[San Phrangmung]

Last few pictures of the drive. The last on this group is from Sonapur, where a bridge is being constructed for two laning of the highway.

[San Phrangmung]

The highway and city photos are not good. A 2mp camera phone does not do well in both too much sun or too little.

@hvkumar

The Pobitora road map and resort booklet snaps are here.

@Sutripta

Pobitora was closed but just like in Kaziranga, wildlife can be seen from the bordering road. But good gadgets needed, 20x zoom. I didn't have one so the two rhinos in a distance was just dots.

[San Phrangmung]

First picture of the Pobitora Range office where one gets the elephant ride ticket and Gypsy or own vehicle entry pass.

Rest are of the tourist lodge. The lesees have named it a resort though.

[San Phrangmung]

The lodge pictures were taken in January, and when i visited this Sunday, those structures in the lawn were all but gone. Even if its off season, it shows that those who are managing the property have either lost interest or not professional.

[San Phrangmung]

Ther's a place called Kajoli Choki on way to Pobitora. It was a military post during Tai Ahom era and recently some old canon balls has been discovered in the area.

Taking the left turn from state highway 3 i lost my way and landed up at the cremation ground by the river (Digaru ghat)!

The road to the place is kutcha and a no go area during rainy season so could not make it during previous drives.

So far the government/archeological department has not taken any steps to preserve the discovery. So the sorry state of the historical items now looked after by the local villagers.

[kaushik_s]

Originally Posted by San Phrangmung

The lodge pictures were taken in January, and when i visited this Sunday, those structures in the lawn were all but gone. Even if its off season, it shows that those who are managing the property have either lost interest or not professional.

They are there now. I've visited the place on 29th Oct and all those structures are there on the lawn. I guess they erect them once the tourist season starts(Nov-April). And guess how many Rhino's I could spot there? A staggering 23 rhinos at a time.

[San Phrangmung]

Lucky you, its good to know that Pobitora has such surprises. Even during the elephant ride in Kaziranga i saw only four.

Where else you went during your visit.

[kaushik_s]

Originally Posted by San Phrangmung

Lucky you, its good to know that Pobitora has such surprises. Even during the elephant ride in Kaziranga i saw only four.

Where else you went during your visit.

Went to Shillong but had to return due to a massive traffic Jam :( Was stuck for 4-5hours and instead went to an amazing resort on the banks of Barapani, it;s called Ri-Kinjal, a blessing in disguise I must say. Will soon post some of the pics. Next plan is for Kaziranga. Let's see. Will try Shillong again soon.

[San Phrangmung]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

Went to Shillong but had to return due to a massive traffic Jam :( Was stuck for 4-5hours and instead went to an amazing resort on the banks of Barapani, it;s called Ri-Kinjal, a blessing in disguise I must say. Will soon post some of the pics. Next plan is for Kaziranga. Let's see. Will try Shillong again soon.

Yeah the stretch between Barapani to Shillong is prone to jams specially during office hours. This happens because Shillong is yet to have a bye pass, so the small city roads have to take in every vehicle going to Barak valley, southern Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, plus the never ending coal trucks 24 hrs a day.

But ther's one good news, the road from Jorabat to Barapani will become four lane hopefully by 2015, that should save us half an hour atleast.

I had checked Ri Kynjai last August and found the place to be a great hideout. That time the road leading from the NEPA point towards UCC was real bad and narrow.

[San Phrangmung]

If you have read this thread before you would remember my car to be red, well no more. So few pictures of the makeover and visit to Dichang resort in Sonapur.

[SX4LOVER]

nice travelogue!!!

I recently moved to sonapur (the Blue board is a hint to where i have moved).

Pobitora is one of the most unfrequented places you can see the rhino!!!

[San Phrangmung]

Great, now you can help my two year old to see the flying machines up close. Will get in touch.

[San Phrangmung]

Took the Dispur - Jorabat - Sonapur - Pobitora - Mayong - Kajoli Choki - Narengi road once more this Sunday.

There has been few changes on way.

1. 200 bed Sonapur civil hospital work has started beside the Digaru? river bridge on NH37.

2. New areas along the approach road has been encroched upon by immigrants near the NH 37 touch point as well as along Pobitora.

2. Three wooden bridges on way are being upgraded to a concreate one. (The work was sanctioned during early 90's during Hiteswar Saikia's ministry though as per an official but stopped midway.)

3. One new government building ready to use.

4. Railway line height has been increased near Chandrapur / Hatisila.

5. Many more new brick manufecturing units have come up.

6. The Pobitora protected area has been covered with electric fense, but the objective not met.

(Immigrant settlers keep their cows inside the park and bring them only when they grow big/old enough to sell or about to give birth. I saw one rhino and hundreads of cows grazing inside the park. So what's happening is that the cows eats off most of the grass & stuff and rhinos and other wild animals stays hungry. Very soon the settlers will poison wild animals like in Orang and Kaziranga. Due to lack of political will ther's nothing the forest guards & officials could do against the offenders.)

[San Phrangmung]

Few pictures, starting with railway crossing point and second bridge which is the first of the wooden ones that are being upgraded.If you look a little up on this page, you would see a rough bridge approach all red. That point has been tarred.

[San Phrangmung]

Bomai Jurabat primary school.
Gumoria Pothar field and middle English school.
Gumoria Shantipur bus stop & tea gardens.