|
|
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
With
an average population of eight people per square Kilometer,
Arunachal Pradesh is India's most remote and exotic state. Arunachal
shares it's borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar on northern,
western and Southeastern side and hosts the southern tip of
the Mighty Himalayas.
Arunachal is home to several tribes (presently 66) that still
live indigenously on the forest around them. Some tribals still
wear animal skin barely covering their bodies and ornaments
made out of animal bones, claws and bird's feathers. They are
armed with guns, bow and arrow or swords, but are very friendly
people.
One reason why inner line permits are issued only for a certain
period to visit Arunachal is because the government doesn't
want the tribals to get influenced by the outside culture. It
is a good thing because being an Indian I got a cultural shock
on seeing people totally dependent on forest, a visit to the
village will make you feel as if you have entered the set of
a period film.
Arunachal is not only amazing for it's people but for it's landscapes
too. Higher regions are dominated by The Himalayas and lower
regions by plains. Result a wide variety of flora and fauna
and more than 450 species of Orchids.
Each day's travel is a different experience in Arunachal; each
region has a different tribe with costumes, architecture and
customs radically different from others, since the topography
of the region is so diverse and tribals been perfectly adapted
to their surroundings the diversity is prominent.
Roads
are narrow, but there is hardly any traffic, in fact some of
the roads are so less traveled that grass and algae grow out
from the tar. No proper bridges to cross rivers. Twice we had
to cross 300 feet long bridges made out of wooden planks and
bamboo flakes. At the height of 100 feet from the river, pushing
the bike through the broken planks of wood was the scariest
moment of my life.
The only drawback in Arunachal is there are no hotels, except
for a few big towns. For die-hard travelers it's a blessing
in disguise, locals will welcome you in their houses.
Itanagar, capital of Arunachal is a very small town, a visit
to the parliament and you will be surprised to see home and
finance ministry being run from one small building with three
rooms. No facilities like ATM, or money exchange, but Arunachal
is amazing!
Arunachal
won't overwhelm you with it's pristine beauty because it is
raw, but will make you feel at home, a part of it's nature,
and if the places don't do the trick I am sure the people will.
A must visit place for hard-core travelers who like to travel
remote
TAWANG..(read
on)
^Top
|
|