BHALUKPONG: A SERENE DESTINATIONThe tiny town of Bhalukpong is located amongst the eastern Himalayan ranges. It is famous for its natural beauty. It has a number of picnic spots along the banks of the Kameng River. Bhalukpong is a remote destination, and like few other Indian towns, it has escaped the virtual tourist invasion in recent times. It also attracts the adventure-seeker with its numerous trekking, hiking trails and fishing stretches on Kameng River.
LOCATION
Bhalukpong is located in the southwestern part of the state of Arunachal Pradesh, in the northeastern region of India. It is adjacent to the state of Assam. It is located near the Kameng River. It is 52 km from Tezpur. The weather in Bhalukpong is alpine and pleasant. Summers (April-June) are mild, while winters are cool (November-February). It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.
THE PAST
The origin of Bhalukpong is lost in time. Local tribal rulers and rulers from Bhutan and Assam generally ruled this region from time to time. The Ahom rulers of Asom did not interfere with the local tribals, except for retaliatory raids into the tribal territory. The British had declared this area of Arunachal Pradesh as off-limits in 1873.
TOURIST SPOTS
The main places of interest in Bhalukpong are the picnic spots along the charming Kameng River and the nearby forests. Travelers can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains surrounding Bhalukpong and its environs. There are a number of trekking and hiking trails in and around Bhalukpong. Adventure seekers can enjoy fishing and angling along different stretches of Kameng River. There is excellent scope of fishing mahsheer in the Jia Bhorali River near Bhalukpong.
SITES NEARBY
The Orchid Research Center at Tipi, 3 km from Bhalukpong, is an interesting place to visit. The best time to visit this center is between April and May, when one can see the exotic orchid collection in full bloom.
The small town of Bomdila is located north of Bhalukpong. Bomdila is known for its scenic environs and its Buddhist monasteries and apple orchards. It also attracts the adventure seeker with its numerous trekking trails.
The small town of Tawang is located beyond Bomdila amidst the eastern Himalayan ranges. It is famous for its 400-year-old monastery. This monastery is one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries to be found in India and is an important pilgrim center for the followers of Buddhism.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Bhalukpong is known for its annual festival of Nyethidow, which is celebrated in the month of March.
HOW TO REACH
Bhalukpong is located in a remote part of India amongst the Himalayan ranges. It does not have an airport or railway station of its own. It is connected by road with other towns in Arunachal Pradesh and Asom. Bhalukpong can be reached from the town of Tezpur by bus or in a shared jeep.
INFORMATION
Foreign travelers visiting the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh must obtain a Restricted Area Permit from the Foreigner's Regional Registration Offices in Delhi [Arunachal Bhavan, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras) and Kolkata [Arunachal Bhavan, 4B Chowringhee Place, Kolkata] in order to visit Arunachal Pradesh. Permits are generally valid for 10 days. Permits can also be applied for at any overseas Indian consulates. These permits are checked at the airport and their photocopies have to be submitted in the local hotels while checking in for routine local police verification.
