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Originally Posted by wanderernomad At the end would you please make it a point to specifically write the places you need permits for or a single permit for the entire AP will do from Tezpur? |
Arunchal Pradesh is a restricted entry state and permits are required for the State. For Indian citizen, a Inner Line permit or ILP is required. They are given for a max of 15 days for a particular region of Arunachal.
Know more about it and from where you can make the permits through this link -
http://arunachalipr.gov.in/ILPEntry.htm
In Kolkata it is impossible to get a permit in the same day itself and it normally takes around a week minimum. Due to the sudden travel this was out of question. The main rush in Kolkata is due to the number of officials and contractors that go due to the dam work and other construction activity going on over there
We took the chance at Tezpur and in these offices it is done within the day itself. Similar should be in the other towns of Assam from where permits are given.
Also for the circuit houses, we were plain lucky - to get a room and places in Daporijo, Koloriang, Nacho, or Tuting turning up just before dusk - there is no other accommodation other than those PWDs and houses. The correct procedure would be to call the circle officer of that district [phone nos. are on the district websites] at least a 15 days before a travel, and remind them off and on by calling again. Nothing works verbally, so get the official sanction of rooms notice pasted on the circuit house board - so that the caretakers also knows that you do have a booking.
Mechuka as a private guest house other than the circuit house.
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Also is it safe to camp outside in these regions? seeing armed hunters is there dangerous wildlife very common? But please continue your excellent narration.
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This travelogue should point out the great misconception that one may have of Arunachal. Despite the wilderness and the long travel to interiors we never felt threatened or uncomfortable. In fact as seen and like any other of our past travels, we got some of the most amazing help from the locals there, surprised they were to see a WB number plate roaming around that area but again opened up as we stopped and talked.
Camping would be difficult as most othe roads cut through tropical jungles and it would not be advisable to camp, in fact not much camping ground is available with the hills on one side of the road. and the deep gorge of a river on the other. There is not much of a flat clear ground.
However for camping best place would be in Mechuka. As said, It has the "Ladakh feeling" but with all the greenery and pasture lands of Himachal. it is one of the best places in Arunachal, never miss a trip to this land.
One does come across intermittently BRO officials and workers are there on most of the routes as the forward posts depend upon supply from the plains.
And the only caution I would keep is - do not drive in the night in Arunachal for local as well as logistic problems. And also on the flip side, as said in the first page, if you bang up a bike or car in the interior parts of Arunchal, you buy them a new bike or car!!
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Originally Posted by wanderernomad Fantastic. Gone through the entire thread. A definite must plan. Please share some details on Mongpong. Seems to be an exciting stopover or a destination in itself. |
Monpong is around 35 km from Siliguri across the river Teesta via the Coronation Bridge after a drive through Mahananda WLS. So one is just some 45 mts away from Siliguri yet not in the bustle of a city but surrounded by beautiful sounds of nature and green forests.
You can book online and know more about it via this link of WBFDC . Room rates are 1000 and 1200. There are 4 cottages, AC and non AC.
http://wbfdc.com/ecotourism.asp# Quote:
Originally Posted by samarjitdhar Awesome. Bambi green flagging the train is the picture of the trip . Imagine the amount of surprise the guard on the rear of the goods train must have had when he spotted a kid flagging it green. Both the pictures of the train are very well executed. Eagerly awaiting your next trip. |
He was and smiled as he passed by us. The lone guard himself called Bambi up and gave the flag. It was a huge thing for him, he still sees that video recording often.
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Originally Posted by HappyWheels I would strongly suggest your get these travelogues published. Seriously. |
I could not even get the wanderers website up in the last 4 years. Plus so many interesting video clips are there. Publishing is far away but someday surely may be!
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Originally Posted by neel385 And seeing what a 4X2 Safari is capable of is quite heartening when I wait for the launch of the Storme. |
With controlled acceleration and intuition one does get quite a bit out of a 2wd. But, but and but if you can afford, always go for a 4wd. There is no heroism or "saw that" feeling doing all the antics with a 2wd. I am just pushing my luck with every trip - sooner or later would get stuck.
Plus a real snow trip like what Tanveer does is not of the question, a 4wd may come into play once in a while but when it does one is glad to have it - and not bump around or slide around precariously.
So all said and done, without a 4wd, I do feel that I have not ventured enough still.
PS: Attached is the word document that has information collected from the different government websites. I just dumped the information as searched and as we left for Arunachal in a hurry. No GPS tracks or data, as do not have such. Anyway most of the places have a single road leading to a location and highways in the plains are marked well.