The medieval kingdom, blessed with cultural prosperity and bohemian attributes, bestowing us with its tranquil power and transpiring the concealed enthusiasm in the hearts of the explorers and ‘her’ own people, marked by the Mcmahon line and archaic sculptures around the monasteries, sprawling over the north-eastern side of India, reverberates with Buddhist chants strikes the hit list of every wanderer.
Our map of this tour precisely crosses the least explored destinations in Arunachal Pradesh (the land of dawn-lit mountains) which refers to these quintessential whereabouts, as follows:
a) Pasighat (Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary, Kekar Monying)
b) Along (Darka village, Sipu River, Hiri River, Hisum River, Kane Wildlife Sanctuary, Galo village)
c) Mechuka (Yarlung Camp, Gurudwara, hanging bridge, the 400-year-old Buddhist monastery, Gompa)
Once we reach Dibrugarh station/airport, our chauffeur will drive us to Pasighat resort. It shall take around 5 hours to reach Pasighat. In between, we will have our lunch en-route and proceed to reach our pre-booked resort by late afternoon. After a hectic day, the rest of the time will be at leisure followed by dinner and night stay at Pasighat.
Pasighat, the gateway of Arunachal, unscathed from the main-stream commotion, gifts peace and unpremeditated art of life, visualizing its grandeur and grace is a treat to your eyes. Round cane rings, swinging strings, shattered wooden pavements dangling above the mighty Siang makes it a picture perfect moment of thrill and adventure. The waterfalls and the rock cliffs freeze the picturesque spirit of the place. The place is aware of the wildlife which leaves traces in the Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary, where migratory birds chirp freedom and the hog deer; hispid hare, and wild buffalo, Sambars, elephants find their bubbles of life in this rainforest along with other species of macro and microfauna. Moving to Kekar Monying, a mountain cliff near Rottung empowers the unknown history of India. In the evening, we shall experience the regional cuisines for dinner at the local market and get back to the resort, followed by night stay at Pasighat.
A fresh start with a healthy breakfast, referring to those authentic dishes on the table, we will proceed towards Along. 1.5 hours of a ride to check in to the resort where we’ll unburden the luggage and move straight to Darka Village. The boscage embraces the village; the burbles of the rivers (Sipu, Hiri, Hisum) splashes with debilitating hypnosis. Then we will move forward to Kane Wildlife Sanctuary, after lunch. The paradise falls with pristine surroundings, the place is a retreat from the fast city life, recognized for 70 species of birds including white-winged Wood Duck and Rufous-necked Hornbill and a variety of animal species like wild dogs, gaur, black bear, elephants, deer, lions, panthers, small cats. With the fall of the day; we will return to the hotel followed by dinner and night stay at Along.
The pathway track snaking down the hills and valleys, the winter wind touches of the cold earth as if it seems the earth is resting. A road trip around the mountains can shiver nerves with mesmerism. The 8-hour long road trip to Mechuka epitomizes the whole narration above. The morning begins with an early call followed by breakfast, and we will be on for Mechuka and reach hopefully by evening. The people there are sincerely decorous and extraordinarily genteel, we pronounce it Royalty! The food is the fantasy; notably the Galo brew and to enhance its fun, we must try their traditional food too. Ah! Heaven! It will be a majestic night stay at Mechuka.
Mechuka, the forbidden angel of Arunachal, sitting alone with the curtain; dropped expects the duke to upheave her and boast about her existence! It is time; make her beauty fall into our conscience and emotions! Crossing over the Yarlung camp from the top, then the Gurudwara to know the significance and influence of Sikhism in Mechuka; the Gurudwara lies along the hanging bridge, we will take a walk around, till the Langar calls, we will have our lunch at the Langar. We will opt for a long trail around the valley, freeze the clock with wonderful memories; and as the night surpasses, we will call it a good night at Mechuka.
Our story with Mechuka does not end with the lifted curtains upheave story continues with her madness; a hypnotic dilemma always begins with harmony. That's how our travel diary shall begin, a heart that pounds for nature that goes gaga for knowing the parameters of the heart of a wanderer. Mechuka has kept a lot in her; it has witnessed the history, the origin of Buddhism, ornamented with archaic art. Her incandescent compunction stretches from the 400-year-old Buddhist Monastery, delineated by the sculptures; passing to the Gompa and resting in the hearts of the natives, their food, their culture, their tradition; everything! A definite feast for your eyes, mind and our heart, we will opt for a session to learn cooking and knowing the secrets about their traditional food as well, at our homestay! One more night in Mechuka will be great fun.
It is a return call from Along to attend the gala show at Galo. Most of us appreciate dance even if we don’t we will certainly embrace the culture for which we will be there. They have music, they know the art of moving, the rhythm celebrates their empowerment, and we will be lucky to witness it. We shall opt for the local delicacies in the evening, eventually followed by dinner and night stay at Along.
We know it's not easy to bid goodbye to this beauty, but can surely perceive it, during our return to Dibrugarh. The night shall always be the second last, as we expect to come back again, but today it's a good night; spotting Dibrugarh.
We will be moving onto the airport for the return journey with a promise at heart to visit again.
At zerodegreel
every moment will someday make you look back and want to experience it all over again.
