morning and it was raining outside. Jamiri is a small village on the BCT (Balipara - Chariduar - Tawang) or NH-13, roughly 50 Km ahead of Bomdila. The homestay that we stayed is beautifully located at an elevation overlooking the road running parallel to the Tenga River.

Dul Dul Tharpa Ling Gompa on top of the hill, the road and tenga river. A complete canvas witnessed from Jamiri Homestay.

The Homestay also gives a clear view of a newly constructed monastery on top of a small hill. It is known as Dul Dul Tharpa Ling Gompa, which has been constructed by the villagers. I had planned to fly my drone over the homestay to get a bird eye view of area but as it was pouring heavily, had to drop that plan. Due to the rain the whole area was covered under thick fog. While talking to the homestay owner over a cup of morning tea I was told that the weather was like to deteriorate further and the rain would continue. So we chose to leave a bit early. Although the distance to be covered was not much as compared to what i did in last two days but driving on hills is a different ball game altogether. There is a stretch on the road around Bomdila which is also famous for dense fog. The memory of Nechiphu fog was still playing at the back of my mind, so we left Jamiri at 8.30 A.M.
The road is very good. Being a National Highway and being used by the Indian Army regularly, it is in pristine condition. Driving on this surface is always a pleasure. As we approached Tenga, the weather suddenly cleared off and natures canvas was clearly visible. Gradually we crossed Tenga which is a combination of majestic peaks, verdant valley and the crystal clear water of the Tenga river. Tenga can also be a very good option to spend a day. Nature's artistry can be observed in every corner of these scenic spots, where even a simple walk can turn into an unforgettable moment.
We took first stop at Bomdila Monastery which was just 40 Km away from Jamiri Homestay. After crossing Tenga the road started moving up. A bit narrow and moving through locality, a bit tricky to negotiate. Bomdila Monastery was established in the year 1965, it also has a school which teaches monk kids, which is a common phenomena at all the buddhist monasteries. We have noticed it at Karsha, Hemis, Stongdey and other monasteries too. Weather at hills are always unpredictable.

Falcon parked at Bomdila Monastery.

As we reached Bomdila Monastery, it suddenly started to rain and the area again engulfed by fog. Visibility went down drastically. After speding some good amount of time we left the monastery for our next destination.

Some views of the Bomdila Monastery.


Creating memories. One frame at a time.

There is a place on the road called Bomdila View Point, the highest point which offers breathtaking views of the landscape around including Nechipu Pass. West Kameng Valley spreads out in front of your eyes when viewed from here. But the area being covered under thick fog, it was not possible. So driving forward was the only option available with me and I kept on doing that towards our next destination, Manda La Top.

It was fog all around, but the atmosphere was amazing.

[Sujoy76]

The stupas at Manda La top.

The site is home to 108 Buddhist stupas built in a circular pattern on top of a mountain. At an altitude of 10,000 ft this place is called Manda La. The stupas, also known as “Manes,” were constructed in 2018. Each one has the mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' inscribed on it. This place resembles Dochula at Bhutan. The road to Manda La diverts from NH-13 at a distance of approx 45 Km from Bomdila Monastery. next 23/25 KM road to the top is serpentine and Bumpy. It took me more than an hour to reach Manda La after taking the diversion from NH-13. Drove the entire stretch under rain and fog. The stupas at Manda La are still under construction and a giant statue of Lord Budda is being constructed at the middle of it. As it was raining, again I couldn't fly the drone here. The place being on top of the hill, provides a majestic view of the surrounding area but today we were not lucky to enjoy that.

These moments will stay with us forever.


How can my buddy be missed out.


Two beauties in one frame.

Having seen Dochula at Bhutan in 2019, this place didn't appear that special to me. Although, it's unfair to compare the beauty of one place with another but I couldn't stop myself from doing that. There is a homestay called Mandala Abode, which appeared to be a good property. So for the people looking for a stay at a secluded place with breathtaking view of the lush green mountains, may consider this place. While coming down from Manda La weather cleared off and got an opportunity to put my DSLR to use.

Clouds dancing over the mountain. What more can we expect.


The weather cleared and we got this opportunity.


None can resist the temptation to have a photo with this beautiful background.

The distance of our Homestay at Sangti Valley was around 40 Km roughly out of with 22-23 Km of road was the road that I had covered to get to Manda La. The road to Sangti Valled diverts from the road to Dirang City.
Of late, Sangti Valley has come up as a famous tourist destinantion in Arunachal Pradesh.

Situated very close to Dirang, this place is surrounded by the towering ranges of Eastern Himalayas and blessed with pleasant weather round the year. Also covered with fruit orchards (kiwi , apple, apricot, orange), dotted with pristine forests and meandering fast hill rivers. Many homestays have come up in recent times but the time being October and the tourist season being at its peak. I could manage stay for only one night at the homestay that I had selected. Norbu-ga-Tsal homestay is situated by the side of Sangti River.

The Homestay nicely set up by the side of the river.

The road to sangti valley is tarred but has intermittent broken patches. The road passes through beautiful landscape. We reached our Homestay around 3.30 PM. After checking in, dropped the luggages and rushed to the riverside.

Frames speak louder than words.

Frame your world with love and laughter.


A view of the Homestay. It's just one part of it.

Here, the sun goes down very early, so we wanted to spend as much time as possible before it became dark. The drone went up in the air and recorded some stunning views of the place from top.

In this frame, a story awaits your imagination.


Frame your thoughts and let them fly.

As it became dark, temperature went down but it was enjoyable. The homestay did a bon fire for some other occupants. We enjoyed the view and warmth from the balcony of our cottage while sipping hot tea accompanied with Chicken Pakoda. Although it was dark but the music of the Sangti River, flowing by the side of the Homestay gave us company till we stayed out of our room. A beautiful place in the lap of nature where mobile network is almost non-existent. It gives you the opportunity to rejuvenate your mind and soul.
One more ended on a happy note.

Day 4: 14.10.2024. Dirang

Choose only one master—Nature.

Early morning view of Sangti Valley.

A new day. I got up early and came out at the balcony. By that time the sun had already risen over the clouds. The birds were singing in a melodic manner. I could feel the chilly wind. The Sangti river was flowing at its own pace, unmindful about what’s happening around.

First view from the room.

The burble was creating a beautiful music to the ears. Almost all occupants of the homestay were up and out to experience the beautiful morning vibe. I did not want to let go the opportunity and sent my drone up and hovered it over the valley. The view was like dream come true all around.

It's very similar to Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan.

Then took Diye and both of us went on a morning stroll in the lush green surroundings. Although the sun had risen but the area was still covered under a veil of fog. The early morning view brought back the memories of my Bhutan Road trip in 2019. The area looked very similar to Phobjikha Valley in Bhutan. In 2019, during our Bhutan Road trip we stayed at Phobjikha for one night and we had the same feeling during early morning nature walk. Sangti valley is covered in Pine trees.

Between every two pines there is a doorway to a new world - John Muir.

Far away on the mountains the misty forest scene with fog over Pine trees was a sight to behold. We spent some beautiful moments by the side of Sangti river. The current was not that strong and the water level too was low, probably due to the time of the year. Sangti Valley was gradually waking up, it was still foggy. Our homestay is set up nicely with Sangti river at one side while the other side is occupied by the Government Middle School. We noticed kids coming to the school.

Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.


Linger by the crystal clear Sangti River, sangti invites you to immerse yourself and rediscover your inner self.


The Govt. Middle School at sangti valley.


Cute little kids coming to school.

We had all the time in the world today because our next destination was Dirang, which is barely 12 Km from here. As I could not get a booking for one more day at this homestay, I had decided to spend the day at Dirang. Most of the homestays were running at full occupancy here. As we were to drive for just 10-12 Km, we were in no hurry to leave and the homestay also allowed us late check out. So, after coming back from the stroll, we all again went to the Sangti River and soaked in the beauty of the nature as much time as we can. The sky, the river, the trees, mountains… it was like a canvas unfolding in front of us.

Time spent by the river is never wasted.


Rivers are the escape route to serenity.

We did not realise how the time went by. One after another, all the guests left for their next destination and the staffs got busy preparing the rooms for new guests. Now we started to feel the hungry. The homestay and a small wooden podium built over the river where the guests have the option to sit and have breakfast. We did not want to let that go and enjoyed our breakfast in the company of the Sangti river. It was simple Puri, Aloo ki Subji and Chilli pickle for the breakfast. Although, the menu appeared to be very simple but the ambiance added the extra tadka into it. Every bite into the Puri while watching the Sangti river took the taste and feel of the food to the next level. One word about the chilli pickle. It appeared to be Bhut Jolokia. Sharmila did not muster the courage to go for a single bite but I tasted it. It was hot but still bearable. Probably after being soaked into the oil for sone time, it had lost much of its hotness. After enjoying breakfast, we came back to our room. It was time to leave for Dirang.

We left the homestay at 12.30 P.M. Wish we could stay here for one more day but had to be satisfied with the beautiful memories that we gathered in the limited time we spent here.

Review about Norbu-ga-Tsal Homestay.

Location: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 3.5/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4.5/5

Sangti Valley is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. It is home to the Monpa tribe, a type of Buddhist nomadic tribe indigenous to this area. Sangti is also well known for being seasonal hosts to the migratory and endangered Black-necked crane. While driving towards Dirang, we took a detour and visited the Sheep Breeding Firm, a government run sheep breeding, research and shearing facility. The vast expanse of the gradually rising pasture gives clear view of the valley.

If you ask any kid to draw a scenery with mountain and river, she or he will certainly have this in mind.


The valley as seen from the Sheep Breeding Firm.


In every pose there is a beauty.

After spending some time at the sheep breeding firm, we started for our final destination of the Day. TDL Monastery guest house. We reached the Monastery at 2.30 P.M. The Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery which is also known as TDL Monastery, is built on top of a hill and very peaceful place to meditate and it also gives a panoramic view of Dirang valley. This monastery is very famous amongst tourists. The Guest House is part of Thupsung Dhargye Ling (aka TDL) Monastery, a new monastery of Dirang. The guest house is sprawled across the 1st and 2nd floor of the monastery complex. The guest house has 8 private rooms suitable for double occupancy. Each room opens to a balcony, offering great views of Dirang valley as well as the surrounding hills.

The best think about the guest house is that it offers uninterrupted view of the surrounding mountains throughout the day.



Dirang City.

After keeping our luggage’s, I went to the reception to place order for the lunch but I was informed that they don’t serve lunch. Although, they have an inhouse restaurant but that is only for dinner and breakfast. In between you can have tea. The guest house kitchen is managed by monks, they bring the stuffs from Dirang Market and prepare foods at the kitchen. I was a bit disappointed initially but considering the other positive aspects that this place offers, the disappointment vanished within few minutes. As we were feeling hungry, we decided to go to Dirang Market and have lunch there. I didn’t feel like driving to the market. So, we decided to walk down the road and find a restaurant. The weather was overcast and we had barely crossed the gate of the monastery, it started to rain. Luckily, we were carrying umbrellas that saved us from getting drenched completely. Dirang market has few restaurants. By the time we came back to the monastery after lunch, the rain had stopped.

The monastery complex.

[Sujoy76]

The guest house has 8 private rooms suitable for double occupancy. Each room opens to a balcony, offering great views of Dirang valley as well as the surrounding hills.

Mesmerising view of Dirang Valley from the balcony.

Thereafter we went to the monastery which is just at the upper floor. Most of the tourist visiting the Monastery were taken aback by seeing us. It appeared to me that most of the people are not aware of this information that this Monastery has a beautiful guest house.

The monastery is asthetically designed and laid out.

Thupsung Dhargye Ling is a temple and learning institute for the study of Tibetan Buddhism for laypeople as well as the ordained, to ensure that the Buddha's speech may flourish for future generations. The name, Thupsung Dhargye Ling was given by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and means: "Place of Flourishing of the Buddha's Speech". His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated the temple on April 5, 2017.

A big prayer bell kept at the entrance of the monastery.



The monastery is located in such a way that wherever you look you are in for a beautiful view.


View of the mountain under the influance of fading light.

The prayer hall of the monastery closes at 6 P.M. By that time, it became dark. Some lights around the monastery were switched on and the monastery adorned a different look under the light.

The monastery after sundown.

The monastery was partially lit up. It was looking really beautiful. As we were staying at the guest house, we had the opportunity to come to the monastery whenever we desired. It started to rain and we returned to our room.

Night view from the balcony.

The temperature was going down but the room was comfortable. In between, I came out to the balcony, it was around 8 pm and I was standing amidst the dimly lit surrounding. The sky above appeared like a satin black canvas with white clouds floating by. The neatly manicured trees at the courtyard looked magical against the silhouette of majestic mountains, behind them.

By 8.30 P.M dinner was served. It was Veg fried rice and Chilli Paneer. Nicely cooked. A bit spicy, just as i liked. By 10 P.M we placed our tried bodies under the comfort of the blankets. It was raining outside.

In the morning while leaving Sangti Valley I was feeling a bit disappointed about not being able to get a booking for the day and was a bit sceptical about staying at the guest house at the monastery but in the night under the comfort of the blanket I was feeling happy and satisfied that I had made a right choice about staying here. It felt like being in a different world, a place with the ability to heal even the most troubled minds.

Day 5: 15.10.2024. Dirang to Tawang. 144 Km. 6.30 Hrs.

The Indian Sangri La.

What else you want if you get to satrt your day with such beautiful scenery.

Staying at the monastery guest house offered us with some unique advantages. The early morning view of Dirang town from the balcony was the first in line. We had the exclusive access to the monastery in the early hours before tourists started to visit. The early morning rays of the sun made the monastery looked like the divine abode of Lord Buddha. It looked stunning.

Serene view of the TDL Monastery in the early hours of the day.

The morning atmosphere at the monastery was so peaceful that we did not want to leave the place. Gradually, tourists started to flock in and the calmness of the place transformed into cacophony of excited voices. Then we decided to leave the place and came back to our room. We had to start our journey towards Tawang. So, after taking care of all the formalities we finally checked out of the Guest House at 10.30 A.M. While I was loading the luggage, it started to rain. It was overcast since morning.

Serenity prevails everywhere.


The meditative ambiance embraced us in such a way, we lost track of time.


I am surrounded by a bubble of calmness.



Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths" —Etty Hillesum.


The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha adorning the centre stage at the main prayer hall.


Every nook and corner of this monastery provides stunning view of the valley.


Breakfast time. Maggi and Mountain. Both of them are inseparable.


Turning moments into memories.


The opportunity to stay in the monastery guest house have given us some unforgettable memories that we never imagined.


Captured happiness.



Time spent at this place stands as a cherished highlight of our Arunachal Pradesh trip.

Review about TDL Monastery Guest House.

Location: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 3.5/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 5/5

We left TDL Monastery Guest House at 10.30 A.M and started our journey towards Tawang. For initial few Kilometers from Dirang, the road is in very bad shape. Probably due to the ongoing construction work for the Dirang Bypass. Once constructed and made operational, driving through this stretch will become very convenient as the travellers who want to bypass Dirang and move forward, won’t have to face the traffic on the present road which moves through Dirang. Falcon was running low on Gas. Refuelled it from an IOC Fuel Outlet which is situated at Rama Camp, just about 5 Km from the Dirang Market. Beyond Rama Camp, the road condition improved.

The combination of mountains, rivers, trees, flowers, and birds is a reminder of the majesty and wonder of the natural world.


Catchy and meaningful quotes by BRO.


Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body.

As I continued to drive on the beautiful surface of NH-13 aka Chariduar Tawang Road, the surrounding views started to change. We pulled up by the side of Dirang River and stayed there for some time. Thereafter, we stopped at the Nyukmadung War Memorial and paid homages to the soldiers who made supreme sacrifice on the line of duty. Nyukmadung War Memorial, nestled between Dirang and Sela Pass, stands as an enduring symbol of courage and sacrifice of the 62 Infantry Brigade, whose bravery on 18 November 1962 etched their names into the nation’s history. On that fateful day in 1962, amidst harsh terrain and overwhelming odds, the soldiers of the 62 Infantry Brigade, led by Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, stood resolute against advancing Chinese forces. Though engaged in a tactical withdrawal, they inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, embodying the very essence of valour and patriotism. Every corner of this place narrates a story about the valour and sacrifice of the soldiers.

By the side of Nyukmadung War Memorial.

After Nyukmadung War Memorial, we started to gain elevation and the road which was till now more or less straight, changed into hairpin bends. With every turn we started to gain altitude. We chose not to stop at Baisakhi and move forward. While approaching Senge, encountered a bit of fog which at time became a bit tough to negotiate. This time I chose to drive via Sela Pass and decided to explore the Sela Tunnel on the return leg. The road to Sela is a mixture of broken and good patch. At one point we found to be driving above the layer of cloud. The nearby mountains were playing the game of hide and seek under the cover of cloud. As I drove higher the world below transformed into a tapestry of colours and textures.

Senge, as seen from the road to Sela pass.

View of the surrounding mountains under the cover of cloud.

We reached Sela Pass at 1.30 PM. The huge and beautiful “Welcome to Tawang” Gate welcomed us at Sela Pass. It was cold and windy at the pass. Unlike other high mountain passes, Sela appeared a bit different. It was surrounded by infrastructures, built for the ITBP Soldiers posted there.

Surrounded by a panorama of rugged mountains and a host of serene lakes, including the prominent Sela Lake, the pass offers a picturesque setting that captivates every visitor.


You create the moments of this masterpiece called life.

Our 24th Pass till date

Sela Pass has a Story of love, affection and courage which took place during the 1962 war between India and China on the Arunachal border. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, from the Garhwal Rifles in the North-East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh) was the sole warrior manning the post during the battle of Nuranang. Sela, the Monpa girl had fallen in love with Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat against her father’s wish. Sela, along with her sister Nura used to help Jaswant Singh Rawat by supplying food and ammunition. Jaswant fought against the Chinese for 72 hours and single-handedly killed around 300 opponent army. However, one day her father came to know about the affair and informed the Chinese Army. Jaswant Singh Rawat was killed by the PLA. Sela committed suicide by jumping from the hill and Nura was caught and killed by the PLA.

Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his exceptional bravery, unyielding fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice. Sela Pass is named after the Monpa Girl Sela, and Nuranang falls is named after Sela’s sister Nura.

[Sujoy76]

ITBP personnel runs a small cafeteia at the Sela Pass. Once you visit Sela top, a visit to the cafeteria is a must do thing. The weather being cold at the pass we wanted to have some respite from it and went to the cafeteria. It's very comfortable to sit inside the cafeteria and enjoy some hot samosa and tea accompanied by conversations with the ITBP personnel manning the cafeteria. They just love to share their experiences with the visitors. A big salute to the ITBP personnel for their devotion and dedication towards the uniform.

Happy faces at the Cafeteria.

Sela Pass is not just a geographical milestone. Infact it is a living and breathing canvas created by the nature with the strokes of ethereal beauty. It was just the begining of our Arunachal Adventure. The landscape here has changed from what we experienced at Bomdila and Dirang. It took us few minutes to reach the majestic Sela Lake.

The dramatic landscape offers endless opportunities to capture stunning images.


Happiness is a way of travel – not a destination

The weather was overcast and the cold wind coming from the lake made things a bit uncomfortable for us. We left the Sela Lake after 2.30 PM and drove towards tawang. For some moment, the mesmerising Sela Lake gave us company as the road is laid by the side of it. BRO must be complemented for the quality of road that has been constructed at this area. Driving on the smooth surface of this part of NH-13 was sheer pleasure. Once the Sela lake vanished from our line of sight, the Nuranang River, which originates from Sela Lake travelled alongside the road. The towering peaks of the mountain range, the valley, Pine trees. colourfull wild flowers and the mist, everything came together and created such an atmosphere which is beyond description.

The journey is the reward.

Somewhere on the road at Nuranang Valley. The Rajputana Rifle has constructed a small Shiva Temple by the side of this waterfall. It is said that there are around 101 lakes around Sela pass. This gushing waterfall is created by a stream originating from one such lake at the higher elevation. Finally, it meets with the Nuranang River. The location of this place is not given in G Maps. However, it can be located by at the map by Nuranang Resorts, a property situated just infront of this fall.

Gushing stream of the Nuranang River.



We were so enthralled by the ethreal beauty of this place that we couldn't stop ourselves from pullin up after almost every turn on the road.

The lights were fadig off and we still had to cover some distance to Tawang. On the way we skipped visiting Jaswantgarh War Memorial as it would have taken considerable amount of time. So we decided to visit this memorial on our return leg. While leaving Dirang our plan was to visit all the places enroute Tawang but as we had consumed much of the time and keeping in mind the fact of early sundown at Arunachal, we decided to skip Jaswantgarh War Memorial and also decided not to visit Jung Waterfall. NH-13 bypasses the Jung town but G Map do not show this bypass road and instead guides through the narrow road that moves through the congested locality of Jung. While driving through this congested narrow road, I discovered the diversion towards Mago Valley. After driving for few Kilometers, joined back NH-13 and continued uphill drive towards Tawang. Hereafter, the drive till Tawang was uneventful. By the time we reached Tawang, the sun had already taken leave for the day. I wanted to stay a bit away from the market area and booked our stay at Rikya Retreat which is near to the District Hospital, Tawang. later on it turned out to a bad decision. Locating the resort took some time. The roads at Tawang are narrow and very confusing. One wrong turn and you have to drive some distance to come back to the correct location. Finally, we reached the Resort and welcomed by the owner. We found that the resort is still under construction and they have operationalised a part of it. Then the shocker came in the form of the information that evening snacks won;t be available. We were longing for some food as we did not have heavy meal since leaving Dirang. The owner promised us to make some arrangement by the time we settle down in our room. The room was cozy and comfortable. It was tastefully decorated. The temperature was hovering around 3-4 degree C but the room heater looked after our comfort. They served tea, plum cake and biscuits. The order for dinner was taken early. I was told that according to the order they would source the materials from the local market and prepare the food. Considering the amount of time it would take, they asked us to place the order early. I ordered for local Red rice, Dal, Egg curry and Chicken for the dinner. It was dark outside and we had nothing to do. Our room had a balcony. It was all dark at the immediate neighbourhood of the hotel but the areas adjoining the Tawang Stadium were lit up and giving a nice view with the fog creating an interesting shadow after being illuminated by the light. I cursed myself for chosing to stay away from the market place. Had I booked out stay near to the market area, we would have been roaming on the streets enjoying the night life of Tawang. It was really a bad decision which could not be reversed. Anyway, we learn from mistakes. Dinner was served by 9 P.M. We were hungry and tired. Everything on the plates were finished quickly and we retired for the day.

Night view of Tawang from the balcony of our room.

Day 6: 16.10.2024. Tawang

Lungro La. The new sensation of Arunachal Pradesh.

Good morning Tawang.

Tawang needs no introduction. Located at a height of 10,000 feet above sea level, it is the crown jewel of Arunachal Pradesh. Home to Monpa people, Tawang is famous for alluring landscapes, high altitude passes, frozen lakes, the monastery, ancient stupas, hidden waterfalls, local Tibetan markets, sacred Gompas, and many more things. Today we decided to explore the Sangetsar Lake and Lungro La, a pass on the Indo Tibet border which has been opened for tourists recently.

The first view of Tawang from the balcony.

Last night the temperature had plummeted below zero but we had comfortable sleep. Early morning view from the balcony presented a beautiful picture. It was a combination of lush green valley, misty sky and the mountain range hiding behind the clouds. Standing at the balcony holding a cup of tea while breathing in the crisp and fresh air with a scent of pine and earth. It was a surreal experience.

We left the hotel by 7.30 A.M and hit the road for the first destination of the day, Sangetsar Lake. The road till "Y" Junction and beyond it is in goodshape. The time being early in the morning we experienced less traffic on the road and it was one way traffic , mainly comprised of Army vehicles and couple of tourist vehicles. All of them were moving upward towards the "Y" junction. We reached "Y: junction at 8.40 AM and as we had no plan for Bumla today so continued driving straight ahead. On the way crossed P T Tso lake, the crystal clear water of the water under the sunlight was looking surreal.We did not stop here.

The crystal clear water of the lake contrast beautufully with the rugges terrain.

Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions - Dalai Lama.

Finally, we reached Sangetsar Lake at 10 A.M. The lake was bustling with tourists. Everyone seemed to be busy clicking photographs at every corner of the lake. Previously it used to be named as Shonga-tser Lake. Situated at an altitude of 12,500 ft above sea level, this lake was created in 1971 after a devastating earthquake. Prior to the earthquake, the place where the lake is formed, used to be a open pasture where shepherds from nearby villages used to get their flock to graze the land during summer time. Tucked between two huge mountains, the lake is a sight to behold where plenty of upright pine tree trunks spread across the lake, magnifies the beauty of this lake. The lake also holds a very special place amongst the followers of Buddhism.

The crystal-clear water of the lake and the reflection of surrounding mountains creates a stunning landscape which is a sight to behold.


Sangetsar Lake. Here serenity meets majesty.

The lake doesn't appear to me to be a glacial lake. Instead it seems to have formed by water of a river named Taktsang Chu which originates from the base of Takpo Shiri Glacier, situated near the Indo Tibet border, to the north of the lake. Thereafter, it flows southward and enters the lake from the northern side and leaves the lake from the other end and flows towards west and finally joins with Nyamjung Chu River. Although, this lake is a major attraction for the tourists visiting Tawang, but it did not look that special to me. Probably because of being overcrowded, this place has lost its serenity and tranquility. There is a small wooden podium built on the lake whcih is accessible by a narrow wooden bridge. There is a notice board placed on the podium which indicates "Not more than 5 people" but to my chagrin 15 overenthusiastic people were standing on that feeble platform. It can lead to an accident any day. We must be responsible as tourists but sometimes we tend to forget to display our sense of responsibility. There is a small cafeteria which is being run the Indian Army. Apart from food, people can buy certain items of the Indian Army like Woolen Caps, Army Boots, Sweat Shirts etc from here. We spend anout an hour at the lake and then left for Lungro La.

Took this photo just before we left the lake.

Lungro La is 17 Km away from Sangetsar Lake. One need to follow the route towards T Gompa or Thegtse Woisal Choi Ling Tagtsang which is situated 4 Km from Sangetsar Lake. This is basically the road that leads to Zemithang. Initial 4 Km of the road from Sangetsar Lake moves alongside Taktsang Chu, thereafter from the T-Gompa the road diverts away from the river and moves through Taktsang village, It’s a small settlement with most of the people from Monpa tribe. The road till Taktsang is completely broken and it requires careful navigation for vehicles with low GC. The road to Lungro La diverts from the Zemithang Road at Taktsang. There is a Check post manned by Indian Army personnel. After we reached the check post, we were stopped and had to give basic details about no of person travelling and the car number. After the formalities were over, we were allowed to move towards Lungro La. The road is tarmac and it moves through dense forest of pine trees. After leaving the check post, it was a constant uphill drive. The meandering road moves through some stunning landscape which, at many points are dotted with infrastructure built for the Indian Army deployments. Lungro La is very close to the Indi Tibet Border and very important from the strategic point of view. It has a history of clash between Indian and Chinese forces during 1987. Falcon was the only vehicle traveling through the road. Not many people travel to this pass. Most of them are not aware about Lungro La. I was happily driving through the road while enjoying the raw beauty of the nature. As we started gaining height the vegetation started to vanish and soon, we found ourselves travelling through the clouds. The weather here is very unpredictable.

The last check post before Lungro La. The visibility ahead is very low due to the weather being cloudy. A common sight at this height.

We were again stopped at a check post just 1 Km away from Lungro La. For one more time our details were asked and we were told that one Army personal would be accompanying us till the pass. No one is allowed to move beyond that point without being escorted by an Army person. When we reached Lungro La view point, the whole area was covered under cloud.

The gate at Lungro La view point. No tourist vehicle is permitted to drive ahead from this point. Just after crossing the gate, the vehicles need to take a left turn and park at the parking zone.

The road moves beyond the Lungro La view point and it goes till two forward most Indian Army Posts along the Indo Tibet Border. Only IA vehicles and few other vehicles are allowed to move beyond the view point. To restrict Civilian travellers from venturing to the road beyond the view point, one Army person escorts each tourist vehicles visiting Lungro La view point.

View from Lungro La. The road ahead moves towards Indian BOP overlooking the Samdorong Chu Valley. Once the weather becomes clear, the Wangdong area of China Occupied Tibet and the infrastructure built by the PLA can be clearly seen from this point.

History of Lungro La.

The Lungro La pass in Arunachal Pradesh, India has been involved in several historical events, including a military standoff with China in 1986–87. In 1986–87, a military standoff took place between India and China in the Sumdorong Chu Valley bordering Tawang and Tibet. Since the Nathu La clash between India and China in 1967, two decades had already passed and China was irked by the certainty that the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh—which they claimed large portions of—would become the twenty-fourth state of the Indian Union. Out of this fear China had moved a company of troops to Wangdong, a pasture to the south of Sumdorong Chu rivulet that India believed to be its territory. Chinese troops encroached into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh in late June 1986 and set up a camp. It was a remote and inaccessible valley not far from the Namka Chu which is famous for multiple border skirmishes. The battle of Namka Chu took place in 1962 when the Chinese forces invaded the Indian Territory and won a victory. The area of Wangdong was literally a ‘no-go’ area for the Indian Army, as patrolling the area constituted a provocation.
During 1986-87, in face of the Chinese aggression, The Indian troops stood their ground on the neighbouring Lungro La ridge and both the sides moved a large number of troops to the border. The crisis was diffused after the visit of Indian External Affairs minister to Beijing in May 1987. The standoff gave rise to fears of escalation. Subsequently, India and China formulated agreements for managing future border tensions.

What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to chose life - Leo Buscaglia.

India's efforts to occupy the Thag La ridge was the casus belli for the October 1962 Chinese military attack on India. Since 1962, India had not returned to the site of its major defeat at Namka Chu, which separates the Thag La ridge to the north and the Hathung La ridge at south.
Previously, as there were no feasible defensive locations north of Tawang, in the event of a new war, the forces would have had to abandon the Tawang town and prepare for battle at the Se La pass . However, things started to change after 1980, it was decided by the military strategists that Tawang can’t be left at the mercy of the PLA in a future conflict. The army made it clear that the only viable line of defence for Tawang would be along the Hathung La ridge.



Cartographic representation of the area around Lungro La - Courtesy: mapcarta.com

In 1983, an Intelligence Bureau team went to the pasture land of Sumdorong Chu which is north-east of the confluence of the Namka Chu and Nyamjiang Chu. The intelligence team stayed through the summer and returned in winter. This procedure was followed for two years. In 1986, the Indian team found that the Chinese had preceded them and set up semi-permanent structures there and were not willing to budge.
Then Indian Army, under the command of Chief of Army Staff, Gen Krishnaswamy Sundarji, launched an operation codenamed Operation Falcon, when troops and vehicles were airlifted to Zemithang during the third week of October 1986. Taking up locations on multiple heights, including the Hathung La ridge, Indian troops were able to strategically occupy the high ground near Sumdorong Chu. This was followed by more mobilisation by both sides. China called for a flag meeting in November. The standoff continued until May 1987

Do not be afraid to go to the uncharted territories. You might find some pretty good things there - Muriel Siebert.

By then both India and China had realised the danger of an inadvertent conflict and, after initial posturing, a decision was made to de-escalate their deployments and finally in 1993, the two countries signed an agreement to ensure peace along the LAC. The agreement brought in an interesting concept of "mutual and equal security". However, most important element of this agreement was a mutually acceptable Line of Actual Control, which was to be worked out by the two sides. Till now, the two sides have their own versions of the line and there are points, especially in the Sikkim-Bhutan-India trijunction, the Sumdorong Chu area and so on, where each other's claims continue to be disputed.

Salute to Indian Army for this Brilliant Idea. The tricolour was given to us by Indian Army for this beautiful photograph. Such an honour to hold the Tricolour at this point

Lungro La, offers access into the Sumdorong Chu valley from the Indian side. This position is strategically very important to India and Lungro La offers ingress routes that could threaten Tawang’s defences against any enemy misventure. However, Indian Army has strengthened it’s position along the border and ready to thwart any challenge to the territorial integrity of India.

A Salute to the unknown Soldier.

We stayed at Lungro La for almost an hour. Every moment spent at this place was special to us. We spent almost an hour at Lungro La and would have loved to stay for some more time but as the weather started to deteriorate, we were advised to return.

View from the top. That's the parking lot for Longro La. The place has been nicely decirated. There will be more improvement to the infrastructure in the coming years.

Lungro La is 25th pass that we have covered till date. Every high mountain pass is distinct and has their own story to tell. I have no qualms to say that the experience to being at Lungro La was unique. Standing at 14,266 ft and looking at the Chinese Infrastructure while feeling the cold wind brushing trough the uncovered area of your body, is an experience second to none. Around 1 P.M we bade adieu to Lungro La. By then the weather had deteriorated. The downhill drive through the meandering road was equally beautiful.

The view of the road and that brings you up to Lungro La. It's a part of the Sumdorong Chu valley. The landscape filled with lakes, passes and grazing ground for yaks and horses is nothing short of a paradise.

The road to Taktsang Gompa from Lungro La.

Taktsang Gompa.

On return leg we stopped for a brief period at the T-Gompa of Taktsang Gompa, literally meaning Tiger's Den, Taktsang Gompa is located at an altitude of about 12,500 to 13,000 feet on the top of a hillock and by a cliff. It is so peaceful, pristine, and sound that only sound that you will hear will be the wind blowing and your heart beating. This place rose to prominence in the 8th century when Guru Padmasambhava visited here. According to the legends, the guru meditated here in a cave for some time.

Crossing the brigde on Taktsang Chu.

We drove towards Tawang through the same road. From Sangetsar Lake to “ Y” Junction and thereafter to Tawang.

The statue is strategically built to offer panoramic view of the valley.

On our way to the hotel, stopped by the Giant Buddha Statue. Standing at a height of almost 30 feet and made of gilded bronze, the statue commands attention with its imposing presence. The Statue is a symbol of devotion and beauty, evoking feelings of belief and calmness.

Tawang monastery, as seen from the Giant Buddha Statue.

We came back to the holel before sunset. As the property was away from the main market we had no option but to stay indoor. Just after sundown, we decided to explore the market but i was not inclined to drive to the market. So we hired a local cab through the hotel and went to the market. We went to the Old market. The basic idea was to explore the place for some local souvenir. The roads are narrow and at times huge rush of vehicles make it difficult to walk through the roads.

[Sujoy76]

Our dinner for the night. Collected from The taste of Tawang.

We collected our dinner from The taste of Tawang Restaurant. We were advised by the hotel owner about this restaurnat. The restaurnat did not disappoint us. When we went into the restaurnat it was totally packed with foodies. We quickly, collected our food and returned to the hotal. It was raining when we came back. The weather at tawang is very unpredictable. With every passing time the temperature was going down. We comfortable placed our bodies under the cover of blanket and also the room heater continued to perform its duty without any complaint. During our breakfast in the morning, while discussing about the permit for Bumla the Hotel owner had told me that permits are not being issued for private owners but i had done my homework and countered him with facts. Then he told me that he can get me the permit through some agent. The proposal appeared acceptable to me and i gave him the required dosuments so that he can get the permit for us for our trip to Bumla which was planned on 18.10.2024.

Day 7: 17.10.2024. Tawang

Chakzam Bridge. The ancient engineering marvel.

Miles of memories, one road at a time.

Today, the plan was to explore nearby places of interest. We decided to visit the Chakzam Bridge first and then other places. It’s an ancient iron bridge was built over the river Tawang Chu in the 15th century and is one of the last surviving Tibetan bridges in the area. The word Chakzam, Chaksam, or Jagsam is widely used in the Himalayas and stems from the ‘standard’ Tibetan word meaning ‘Iron Bridge’. After not so impressive breakfast at the hotel we left for Chakzam. The engineering marvel is situated in a small hamlet named Chakzam which is around 21 Km away from Tawang. It was a downhill drive from the height of 9,500 ft at Tawang to the bank of Tawang Chu river at 6,200 ft when we finally reached the location where the bridge is situated.

Aerial view of the ancient bridge over the gushing stream of Tawang Chu. A new bridge has been constructed by the side of the old bridge.

This suspension bridge spans the Tawang Chu and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
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Long shot of Chagzam bridge with the newer modern bridge ahead of it.

The bridge is not visible from the road. One need to walk down through a narrow-cemented path to come to the bridge. After parking the car, we started to walk downhill through the path while listening to the sound of gushing water of the Tawang Chu. After walking down a bit, the bridge became visible. We crossed through a small stupa like structure and approached the bridge.

A board displaying information about the bridge.

A gate like structure on the approach road to the bridge.

Soon we got first view of the magnificent historic Chagzam Bridge . I was mesmerised, just imagining how this engineering marvel was accomplished 600 years ago.It is believed that the bridge was built in 15th century by a Tibetan monk named Thang Tong Gyalpo or Lama Chag-Zam Wangpo, who was a philosopher, engineer, poet, and disciple of the 1st Dalai Lama in Tibet, Gedun Drupa. He has many nicknames include ‘The King of Empty Plains’ and ‘Iron Bridge Yogi’. It is believed that Tangton Gyalpo have built over 100 iron bridges in the region and all of them were an architectural marvel.

This bridge is one of the few of its kind to have survived to this day in the Himalayan Regions.

Continuing with his work in the Himalayas, Tangton Gyalpo built the Chakzam Bridge during the period between 1420 to 1430. Although, during that time, the name ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ didn’t exist. In fact, this area wasn’t even part of India! it was part of South Tibet. Tangton Gyalpo built the 100 metre iron bridge over the Tawang Chu River to allow people to cross between the areas of Kitpi and Mukto.

Aerial view of Tawang Chu and the surrounding valley.

As we approached the bridge, we found that the entry point of the bridge is closed. Learnt from some local people that due to safety reason, it has been closed. We were told that few years back some of the iron chain links from the bridge were found missing, probably stolen. To prevent further pilferage, the bridge has been shuttered and locked. A new suspension bridge has been constructed beside the old bridge and tourists now use this bridge to cross over to the other side. While walking on the new bridge, I looked at the Chakzam bridge, whatever I could see it appeared like the bridge has been constructed with a combination of bamboo, cane, straw. It’s a rattan bridge, the entire length of which was covered with long strips woven to form a kind of a mat.

The closeup view of the structure of the bridge that I could get from my Drone.



After crossing over to the other side of the bridge.


Even if you don’t get to cross the bridge, it’s still beautiful and worth a stop for photos!

Being covered with prayer flags, it was hard to observed the bridge closely. We crossed over to the other side of the bridge. This area has thick cover of vegetation with a narrow walkway leading to a small Gompa looking structure.

The modern suspension bridge beside the Chagsam bridge.

Chagzam Bridge is not just a bridge but a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Himalayan region. It is a tribute to the genius of Thangtong Gyalpo. The serene atmosphere of the place was so impressive that we were in no mood to leave. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, the tranquillity of this place appeared to be perfect for meditation. Unlike other tourist places this place doesn’t have any source od disturbance in the form of restaurants or tea stalls. Being visited by very few tourists, Chakzam Bridge has managed to retain its aura.

We were in for some visual treat while moving away from Chakzam.

From Chakzam we went to the Jamyang Choekorling Monastery, which is considered to be one of the ancient Buddhist Monastery at Tawang. Located near to the civil helipad, Sera Jey Jamyang ChokhorLing Monastery was registered under Arunachal Pradesh State Government and affiliated with Sera Jey Monastic Institute. The Monastery runs a primary school for the young novice monks to study Modern Education along with ancient Tibetan Buddhism.

The main building of the monastery. It has adjascent buildings which houses the dormitory for young monks.



A beautifully constructed Chorten at the Gompa.


The monastery has a vast open space which allows visitors to enjoy their time.


View of Tawang from the Gompa.

Ugyenling Monastery. A Holy Cradle of Spirituality.

Ugyenling Gompa is known as the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama. This monastery is not just a place of worship but also a significant cultural site that attracts both pilgrims and tourists alike. As we approached the monastery, the majestic Himalayan backdrop enhanced its beauty, creating a perfect setting for reflection and spirituality. The architecture of the monastery is very simple. It represents traditional Tibetan design, with intricate carvings and vibrant murals that tell the stories of Buddhism's rich history. It has a beautiful courtyard which will encourage the visitors to soak in the tranquil atmosphere that envelops the site. One side of the courtyard has a residence for monks who are always welcoming and often willing to share insights about their practices and the significance of the monastery.

Built in 1487 AD, every corner of this monastery whisper tales of the past.

Buddhism strongly believes in reincarnations and rebirths. It is believed that every Dalai Lama is reincarnation of his previous existence. History says that 6th Dalai Lama was born in the present Ugyenling Gompa. The Ugyenling monastery was built around 1487 by Ugyen Zangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pemalinga, the great treasure revealer. About two centuries later, in the year 1683, Tsanyang Ghatso, the sixth Dalai Lama, was born here to Tashi Tenzin, a direct descendant of Ugyen Zangpo and Tsewang Lhamo of the royal family of Berkhar.

Though smaller than its illustrious neighbour, the Tawang Monastery. Still Ugyenling Gompa holds an undeniable charm.

The monastery is a treasure trove of cultural heritage. Inside the main prayer hall, it houses hand-painted portraits of all the Dalai Lamas and sacred imprints believed to be left by the Sixth Dalai Lama himself. The main prayer hall, adorned with vibrant thangka paintings and flickering butter lamps, serves as the heart of the monastery.

The tranquil atmosphere of the main prayer hall is ideal forprayers and meditations. It's almost dark inside the prayer hall with one some fluorescent
lamps providing just enough light for visibility.

A plaque describing the place says that the sixth Dalai Lama, before leaving this place for Tibet, planted his walking stick into the ground just inside the monastery gate and predicted that he would visit this place again when the three tree trunks, out of this stick, would be of equal height. They believe that the trunks attained equal height but in 1959 one of the trunks got broken due to strong wind. Truly it happened in 1959 when the great 14th Dalai Lama, after his escape from Tibet,visited this place.

The giant Oak tree, just inside the monastery gate, grew from the walking stick of Sixth Dalai Lama, planted in the ground at the time of leaving for Tibet.

It is said that initially, the Monastery served as the residence for the Buddhist monks and Lamas following the Lamaistic tradition of Buddhism and was considered as one of the sacred monasteries, particularly after the birth of the sixth Dalai Lama. However, it stopped functioning since the sixth Dalai Lama was deposed by Lajang Khan, the king of the Kusot Mongols, who destroyed the Monastery in an attempt to obliterate the memory of the Dalai Lama. Commander of that force was a Mongolian warrior called Sokpa Jomkhar, who was against the non-Gelugpa sect of Buddhists. It is said that thereafter Lajang Khan kidnapped the Sixth Dalai Lama, who was later on killed while on his way to China at Gongganor, south of Kokonor in 1706.

Although, not very famous as a tourist spot but Ugyenling Buddhist Monastery is a place that promises an unforgettable experience. This beautiful place was not in out plan but after spending some memorable moments at this tranquil place, we felt very happy that finally we had decided to step into this monastery. Perhaps, we were destained to visit this Gompa.

From Ugyenling Gompa we headed straight to the Tawang Old Market for lunch. Finding a parking spot for your car is a herculean task, after toiling for some time finally managed to find a place to squeeze Falcon in between two cars. The moment we stepped out of the car, it started to rain. We had planned to have lunch at Hotel Mon Valley, a renowned restaurant at Tawang but after stepping into it we found that the restaurant was full to its capacity and we were asked to wait for a seat to get vacant.

First thing I look out for while eating Momo.


My mind says Abs but my heart says Momos.

All of us were feeling damn hungry and were in no mood to wait. So, we left the place and came to a nearby restaurant “Mon Zakhang”. Ordered for Momo and Red rice. We had occupied a table beside a window, it was raining outside, at the background “Om Mane Padme Hum” was playing at low volume, the sound of cutlery and voices of people gossiping in multiple languages created a beautiful atmosphere inside the restaurant. The momos and Fried Rice were really tasty and the red chilli chutney took their taste to a different level. We thoroughly enjoyed the lunch and left the restaurant. By this time the rain had stopped.

Tawang Monastery. The largest monastery in India.

The distance of the monastery from the market is barely 3 Km but it took us some time to negotiate the narrow undulating road with constant traffic of vehicles. The weather was overcast and it was raining. After driving for some moment, we got a view of the monastery. The monument perched on top of a hill, about 10,000 feet above sea level was looking majestic. Tawang Monastery was founded by the 5th Dalai Lama, Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in the year 1680-81. In Tibetan language it is known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse roughly translated as “The peak of the heavenly abode of joyfulness and complete victory.

The view of the majestic monastery from the road.

We entered the monastery from the side of a museum. Later on, we discovered that the main gate of the monastery was at the other side. However, just after crossing the museum (Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Museum) we entered the stone slabbed courtyard where Chham Dances and other outdoor ceremonies are held. It was raining heavily and we were not carrying rain jackets. Standing at the courtyard we discovered the massive building, the Dukhang or the main assembly hall. This three-storied building houses the template and the Labrang (The establishment of the Abbot.) As it was raining heavily, we had no option but to take shelter inside the Dukhang.

The most imposing building of the monastery is the assembly hall known as Dukhang.

It was time for the evening prayers and one by one all the little monks started to gather inside the main prayer hall. The inner walls of the Dukhang are painted with murals of various divinities and saints.

A colossal richly gilded statue of Lord Buddha occupies the middle of the Prayer Hall.

Peaceful place is where you can listne to your heart.

Young monks preparing for the evening prayer.[/center]

Red robes flood into the Gompa and young monks sat in lines beneath the towering golden Buddha that dominates the room. The hour-long practice consists of reciting prayers, and the sounds of the gongs and Tibetan horns leak into the dramatic landscapes all around. Tourists are allowed during the prayer time. A magical tranquillity prevailed over the prayer hall when the prayer started. We took our seat at one corner of the prayer hall, closed our eyes and lost into a meditative world.

[Sujoy76]

Preparations are on for the evening prayer.

We were so enthralled by the magical atmosphere inside the prayer hall, we forgot to keep track of time. After spending more than 30 minutes in the prayer hall, we came out only to find that it was still raining. I couldn't resist the temptation to fly the drone. My bumble bee went up and enabled me to feel like a bird flying over the magnifiscent monument and look at the horizon from the top.

The main prayer hall, as seen from the air.

Tawang monastery is the second largest monastery in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Spread over an area of 1,35,000 Square feet, where more than 300 monks reside to learn as well as practice Buddhism. The entire eastern half of the monastery is covered with sixty residential quarters for the residing monks. These dormitories are called Sha. Each of these dormitories has been constructed by a group of villagers on voluntary basis. They also carry out the repairs and are responsible for its maintenance.

The monastery is a design masterpiece.

Tawang is unique and its culture and traditions differs from the rest of Arunachal Pradesh. The present Tawang township has gradually evolved around this monastery. The population of Tawang mainly consists of Monpas. Most followers of Gelug Sect of Buddhism belong to the Monpa tribe. Monpa means “from the land of moon” this practically refers to the people living in South of Tibet. Customary law dictates that if a family has three sons, then the middle son ought to pursue monkhood. Therefore, majority of monks residing at this monastery are the middle sons of their families.

Surrounded by forested green hills and backed by the towering Himalayas, this place provides an ideal environment for monastic pursuits.

The monastery apart from being is the fountain-head of the spiritual life of the people of this region is also the most important Socio-Cultural Institute having tremendous influence on the culture and day-to-day life of the inhabitants of the region. It promotes craftmanship like Thangka Painting, wood carving and the unique Monshug paper making. Where Mon comes from Monpa and Shug means paper which means “Paper of Monpas.”

Due to the rain, we could not visit the adjascent building in the monastery complex. Other than the rain one more reason forced us to leave the monastery a bit early after cutting short our plans to stay for some more time and explore the place.

The myth about Bumla Permit for private cars. A nexus between the local taxi union and the hotel/homestay owners.

While we were enjoying our time at the Tawang Monastery, I got a call from the owner of my hotel. He called me up and informed that the permit for Bumla could not be made due to the objection of the local taxi union. He told me that I can go to Bumla only by hiring a local cab. Before coming to Tawang, I had dome bit research about this issue and I was sure he was trying to persuade/force me hire a local cab for Bumla. Probably he would have wanted to earn some commission out of it. I straightway told him that Bumla is not that special and if I am not allowed to drive my car there then I have no interest in hiring a cab and go there. I guess he did not expect this kind of reply. Then I told him that I don’t need the permit and I won’t go to Bumla. To be honest, I was losing the interest for Bumla. We drove back to the hotel from Tawang Monastery, collected the documents that I had given to the hotel owner in the morning and straightway went to the DC office. I knew where to go. Upon entering the DC office, I straightway went to the Judicial Section Window where a lady was issuing permits to local taxi owners. I asked her about permit for private vehicle to Bumla. She asked in return to submit the documents. I had made two copies of the documents comprising of ILP, DL, Insurance of the car, copies of the Aadhar for the persons intend to travel to Bumla. My documents were ready and after submitting them, the lady asked me to come after 30 minutes. I was surprised to see that no one neither stopped me from submitting the documents nor argued with me that I have to hire a local cab. Anyway, after 30 minutes I collected two copies of the permit, stamped by the authority and as directed went to the Brigade HQ at Tawang War Memorial and submitted the permits there. Next morning, I was asked to collect one copy of the permit from the War Memorial and proceed to Bumla. The permit process is very simple. The hotel owners and local taxi union misguide people so that they can earn some extra money from them. After depositing the permits at the designate, we stayed back at Tawang War memorial and waited for our turn to witness the Light and Sound show. Tawang War Memorial is a stupa built to commemorate the Indian martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the 1962 Indo-China War. Apart from the auditorium, the war memorial has a museum that houses the belongings of the martyrs. While waiting for our turn at the light and sound show, we visited the museum. The Light and Sound Show took us through the war’s key moments. It created an immersive and emotional experience that has left a lasting impression. We came back to the hotel and ordered for dinner. We had barely finished our dinner, the ligts went off. To make matters worse, the hotel did not have any back up system. After waiting for almost 15 minutes, they provided us an emergency lamp and a kerosene heater. The power outage continued through out the night and it was not very comfortable for us that night.


Day 8: 18.10.2024. Tawang to Jung. 30 Km. 1 Hour.

Change in Plan. Ditched Bumla and Zemithang. Spent a day by the side of Majestic Phong Phongma.

Morning view of the magical land.

Unlike other days, we got up late today. According to the itinerary we were supposed to leave Tawang and visit Bumla and thereafter proceed to Zemithang and stay there for one day. Accordingly, I had done booking at River View Homestay at Zemithang. But we changed the plan in the morning. None of us felt the urge to go to Bumla. Almost every tourist visiting Tawang, go to Bumla but unfortunately, we did not feel the excitement for Bumla. It may sound crazy to others but it’s a fact. The plan for Zemithang too was dropped. Initially, while planning for the trip my idea was to spend a day at Zemithang and explore it and next day drive from Zemithang to Shergaon. The distance between these two places, according to G map is roughly 280 Km and it's a journey of 8.30 Hrs if driven non stop. After visiting Arunachal, i had realised that to explore Zemithang and soak into the serene beauty of that place, one need to spend atleast two days here but our present itinerary was not allowing us to do that. Moreover, the next day we had to start very early from Zemithang for Shergaon so as to enable us to reach Shergaon by evening. In Arunachal, by 4.30 PM it starts to become dark. Moreover, while moving towards Shergaon, we would be in hurry and would not be able to explore Nuranang Waterfall and other places properly. Basically, it became a matter of managemnt of time between the places in our wish list. Hence, Zemithang was left out of the plan and we decided to leave for Nuranang.

We decided to stay at Jung. The decision was instnat and now I had to look for and accomodation. Jung/Jang is a subdivision under Tawang and is famous for the Nuranang of Jang waterfall. While exploring the area for stay options i found two properties just adjascent to the waterfall. One is the Forest Rest House and the other being Ngyamzar Resort. Voila !! half of my problem was solved. Unfortunately, i couldn't find a contact number for the Forest Rest House so that it can be contacted to enquire about the booking. For Ngyamzar Resort, although a contact number was available but noone respended to my call. However, finally after multiple calls, one person responded but I was told that no rooms were available there for the night. My short lived excitement had a premature death.

But we wanted to move on with the plan of spending the night at Jang. Found a resort, a bit away from the waterfall and got confirmation about availability of accomodation there. We left Tawang at 12.30. As the distance to be covered was not much so we took it a bit easy.

Review about Rikya Retreat, Tawang.

Location: 3/5
Ambiance: 2/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 2.5/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 3/5

First view of the upper part of the waterfall overlooking the Resort.

It was the same Chariduar Tawang Road till we took the diversion towards the Nuranag Waterfall. The resort, that we had spoken to was on the main highway but before going to the resort I wanted to give a last try and drove straight to Ngyamzar Resort. It's a small diversion from the Jang Falls Road for the Resort. A bit of uphill drive. On the way, the Forest Rest House comes first and at the dead end of the road is Ngyamzar Resort. As we approached the resort, we got a clear view of the upper part of the majestic Nuranang Waterfall. Rolled down the windows and the sound of the water fall became audiable. I prayed quietly that there should be atleast one room avialable at the resort. I went inside the resort but found none at the reception. The staffs were enjoying their time at the back side of the resort under the sun, this area has a huge open space and gives clear view of the Nuranang Fall. There i found the Chef of the resort, who looks after the affairs there. Enquired about the availablilty and requested for one. Surprisingly, he told me one room is vacant but that would be a basic one. Without wasting any more time i told him give me the keys. Thereafter, it took us 15-20 minutes to complete the chech-in formalities and we settled down in our room.

Diya's joy had no limits.



The resort located near enchanting phong Phongma Falls gives an amazing view.

The resort is divided into two parts. One portion of it has the accomodations and the other and most soughtafter section is the reception area whch has a huge roof top dining area that gives clear and uninterrupted view of the enchanting Nuranang Waterfall. After keeping the luggage, we stratightway went to the rooftop area. The majestic waterfall was infront of our eyes. One can sit here for as much time as possible and enjoy the view of this beautifull creation of the nature.
It was late in the afternoon and we were feeling hungry. The view of the waterfall was so alluring, we did not want to leave the roof top. We ordered from lunch and waited there. By the time our lunch was being prepared, we waited at there and continued watching the magnificent view of the waterfall. The USP of this resort is not just the location but they serve some tasty food too. We had Rice, Dal, Fish Curry, Aloo Bhaji, Papad and Chicken Curry for lunch and all the items were tasty.

The fall is known for the rainbow effect, plunging over a sheer rock face into the Tawang River. Although we were not that lucky to witness the rainbow.

After enjoying sumptuous lunch we went to visit the waterfall. It took us just 5 minutes to drive down to the parking place. The road to Nuranag Fall goes till the basement of the Hydroelectric Power Station. From there, its a narrow trail of stairs and unpaved road till you reach the base of the waterfall. As we approached the waterfall, the thundering sound of the waterfall became more and more audible. Gradually, we stepped into the open area where Nuranang River plunges from a height of 100 metrers into the Tawang Chu, thus creating the magnificent visual treat.

Today is your better day. Right now. This moment. Enjoy it.



A chance not taken is just a regret waiting to happen.

The Nuranang River, that feeds the waterfalls, originates from the northern slopes of the Sela Pass and joins the Tawang River shortly after the cascade. The Nuranang River, that feeds the waterfall, originates from the northern slopes of the Sela Pass and joins the Tawang River shortly after the cascade. Locally known as Fong Fong Ma or the Bong Bong Fall, the Nuranang Waterfall derives its name from a poignant local legend involving a Monpa girl named Nura. According to historians, she has played a heroic role in the 1962 Sino-Indian War by assisting Indian Army Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat. The names of Nura and Sela have etched into history along with Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, for their sacrifice during the 1962 Indo-China War. Nura’s bravery is commemorated in the naming of the river and the falls, adding a layer of cultural depth to its stunning natural beauty.

Nuranag river, after originating from the Northern Slopes of Sela pass flows through the Jang Valley and then plunges into the Tawang River. The gushing speed of the water of Nurang River racing down from a height of 100 meters through the cascade creates an alluring atmosphere around the point of impact. The whole place remains covered in mist and formation of a rainbow elevates the beauty of the place to a different level.

The point where Nuranag River meets with Tawang River.

Tawang Chu is formed by the joining of three rivers originating within the Tawang district. The Goshu Chu, Dungma Chu and Gorjo Chu. These rivers merge near the village of Mago, situated at the north -east of Jang. From Mago the combined river is called Mago Chu. Thereafter, another river called Tsona Chu/Nyukcherong joins it and the combined river is then called Tawang Chu.

The river flows west towards Bhutan, passing by the Tawang town on its southern flank. The Nyamjang Chu river originating in Tibet and after flowing through Zemithang, joins Tawang Chu Near Lumla. The combined river then flows west into Bhutan as Drangme Chu , then it progresses into Assam as Manas River .

The present is meant to be lived. You can't live for tomorrow or someday.

Nuranang Falls is more than just a natural wonder. The area is perfect for picnicking amidst views of the thunderous waterfall and its lush surroundings. We had our share of joy during the time we spent at this beautiful place. The whole place remains covered under the veil of mist and it is almost impossible to go near to the point where the water finally touches the gound. The impact is so huge, it feels like standing under heavy downpour. The surreal beauty of this place offers the visitors ample opportunity of photography. There is a small cafeteria which serves Maggie and Tea. Other than we three, all other visitors had come there for a brief visit and most of them were in hurry to return to their places. As we were staying at the resort, we were in no hurry and continued to enjoy our time there.

The water crashing down in a mesmerizing display of power and grace, sending up a shimmering veil of mist in the air.


The story of our lives is made up of moments.

Encompassed by majestic hills, dense forest and a thick cover of mist, the stunning Nuranang falls is a gem that provided us with some unforgettable moments. We came back to the resort just before sundown. After sunset, we had nothing much to do. So, we decided to go up to the roof-top area and enjoyed our time with some lip smacking Pakoda with tea. The sound of the falls gave us constant company till the time we decided to sit at the open place. After some time, it became a bit uncomfortable with the temperature gradually going down. So, we came back to our room. Had our dinner there. At the end of the day, we were not disappointed for skipping Zemithang and coming here. It turned out to be a good decision.

Day 9: 19.10.2024. Jang to Shergaon. 187 Km. 8 Hrs.

Time to bid adieu. Wish we could stop time.

Hazaron khwahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
bahut nikle mere armaan, lekin fir bhi kam nikle.

We had nice comfortable sleep in the night and got up early. All of us were so mesmerised with the view of the majestic falls that none of us were in the mood to waste any moment before we leave the place. After quick freshening up we hit the roof top deck just to get the early morning glimpse of the falls. It was early in the morning but tourist vehicles had started to come in one by one. By the time breakfast was served I sent the drone up. Had a plan of sending the drone up to get a top view of the fall but then realised that the distance of the fall from the deck was huge and I might lose control of the drone and abandoned the plan.

Looking at the falls through the eyes of my Drone.


Early hours of the day. Few tourists have arrived at the base of the falls.


Jang Hydal Plant, near the base of fall, is a small hydel plant which generates electricity for local use. The front portion of the plant acts as the parking point for visiting vehicles.


That's Ngyamzar Resort. The Forest rest House is at the rear.


Enjoying sumptuous Puri Subji for Breakfast while looking at the Nuranag Waterfalls.

We enjoyed the breakfast while enjoying the view of the falls. The gushing sound of the falls couldn’t penetrate the glass walls but the view of the falls was enough to add special tadka to the breakfast. A big salute to the chef of the resort for preparing tasty foods. Be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks, every item that were served had satisfied our taste buds. Nuranang Waterfalls acts as a visit on the go kind of destination for most of the travellers. Even I too had this idea before staying at the resort. But now I must say Nuranang Waterfalls demands at least one night stay from the travellers. People coming to Arunachal have their own plans and priorities and most of them wouldn’t want to spend a full day here but there are some people like us who like to swim against the tide. The spectacular display of natures beauty will simply blow your mind.

The air is tinged with the freshness of the falls, and the serene surroundings make it a picture-perfect moment.

After breakfast we again went to enjoy the nature around the falls. This time we were prepared with the rain jackets. Unlike yesterday, the clear blue sky and bright sunlight presented a different perspective of the place.

Clear blue sky, lush green surrounding and white noise of the falls. perfect setup for nirvana.



A jewel in nature's tapestry. You would want to look at it again and again.


Like a bridal veil, the cascading waters, cascade down the rugged cliffs, creating a mesmerizing visual symphony.


No words, just memories.



When words fail, memories speak.


Last shot of the falls before we left the place.

After spending some unforgettable moments and collecting some beautiful memories about this place we left for our next destination, Shergaon.

Review about Ngyamzar Resort.

Location: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 5/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 5/5

Took our first stop at Jaswantgarh War Memorial. We followed the same route that was take while coming to Tawang but this time took the Jang Bypass to avoid driving through the narrow road that moves through the Jang locality. Jaswantgarh War Memorial was in our plan as we did not stop here while coming to Tawang.

Parked few meters ahead of the Jaswantgarh War Memorial.

[Sujoy76]

Jaswant Garh War Memorial

Sewa Paramo Dharma

Jaswant Garh War Memorial needs no introduction. Situated at an altitude of 10,960 ft above sea level, every corner of this sacred monument narrates the story of valour and sacrifice of the soldiers of Indian Army. Just like it’s motto “Sewa Paramo Dharma”, The Indian Army is known for its professionalism, dedication, spirit of nationalism and selflessness. Every soldier, wearing the Olive Green is ready for the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. To honour the sacrifice of one such brave son of the soil, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, Jaswantgarh War Memorial has been constructed at the very place where he made supreme sacrifice during the 1962 Indo-China War. The war memorial was constructed in the year 1965 and inaugorated in 1966 by the then GOC of 5 Mountain Division, Major General OS Kaikat.

The Bust in the memorial was presented and installed by 11 Dogra on 15th August 1987.


The shrine.


Jaswant Singh Rawat is treated as if he is alive, his boots shined, linen washed, towels changed. Soldiers who polish his shoes claim that they are often found covered with mud, a sign that he has been walking around at night.



All Indian Army personnel passing by this route from General to a Jawan pay their respects here.


Our Flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.

On 28th October, 1961, 4 Garhwal Rifle was deployed at Nuranang (now Jaswantgarh) as covering troops for the main defence at Sela during the Indo - China war, 1961. On 17th November it was established by a patrol that two Chinese Infantry Battalions had built up opposite ‘A’ company location. At approx. 5 AM, the Chinese stacked No. 2 Platoon of the ‘A’ company in waves. The first three waves between 5 AM to 9 AM were beaten back due to good defence preparation and deployment of support weapons (LMGs). However, during the 4th attack at 10 AM, the Chinese altered their strategy and deployed MMG within 30 meters from the closest Indian LMG Bunkar. The Company Commander, 2nd Lieutenant S N Tandon, sensing the gravity of the situation, asked for volunteers for silencing the MMG.
Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain at once volunteered for this perilous task. With complete disregard to their personal safety, they crawled forward to with 15 Yards of enemy MMG. With cover fire Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain charged the Chinese. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat killed two Chinese soldiers using a Kukri and snatched a MMG from a wounded Chinese soldier and started withdrawing towards his trench, covered by Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi’s fire. But soon Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi was killed by a long burst from an enemy automatic weapon. Without cover fire, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain sustained bullet injuries. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat managed to carry the MMG to the Indian Defence, losing his life in the bargain. Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain thereafter carried the MMG to his Company. This single act of courage and valour changed the course of entire battle within 15 minutes. The Chinese casualty was in excess of 300, whereas 4 Garhwal Rifle had two death and eight wounded. The myth of invincible Chinese had been exploded.

'The Chinese Grave Yard" The mural, built at the very place where more than 300 Chinese Soldiers had lost their lives.


The mural, designed and depicted the moment of valour of Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, was installed in November 2018 by 9 Maratha Light Infantry Battalion.

After paying homage to the bravehearts at the Jaswant Garh War memorial we left for the destinantion. The weather became overcast and gradually the visibility started to go down with every passing moment on the road. This time the plan was to drive through the Sela Tunnel. The road to the tunnel diverted from NH-13 few Kilometers ahead of Sela Lake. A sense of pride prevailed while driving through Worlds longest bi-lane tunnel. Withing few minutes we were out of the tunnels. Situated at 13,000 ft. above sea level this Engineering marvel has done wonders to this region by providing all weather connectivity to the Indian Army as well as the local populace. The foundation stone for the Sela Tunnel Project was laid by the Hon'ble Prime Minister in 2019 and within two years the longer tunnel having length of more than 1.5 km was excavated. After completion, the tunnel was dedicated to the nation on 9th March 2024 by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Just before entering the tunnel.


Falcon posing with pride at the T2 Portal of the Tunnel. A testament of BROs capabilities.

Sela Tunnel. A jewel in India's Crown.


Each moment is a chance to make a beautiful new memory.


BRO has left no stone unturned to make it a memorable experience for the travellers passing through the beautiful tunnel.


The construction of the tunnel was aimed at providing all-weather connectivity to Tawang across Sela Pass on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang (BCT) Road.


It's all fogged up towards Baisakhi. The downhill drive hereafter gonna be tricky.


Parting Shot before leaving the tunnel.

By the time we left the tunnel and started driving towards Baisakhi, it was 3 P.M. We had hardly covered around 50 kilometers by then and I was getting prepared to drive the last phase of our journey under light. Post Sela Tunnel the road was covered with dense fog and it became very difficult to see the turns on the road. The fog continued till Baisakhi. Skipped Baisakhi and continued driving. The fog cleared off was we descended down. Crossing Dorang took some time as the road that passes through Dirang is narrow and construction work has made the condition of the road a nightmare to drive on. It became dark when we approached Bomdila and again faced the menace of fog while crossing Bomdila. The journey till Shergaon was smooth. The road from Rupa till Shergaon is nicely built. Although it was dark but as the surface of the road is completely blacktopped, I did not face any issue negotiating the curves on the road. Reached our homestay in Shergaon at 8 P.M. By that time most of the shops and cafeterias had closed down. We had nothing to do. So it was early dinner and then retiring to the bed. Our last day at Arunacal concluded on a happy note.

Day 10. 20.10.2024. Shergaon to Guwahati. 220 Km. 8 Hrs.

Tashi Delek ! The Land Of Rising Sun.

We had stayed at Blosoom Homestay at Shergaon. This property is located on the road that goes to the Manda La top from Shergaon. A bit away on the upper side of Shergaon and away from the shops and cafeteria. Our stay at the homestay was comfortable. It has all the basic facilities but did not like what they gave us for food. The quantity was much less. Nevertheless as we had only one night to spend here, we overlooked them. We got up late in the morning. Today, I would be driving mostly on the plains so there was nothing much to be worried about. We checked out at 11 A.M and pulled by 'Food Hut' Cafe for breakfast. This is probably the best cafe at Shergaon.

Review about Blossom Homestay, Shergaon.

Location: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Comfort: 3.5/5
Food: 2.5/5
Staff Behaviour: 3.5/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5

The Food Hut cafe, It appears to be small but they serve really good food. Chhota Packet Bada Dhamaka

The cafe is conveniently located on Trans Himalayan Highway. At a glance it appears to be small but this is probably the best place to eat out at Shergaon. They serve some delicious tibetan dishes. The interior of the restaurant is elegently designed. We ordered for Chicken Fired Rice (Red Rice) and Chicken Noodles. Enjoyed the food with the company of red chilli chutney, which appeared to be their speciality. While enjoying our food, i noticed everyone visiting the restaurant asking for Honey Lemon Tea. I too followed them and ordered for the same. It was really tasty. After enjoying the hot Rice, the honey lemon tea provided the much needed respite to my taste buds. We filled our stomacs to the brim. Purchased some Parsimmon and Bhoot Jolokia Pickle and left Food Hut Cafe. We had tanked enough calories to run for next few hours.

Somewhere on the road near khalakthang.



Breathing in the air of Arunachal before we make our entry into Assam.

It was gradual downhill drive ever since we left Shergaon. The Trans Himalayan Highway is nicely built. On the way we crossed several localities. As we approached the Arunachal Assam Border at Balemu, the scenery started to change.

Pulled by the side of Bhairabi River just before Balemu.

At Balemu we crossed the border of Arunachal and Assam. Here, roughly 3-4 Km before the border check post there exist no road. The surface, that the vehicles drive on, cannot be called a road by any logic. It's pure offroad. The stretch runs parallel to Dhansiri river. At one place spotted an open space just by the side of the river, where some people were camping. At Bhairabkunda, crossed the Dhansiri river. A new bridge has been constructed here over the Dhansiri River which now makes it easier for vehicles to drive through. Earlier, there used to be a single lane road over the barrage at Dhansiri River.

The barrage on Dhansiri River. This place is not very far from Bhutan. The mountains at the backdrop are at Bhutan.


That's the Dhansiri River. People enjoying their time at the river bed

After crossing Bhairabkunda, we drove on NH-715A/Udalguri Bhairabkumda Road and thereafter joined NH-15 at Mangaldoi. Although it is a national Highway but the surface of the road was not very good and it is mostly a two lane highway which made it difficult to cruise at good speed. The ordeal lasted till we joined NH-27. Couple of kilometers after joining Nh-27, the quality of the road improved drastically. By the time we approached the Saraighat Bridge, it became dark. had to encounter huge traffic congestion at the approach of the bridge. This is probably due to some construction work on the road. I had booked our stay at 'The Ornate' which is just opposite to the Nehru Stadium. Google took us through the crowded Paltan Bazar. Finally ,reached the hotel at 7.30 PM. During Check-in, I was informed that our stay was upgraded to a Suit Room. A nice little surprise from the hotel. The room was cozy and comfortable. Although, we had plans to go out but cancelled it and stayed inside.

Diya making proper use of the writing desk. Writing down her trip experience.

Day 11. 21.10.2024. Guwahati Local. Kamakhya Darshan.

Bowing down to the divine energy at Kamakhya Temple.

The tickets were booked online for the darshan. I didn't want to take my car to the temple as I was not sure about the parking. So, booked a cab through the hotel for taking us to the temple. We left for the temple at 7.30 A.M. The roads were empty and it took us only 15 minutes to reach the temple. As the car kept climbing up the Kamakhya Hill through the meandering road the surrounding arera gradually became visible. I had visited this place in 2012. Since then, many things have changed. The approach road to the temple has become wider. Lots of stay options have come up by the side of the road. back in 2012, we had visited the temple and offerd puja conveniently and this time also I was of the impression that it would be hardly a matter of 2-3 hrs and we will be out of the temple after offering puje. However, upon reaching the temple premise i was taken aback after seeing the rush of people. Like 2012, this time too I had purchased the VIP Ticket. But the system this time had changed. We had to stand in a queue for almost 2 Hrs, thereafter people in batched from the queue were taken into a waiting room and we stayed seated there for another one hour, may be more than that. Finally, again people in batched were taken inside the main temple corridor and we stood in queue there. It a narrow corridor where the VIP as well as the general line merges at a point and from there the devotees are allowed to enter the garbhabriha of the temple. Our stomachs were grumbling in unison as we stood in the queue and waited for our turn to enter the Garbhagriha. Finally, our turn came and we could enter the Garbha Griha and offered our prayers. The good thing about the temple is that the Tirthapurohits there don't push the devotees to move fast. We were allowed to offer our prayers conveniently. All the fatigue of waiting and standing in the queue for long time vanished instantly once we entered the Garbha Griha and immersed in the sacred vibes of Kamakhya.

Let your soul be touched by the essence of Kamakhya.


Embracing the sacred traditions of Kamakhya's rituals.


Finding solace in the tranquil ambiance of Kamakhya's premises.


Surrendering our worries to the divine mother at Kamakhya

When we came out to the main courtyard of the temple, it was 1.30 Pm. I had no ides that it would take this much time. Nevertheless, the purpose of staying at Guwahati was fulfilled. We came back to the hotel and ordered for lunch. Initially, at the begining of the day the plan was to explore the Paltan Bazar after coming back from Kamakhya Temple and have lunch there. But we had no energy left in our body out in the sun and look for restaurnats at Paltan Bazar. Hence, decided to have lunch in our room itself. Moreover, all of us were feeling very tired. After lunch we all slept like logs.

The evening was spent at a friends place. The stay at Guwahati was planned mainly for visiting Kamakhya Temple. As we were nearing the last phase of the trip, our bodies started to show sign of fatigue only Diya being the exception. Hence, we opted to come back to the hotel instead of visiting the markets.

Day 12. 22.10.2024. Guwahati to Jaldapara . 350 Km. 9 Hrs.

From mountain to the jungle.

We wanted to stay at Jaldapara before proceeding towards Kolkata. While making the itinerary I had the option of either planning at stay at Chilapata Forest of at the Jaldapara Forest. Finally, Jaldapara was selected as I wanted to take Diya for Elephant Safari.

As decided, we bade adieu to Guwahati and checked out from the Hotel at 10.30 A.M. The roads were comperatively less congested. Exiting Guwahati did not take much time. After crossing Saraighat Bridge, the road opened up and I was driving smoothly on NH-27.

Review about The Ornate, Guwahati.

Location: 4/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
Food: 4/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5


We had skipped breakfast at the hotel and i was looking for a good place for breakfast. At Kokrajhar we found a beutiful place called Bajwi Hotel. The hotel is run by all female staff. The hotel had a beautiful welcoming atmosphere. Tables were neatly arranged and most importantly the hotel was very clean. Clean washrooms and cleam ambiance, that's what people wish to experience during a road trip.

Simple yet sumptuous thali.


Simple presentation. The foods are served in bell metal plates.

The best part of this hotel was the quality of food it serves. We ordered for simple roti thali. They served us hot handmade tawa roti along with local fires and subji. The thali appeared to be very simple by look but they were very tasty. We savoured the sumptuous array flavours on our plate. Our taste buds and tummies came out of there completely satisfied and wanting more.

Hereafter, most of the drive was on NH-27 till we left it and joined NH-317 at Salsalbari. From this point NH-27 diverted towards Alipurduar and NH-317 moves towards Hasimara. After driving for some time, the road moves into Jaldapara National Forest range. We witnessed several boards displaying the sign of Elephant Crossing Zone. This part of Dooars is famous for the forest ranges like Jaldapara, Chilapata and Buxa. back in 2019, while returning from Bhutan Roadtrip , we had stayed at Jaldapara for two nights but couldn't manage a single booking for the jeep safari at Jaldapara. We reached Hasimara, after sundown. The road passes by the side of the Hasimara Air Force station. The road was full of traffic, most of them being heavy duty trucks making tyre noise on the go. But there was one more sound that was overpowering every other available sounds at Hasimara. It was very familiar exhause note of the Rafale. Which was/were probably engaging their afterburners before take off. I pulled up by the side of the road and came out of the car to get a glimpse of a Rafale flying over. I could hear the sound of the aircrafts taking off one after another but couldl't sight them. Probably they were taking off to a different direction. We reached Royal Heritage Camp at 6.30 P.M. Jaldapara National Park has mainly two areas where most of the homestays and resorts are located. Madarihat and Salkumar. I had booking this property which is located at Madarihat and close to the Main gate of Jaldapara National Park. Just after completing the formalities at the resort, received a call from the Forest department office that I have to come to the office and collect the boarding pass for tomorrows Elephant Safari. Without wasting any time, we went out for collecting our boarding passes. The formalities were completed within 30 minutes and we came back to the resort.

Took this photo with my phone. Pitch dark surrounding, the quietly flowing Holong river and the jungly on the other side.

The resort is located away from the road and a bit inside the edge of the jungle. Settled in the lap of nature and just by the side of Holong River, we were in for some peaceful atmosphere at the resort. The Holong river was quietly flowing between the resort and the jungle. The rhythm of the river added a different charm to the quiet atmosphere. After dinner, while Sharmila and Diya stttled themselves in the bed, I came out at the balcony any looked at the jungle with a hope to spot any animal coming out of the jungle to the river to quench their thirst. The air was temperate with cool breeze flowing gently making it comfortable for me to sit at the balcony. The stars befrilled the dark blue blanket of the night with their ethereal glow, the silver orb of the Moon illuminated the area surrounding the resort. The trees produced subtle music with the gentle rustle of their leaves. The nature was tranquil.

[Sujoy76]

Day 13. 23.10.2024. Jaldapara Elephant Safari.

Into the Jungle.

Situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, Jaldapara National Park has a vast area of grassland with patches of riverine forest. Declared a sanctuary in 1941, today Jaldapara National Park is famous for Indian one horned rhinoceros and holds the largest rhino population in India after Kaziranga National Park.

Early morning view from the balcony. It's 5.15 A.M.

The forest department organises Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari to enable the visitors to go a bit deep into the core area. Out of these two, Elephant Safari is the most sought after activity and getting a ticket for the elephant safari becomes tough at times because of high demand and limited number of elephants. Mostly, tourists staying at the WBTDCL Jaldapara Tourist Lodge manages to get the tickets. Keeping these facts in mind, I had booked the Elephant safari tickets in advance. Still. I couldn’t manage to get the tickets for the first slot i.e 6.30 A.M to 7.30 A.M. It is said that the early you go for the safari, the chances of animal sighting are high. We got our booking for the second slot, 7.30 A.M to 8.30 A.M. We were told to report to the main gate of the Jaldapara National Park at least 30 minutes in advance as there were some formalities to be taken care of. None of us had any prior experience of Elephant Safari. So, all of us were excited. I was the first one to wake up in the morning. It was 5 A.M. Came out to the balcony. The sun was about to come out and the horizon was changing its colour gradually. What a beautiful sight it was.

At the gate of the National Park at Madarihat zone.

After freshening up, we reached the gate of the national park at 6.45 A.M and reported our presence. The forst department conducts Jeep and Elephant Safari from two points. From Madarihat Gate and the other one is from Salkumar Gate. Our safari was from Madarihat gate and the starting point was Holong. The spot where once the iconic Holong Bunglow used to stand before being rudeced to ashes by fire.

Limitless excitement.



The Rhino themed graffiti mural at the entrance of the park.



Moving towards Holong pickup point.

At the gate we were told that a guide will accompany us till the Holong point inside the park. We still had some time till our guide arrived. Utilised the time with hot kulhad tea from a small tea shop just opposite to the main gate of the park. There, we came across a group of tourists who, like us had come for the safari and were waiting for their guide. We had some informal conversation over the kulhad tea and came back to the car as the guides had started to arrive one after another. Accompanied by our guide, started driving towards the Holong point, which was another 14 Km from the main gate. A narrow unpaved road lead us to the pickup point. In between crossed a makeshift wooden bridge on Holong River on the way and spotted few barking dears. This part of the jungle is adjascent to the locality and we were told by the guide that mostly the animals avoid coming this side. But there is no laid down laws in the jungle, so nothing can be taken for granted. We spotted few watch towers on our way which were being manned by forest guards. So the principal of no laid down rules in the jungle once again knocked us.

One of the best viewpoints of Jaldapara. The salt pits where the wild generally come to satiate their thirst.


The sweet clarity of mind is found in the deep roots of the wilderness.


When in the wilderness you are one blink of an eye from being fully awake -Robbie George.


The elephants have arrived from the first trip.

After driving for roughly 30 minutes, we reached the pickup spot. The remains of the Holong Bunglow has been completely removed. Once, a prime attraction inside the Jaldapara National Park has faded into oblivion after being gutted. We were told to wait as the elephants from the first trip had not returned by that time. We utilised the time enjoying the beautiful view of the jungle.

Scanning the surrounding area in search of Rhinos.


Wanderlust and wilderness under the open sky.


Venturing deep into the jungle. Looking for movements of animals.


We were moving in a team of four elephants. They were following the leader.

One by one the elephants from the first trip returned to the pickup point. Overheard, someone narrating his experience of sighting two Bisons locking thier horns. This got me excited. We took our position on the Howdah, placed on top of the elephant allocated for us. Got to know her name was "Amrapali". These elephants are trained by the forest department. They are also known as Kunki Elephants. Amrapali, started to move royally into the jungle, carrying us on top of her. A royal feeling of joy and excitement engrosses our minds as Amrapali made her way deep inside the woods thereby making viewing of Wildlife more pleasant and Enthralling.

Finally!! Sighted a Rhino.

Gradually, we went deeper into the forest. The elephants move through the routes which are known to them. I could see a small tral which Amrapali was walkinh through. All the elephants were moving close to each other in search of Rhinos. Our mahout told us that Rhinos prefer to stay at grassland area of the park and the elephants are moving towards that part of the park. Our convesation was going on as Amrapali was moving through the jungle. Suddenly the mahout gestured to keep quiet and as Amrapali had stopped. All the other elephants too were standing still. The we discovered two Bisons camoufladged behing a bush. They sensed our presense and ran into the jungle. As we wanted to follow their path, growl from Amrapali indicated there is something more than the Bisons. A bit of movement by Amrapali and we discovered what we have come for. A Rhino was standing at a short distance from us. However, it appeared that the rhino was in no mood to entertain us and it turned around and vanished into the jungle.

Moving through a perennial stream on our way towards Holong. Insta 360 at work.


Amrapali posed nicely for this beautiful picture.

Our excitement level went up after sighting the rhino and we changed our course toeards the jungle where the Rhino had vanished. But we couldn't figure it out anywhere. By the time we we had already spent maximum time out of stipulated one hour of our trip and it was not possible to move towards the grass land. Hence, the elephants started to move towards the area from where we had started our trip.

Amrapali gave us the priviledge to take a picture with her.


Falcon parked at the Holong Elephant Safari Point.

By the time we reached the Holong Elephant Safari Point, we had already exceeded the stipulated time for the safari. But no one complained about it. The tourists for the next batch we waitig for their turn and one after another we deboarded the elephants and Amrapali prepared herself to welcome new set of occupants. Gradually, one after another the elephants left with the next batch. We spent some more time at the safari point. It was a different kind of experience for us. Especially for Diya. She enjoyed every moment of this safari. Sighting Rhinos during a safari is a matter of luck. Keeping the sighting factor aside, the experience of traversing the jungle sitting on top of an elephant is an unparallaled experience.

Rafale on its final approach to land.



Undercarriages down. Banking on the right. Just before aligning with the runway. The while cloud providing perfect background to the aircraft.

After an amazing experience at the Safari, we returned to the resort at 10.30 A.M and we were feeling damn hungry. Breakfast was ready. So straightway we hit the breakfast table and finished our plates in one go. came back to our room and I sat at the balcony to pass the time leisurely while watching the Holong river. Then suddenly heard the sound of jet engines. I could figure out that the Rafales were flying overhead. The engine roar of the Rafales are very similiar to that of the Mirages, which I was very familiar with. Since i have left Air Force, these exhaust notes have become extinct to my ears but i could still recognise that it was a Rafale flying somewhere near. Took out my DSLR , put on the Telephoto lens and got ready to spot them. The hide and seek game continued for some time and then I spotted couple of them on the finals. As they came to land, extended the undercarriages and reduced the altitude before aligning with the runway. That gave me the opportunity to take a shot and clicked the pictures in bursts. The Rafales landed and Hasimara and it took me back to my Air Force days. I was feeling nostalgic and then heard one more sound approaching me. This time it was loud and heavy. Soon, a mssive IL-78 appeared from behind the tree line. It had just taken off and gradually gaining altitude and flying low. That gave me another opportunity to put my camera to work. The massive Gajraj vanished from my eye sight within no time but not before giving me some good opportunity to snap it.

IL-78 Mid Air Refueller.

In the evening we took a short drive towards Hasimara. With no clear plan in mind I drove on the road just to enjoy the views around the road. After crossing the bridge over the Torsha river, stopped for a while and enjoyed the sunset from the bridge and then, for once thought of driving towards Jaigaon, which is not far from that place but later dropped the plan and went straight towards Hasimara. Stopped there for some time, the weather was comfortable. We enjoyed a cup of tea at a road side tea stall. Came back to the resort, spent some time at the beautiful lawn. Last day of our trip before we leave for Kolkata. As usual, our moods were becoming sombre. Need to prepare our mind and body for the everyday grind after reaching Kolkata.

Finished our dinner at 9.30 P.M. Came back to the room and packed the luggage. Tomorrow we would be driving straight to Kolkata from here. Around 700 KM of Distance to be covered. Planned to leave by 8 in the morning.

Day 14: 24.10.2024. Jaldapara to Kolkata. 695 KM.

Threat of Cyclone Dana.

Last day of the trip and again we are late in the morning. No complaint about it. All of us were feeling low. So we were lethergic in getting ourselves ready to move out.

Diya enjoying her time by the side of Holong River. Collecting as much memories as she can before leaving the place.


View of the Resort. A property amidst the greens.


Few more moments before we leave.The resort has only one cottage with double storey set up and we stayed at the top floor of the double storey cottage. Much in demand.


A cozy moment at the balcony.


Final snap of our trip. Until we embark on our next sojurn

Review about Royal Heritage Camp, Jaldapara.
Location: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Food: 4.5/5
Staff Behaviour: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4.5/5

We bade adieu to Royal Heritage Camp, Jaldapara at 9 A.M. Had our breakfast packed from the resort. After driving on the Madarihat road for few kilometers, joined NH-317. The drive was smooth. From Dhupguri, joined NH-27. In between did not stop anywhere as we had to cover longer distance. Completed breakfast in the car. While i was driving, Sharmila kept on checking the weather bulletin and Cyclone Dana was to make landfall at the southern part of Bengal during night and our entry into the danger zone was coinciding with the time of landfall. As we were moving ahead, the weather changed from being sunny to overcast. Stopped at Pardeshi Dhaba, Malda for lunch and it started to rain by then. After lunch, as we started from Pardeshi Dhaba, the clock was showing 4 P.M. By now it was certain that we would drive into North 24 Parganas during the time of expected landfall of Cyclone Dana and things may become worse for us thereafter. We had to take a call whether to continue driving towards Kolkata or to stay somewhere in between and complete the rest of the journey the next day. Finally, we decided to halt for the night at Krishnanagar, as by then we would have covered much distance and would be out of the danger zone after the landfall. krishnanager has few hotels, checked few of them through booking.com and contacted Hotel Haveli and got assurance about availability of room. Now I was driving without any tension. crossed Baharampur without any issue. Credit to the bypass. The intensity of the rain was fluctuating. But it was raining continuously. In between received a call from Hotel Haveli and they insisted upon making instant payment for confirmation of the booking. I tried to persuade them that I was couple of hours away from Krishnanagr but they did not budge. I cancelled the booking and chose another hotel 'Astha Midway", called them up and confirmed our stay. Reached the hotel at around 9.30 PM. It was raining heavily. Checked in. Ordered for dinner in the room. The Hotel, although appears to have a good outlook but is belowe average in terms of the amenities. As we had no other option, we had to spend the night there and we just did that.

Day 15: 25.10.2024. Krishnanagar to Kolkata. 140 KM. 4.30 Hrs

The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.

Left the hotel at 9 in the morning. The hotel did not give me any opportunity to think about coming back again. Cycle Dana had made landfall the previous night but fortunately the level of devastation was much lesser than expected. However, it was raining heavily. As we approached Kalyani Expressway, the intensity of the rain increased manifold. Nevertheless, drove cautiously through the rain. Stopped at Sher-e-Punjab by the side of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, got our lunch packed, sipped a cup of tea and proceeded towards home. Finally! the wheels came to a halt at 2 P.M and we concluded our trip.

Manzil milegi, bhatak kar hi sahi. Gumrah toh woh hain, jo ghar se nikle hi nahi.

TASHI DELEK

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[IUNKWN]

Beautiful pics and write up. Thanks for bringing up NE. It has unmatched tourism potential but left unexplored largely due to safety concerns when travelling with family.

Did you ever feel unsafe in the journey?

[Vmk1950]

Thanks for the great pictures and for the story of Sella and Rifle Man Rawat.

Awesome Naration. Awesome Pictures. Do mention how your Falcon behaved in the trip. I presume it is a petrol engine.

[vivek4car]

Thanks for the wonderful travelogue with pictures. Brought back memories of my solo trip to Tawang via. Tezpur & Guwahati.

[travelog]

Thanks for such a beautiful set of pics and the narration. It was an enjoyable read.

[sf-24]

Arunachal has been on our to-do list for quite a while. Thank you for your detailed post, we can gather a lot of useful information from it for our planning.

Thanks again for sharing this wonderful travelogue. Glad to see you had a great time with your family.

Happy motoring! The stickers on your car look great too!

[sukhbirST]

Excellent write up with great photos backed by true stories. May you continue to drive and write. There was chill and excitement while going through the whole trip.