Breathtaking Western Arunachal Pradesh: A Photo Story full of Natural Riches
Arunachal Pradesh is that destination where the mighty Himalayas, rich tribal culture, dense forests and magical landscapes come together. This state is a big secret in the entire ‘Incredible India’ story. While it will take many weeks and months to explore and experience this large state properly, one can easily experience the breath taking Western Arunachal Pradesh in just a week as access is better from both Guwahati and Itanagar, the two nearest airports.
From snow covered mountain passes to high altitude lakes, from gorgeous waterfalls to rich monasteries, from mountain villages and cities to lush forests and from diverse tribal culture to lots of traditional shopping opportunities, Western Arunachal Pradesh is all of this and more. I hope this photo story is able to bring forward some of its natural riches to you and interests you in visiting this picturesque state.
Above photo: It is quite common to see snow in Western Arunachal Pradesh even during the non winter months and unlike the Western Himalayas, the snow line starts here at a much lower altitude.
Above photo: The high altitude Sela Lake lies at the top of the Sela pass. It is a very important religious and spiritual place for the Buddhists.
Above photo: The high altitude Sela lake, located at an altitude of 13,700 feet above MSL, is a great location for birdwatching. The vegetation here is made up of dwarf shrubs/conifers, alpine meadows and patches of rhododendrons. The key species of Sela pass are blood pheasant, snow partridge, Himalayan monal, rosefinches, etc.
Above photo: Even though there is the Sela tunnel that allows you to bypass Sela pass and reach Dirang and Tawang much faster, it is worth to visit Sela pass for its jaw dropping beauty.
Above photo: The mountainous terrain of Western Arunachal Pradesh is full of such winding roads which make for a thrilling road trip and some sensational photographs. This is enroute to the city of Jang.
Above photo: The gorgeous Jang Falls makes for a perfect pit stop on your journey towards Tawang.
Above photo: Located at an altitude of 10,000 feet above MSL, Tawang is a treat to the eye. With its Buddhist roots and snow covered Himalayan surroundings, it is no wonder that is referred to as the ‘Last Shangri La’.
Above photo: Prayer wheels are quite a common sight in the Buddhist dominated Western Arunachal Pradesh. Spinning them as you walk around the Buddhist monasteries is a common practice. Seeing them shine in the evening sun is also a special sight.
Above photo: Further along from Tawang lies PT Tso or Penga Teng Tso (lake), a pretty high altitude lake that lies amidst serene Himalayan surroundings.
Above photo: At Tawang monastery, you will get to interact very closely with the Buddhist students as a lot of young Buddhists come to learn the holy texts of Buddhism.
Above photo: Yet another snow covered winding western Arunachal Pradesh roads. This time, connecting Tawang with Bumla pass on the Indo-China border.
Above photo: The Border Roads Organization are not only known for laying and maintaining the roads in some of India’s most difficult terrain, they are also known for their eye catching sign boards with key messaging.
Above photo: The Tongpen la view point at above 15,000 feet is a treat for the eyes. Located on the way from Tawang to Bumla pass, this high altitude lake view point is that perfect place for a pit stop. A hot cup of tea or coffee here is just icing on the cake.
Above photo: This is Y Junction, a military checkpost and fork, where one road connects to Bumla pass and the other connects to Sangetsar lake or Madhuri Jheel.
Above photo: Sangetsar lake or Madhuri jheel is a high altitude lake that was the shooting location for the movie Koyla. It is an eerie looking location with dead trees standing tall in the middle of the lake.
Above photo: A small, but beautiful monastery, the Tak Tsang Gompa or T Gompa is a peaceful location where there is nothing aside from your own thoughts and the howling mountain wind. A perfect place to meditate.
Above photo: The high altitude drives of Western Arunachal are full of remoteness, great landscapes and in all probability lots of snow.
Above photo: Dirang basti and Dirang dzong are an important tourist attraction in Western Arunachal Pradesh. Here, you can see the traditional stone and wood houses of Dirang that are naturally insulated and ideal for very cold weather.
Above photo: Sangti valley is one of Western Arunachal’s prettiest locations and is the place where the rare black necked cranes congregate in huge numbers.
Above photo: Here, you can see the native Monpa tribal women go to work near Sangti valley. The green mountain landscape and the tribal culture on display make this a special photograph.
Above photo: This is the view you wake up to at Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary in Western Arunachal Pradesh. One of Arunachal Pradesh’s best birding locations, Eaglenest not only offers great birdwatching opportunities, but also offers stunning views of the Eastern Himalayas.
Above photo: This is another mountain view that you get to see from your Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary campsite. Here, you can see the wavy mountain range with many snow covered peaks and the morning sun shining on them.
Above photo: This is a typical jeep track inside Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary where we would trek to look for birds. Somewhere in between, we would head into the jungle for a short while before returning to the jeep track at another place.
Above photo: The dense forests of Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary can be seen in rich fall colours. Each season, one can see this forest dress up in different colours making it worthwhile to visit in every season.
