A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park

robimahanta · 5th December 2009, 13:40

Inspired by SS traveler's corbett travelogue, I decided to take a break albeit a short one and head to the hills. I had just three days for the entire trip so I knew it had to be a hectic one. After living in Guwahati for such a long time, places like Shillong, Mawsinram does not inspire me as i have been to those places like a zillion times. So I decided to head towards Arunachal..

I knew that it was not possible to complete a round trip to Tawang in just three days from Guwahati. So my destination was Bomdila. After a few frantic phone calls, hotel reservations were made and the inner line permit was done. I wanted to stay in some niche yet affordable resorts along the route hence booked the Nameri Eco Camp and the WelcomHeritage Elephant retreat. These places were awesome and the food was a culinary delight!

Day 1

Started at around 6am from Guwahati reached Tezpur by 10am. I went via NH37 as I know the road like the back of my hand..including the major potholes (lunar craters) and diversions. After a light breakfast, headed out again and reached the Arunachal Pradesh border at 1230pm. We had some delicious chicken momos for lunch and after completing the formalities at the check gate, started out towards our destination for the night near Tipi. It was a distance of around 16kms but the roads were in pretty bad shape. Moreover we had wait for the BRO guys to clear the numerous landslides enroute. Finally at around 3pm we checked into our resort..

Some pictures..

About to reach Tezpur..

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5351.jpg

At the bridge across the Brahmaputra..15kms from Tezpur

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5352.jpg

On our way to Bhalukpung..near Balipara

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5353.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5371.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5372_3_4_1.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5377.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5391_2_3.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5401_2_3.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5404.jpg

gajadonga · 5th December 2009, 16:20

Great start pictures good keep updating waiting to know more about Northeastern region.

wanderernomad · 5th December 2009, 17:37

Good start. Keep them coming. The shot of the river pebbles with the background of the hills is very well composed.

phamilyman · 5th December 2009, 18:37

God awesome pics man! Go on share MORE!

laluks · 5th December 2009, 19:11

Nice photos.
Arunachal Pradesh is one place I want to visit. Don't know when :(

tortoiseNhare · 5th December 2009, 19:33

Great start robimahanta! I too went to Nameri and Bhalukpung last weekend and enjoyed the place to the maximum. I did Tawang back in 2006. Another trip is planned in Feb 2010; the aim is to reach Tawang from Ghy in a single day. Should be possible if one can start at 4 am.

svaid · 5th December 2009, 20:05

Thanks robimahanta for sharing the pictures and your experience. Looking forward to more updates.
The pics are really awesome and the blue water/clear blue skies describe how beautiful and untouched the place is. Your first pic shows a nicely laid road, would like to know more about the quality of roads and general infrastructure in that area.

neel385 · 6th December 2009, 00:00

Great pics Robi...you make me nostalgic...I spent quite some time in that part of the world around 99-00. Still remember the stuff we used to chill in the river in Bhalumpong!!

robimahanta · 6th December 2009, 02:32

Thanks guys for all the positive feedback. It really urges me to continue with the travelogue and post more pictures.

some more Day 1 pics for you people, especially showing the pathetic roads after Bhalukpong till Tipi

The Arunachal Pradesh border check gate at Bhalukpong..

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_0049.jpg

Landslide being cleared by BRO guys.

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_0065.jpg

Once the road is cleared.

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_0068.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_0081.jpg

The laborers who toil hard to make the roads better.

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5382.jpg

A little tribal kid.

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5432.jpg

Jayant..B · 6th December 2009, 13:06

After seeing these beautiful photos (also in other travelogues) I sincerely feel that this community can also be called Team-Photography. (Someone can suggest a better name). Keep up the good work friends. I became member of the forum recently and now spending more time here than actually working!!! :-))))

Dhar's · 6th December 2009, 17:14

Serene beauty.
Thanks Robi for the pics. Waiting to see more pics.

Kudos to you to take the trip in cute Alto.

Bomdila still remains my dream place to visit.

akas_chauhan · 6th December 2009, 18:40

Hey Robi, Nice pictures there. Thanks for Sharing. Kepp them coming buddy.

MileCruncher · 6th December 2009, 22:18

Hey Robi nice pictures. I'm glued to this one. Intend to do Arunachal and Sikkim in one go sometime soon. Please share the resort detaila and tariff. BTW what was the temp at Bomdila now?

P.S: where did you get the ILP arranged?

robimahanta · 6th December 2009, 23:25

@Milecruncher: We stayed at the Elephant Point Retreat, Tipi..tariff being 1500 per night(twin sharing) inclusive of taxes while at Nameri NP, we stayed at the Nameri Eco camp..tariff being 1300 per night. If you need any further details, please pm me.
As for the ILP, the office is just 500m from my place in Guwahati..so it wasn't a problem at all. I submitted a copy of my address proof and two photos at around 1pm and got the permit by 8am next day.

It wasn't that cold in Bomdila/Bhalukpong..maybe around 15 at night. A light sweater is more than enough..atleast for me!

@akas, dhar, jayant: Thanks a lot for appreciating the pics!

A Arunachali with his machete

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5465.jpg

Our private porch with a super view..

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5546.jpg

The parking area of the resort at night..

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5571.jpg

The dining hall of the resort..

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5572.jpg

At a picnic spot by the Jia Bhoreli river

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5407.jpg

Sunset in the hills

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5810_1_2.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5498_499_500.jpg

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5501_2_3.jpg

Beautiful moutains..

A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park-img_5487_8_9.jpg

genesis · 7th December 2009, 05:21

Thanks for a glimpse into a beautiful land and its people! Wanderlust gets rekindled by travelogs like these.

5th December 2009, 13:40	#1
robimahanta Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/GAU Posts: 833 Thanked: 6,494 Times	A trip to Arunachal Pradesh - Nameri National Park Inspired by SS traveler's corbett travelogue, I decided to take a break albeit a short one and head to the hills. I had just three days for the entire trip so I knew it had to be a hectic one. After living in Guwahati for such a long time, places like Shillong, Mawsinram does not inspire me as i have been to those places like a zillion times. So I decided to head towards Arunachal.. I knew that it was not possible to complete a round trip to Tawang in just three days from Guwahati. So my destination was Bomdila. After a few frantic phone calls, hotel reservations were made and the inner line permit was done. I wanted to stay in some niche yet affordable resorts along the route hence booked the Nameri Eco Camp and the WelcomHeritage Elephant retreat. These places were awesome and the food was a culinary delight! Day 1 Started at around 6am from Guwahati reached Tezpur by 10am. I went via NH37 as I know the road like the back of my hand..including the major potholes (lunar craters) and diversions. After a light breakfast, headed out again and reached the Arunachal Pradesh border at 1230pm. We had some delicious chicken momos for lunch and after completing the formalities at the check gate, started out towards our destination for the night near Tipi. It was a distance of around 16kms but the roads were in pretty bad shape. Moreover we had wait for the BRO guys to clear the numerous landslides enroute. Finally at around 3pm we checked into our resort.. Some pictures.. About to reach Tezpur.. At the bridge across the Brahmaputra..15kms from Tezpur On our way to Bhalukpung..near Balipara
	(2) Thanks

5th December 2009, 16:20	#2
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,045 Thanked: 458 Times	Great start pictures good keep updating waiting to know more about Northeastern region.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 17:37	#3
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Good start. Keep them coming. The shot of the river pebbles with the background of the hills is very well composed.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 18:37	#4
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	God awesome pics man! Go on share MORE!
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 19:11	#5
laluks Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,552 Thanked: 16,397 Times	Nice photos. Arunachal Pradesh is one place I want to visit. Don't know when :(
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 19:33	#6
tortoiseNhare BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Guwahati Posts: 536 Thanked: 90 Times	Great start robimahanta! I too went to Nameri and Bhalukpung last weekend and enjoyed the place to the maximum. I did Tawang back in 2006. Another trip is planned in Feb 2010; the aim is to reach Tawang from Ghy in a single day. Should be possible if one can start at 4 am. Last edited by tortoiseNhare : 5th December 2009 at 19:36.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 20:05	#7
svaid BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 226 Thanked: 7 Times	Thanks robimahanta for sharing the pictures and your experience. Looking forward to more updates. The pics are really awesome and the blue water/clear blue skies describe how beautiful and untouched the place is. Your first pic shows a nicely laid road, would like to know more about the quality of roads and general infrastructure in that area.
	() Thanks

6th December 2009, 00:00	#8
neel385 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kharagpur Posts: 530 Thanked: 429 Times View My Garage	Great pics Robi...you make me nostalgic...I spent quite some time in that part of the world around 99-00. Still remember the stuff we used to chill in the river in Bhalumpong!!
	() Thanks

6th December 2009, 02:32	#9
robimahanta Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/GAU Posts: 833 Thanked: 6,494 Times	Thanks guys for all the positive feedback. It really urges me to continue with the travelogue and post more pictures. some more Day 1 pics for you people, especially showing the pathetic roads after Bhalukpong till Tipi The Arunachal Pradesh border check gate at Bhalukpong.. Landslide being cleared by BRO guys. Once the road is cleared. The laborers who toil hard to make the roads better. A little tribal kid.
	(1) Thanks

6th December 2009, 13:06	#10
Jayant..B BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mango Town Posts: 91 Thanked: 7 Times	After seeing these beautiful photos (also in other travelogues) I sincerely feel that this community can also be called Team-Photography. (Someone can suggest a better name). Keep up the good work friends. I became member of the forum recently and now spending more time here than actually working!!! :-))))
	() Thanks

6th December 2009, 17:14	#11
Dhar's BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: QLN/TRV/DXB Posts: 420 Thanked: 627 Times View My Garage	Serene beauty. Thanks Robi for the pics. Waiting to see more pics. Kudos to you to take the trip in cute Alto. Bomdila still remains my dream place to visit.
	() Thanks

6th December 2009, 18:40	#12
akas_chauhan BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 596 Thanked: 25 Times	Hey Robi, Nice pictures there. Thanks for Sharing. Kepp them coming buddy.
	() Thanks

6th December 2009, 22:18	#13
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Hey Robi nice pictures. I'm glued to this one. Intend to do Arunachal and Sikkim in one go sometime soon. Please share the resort detaila and tariff. BTW what was the temp at Bomdila now? P.S: where did you get the ILP arranged?
	() Thanks

6th December 2009, 23:25	#14
robimahanta Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/GAU Posts: 833 Thanked: 6,494 Times	@Milecruncher: We stayed at the Elephant Point Retreat, Tipi..tariff being 1500 per night(twin sharing) inclusive of taxes while at Nameri NP, we stayed at the Nameri Eco camp..tariff being 1300 per night. If you need any further details, please pm me. As for the ILP, the office is just 500m from my place in Guwahati..so it wasn't a problem at all. I submitted a copy of my address proof and two photos at around 1pm and got the permit by 8am next day. It wasn't that cold in Bomdila/Bhalukpong..maybe around 15 at night. A light sweater is more than enough..atleast for me! @akas, dhar, jayant: Thanks a lot for appreciating the pics! A Arunachali with his machete Our private porch with a super view.. The parking area of the resort at night.. The dining hall of the resort.. At a picnic spot by the Jia Bhoreli river Sunset in the hills Beautiful moutains..
	(1) Thanks

7th December 2009, 05:21	#15
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	Thanks for a glimpse into a beautiful land and its people! Wanderlust gets rekindled by travelogs like these.
	() Thanks