Notes from the North East - Wakro

We decided to take a chance at birding inspite of the showers the previous night and a cloudy morning ahead. There were plenty of Ashy Wood Swallows swooping above the circuit house with their squeaky calls...

A little ahead this colorful insect was basking itself on a bridge of a small stream

Striated bulbuls were in plenty everywhere in Wakro

Lush greenery around the hills due to rains gave a beautiful feeling to be around there

Pin-tailed pigeon seemed to be waiting for sunshine

Degradation of the forests can seen everywhere which has also brought in huge migrant labour population from other states to Arunachal Pradesh.They are employed as labourers in the tea gardens or orange orchards everywhere. In fact at few of the places we saw more non Arunachalis than the locals

One more birding spot marked

When birds weren't plenty you start aiming your cameras at the butterflies..:-)

This fellow was curious about the strangers in his land and that was definitely not a friendly look!!

Sad truth about how packaging of what we consume is affecting everyone's life

We drove little ahead to Parashuram Kund as the rains did not allow us much birding.

Situated at the deep gorge of river Lohit, the entire area around Prashuram Kund is very windy.No wonder this Horizontal  Axis Wind Turbine seemed to be working really well

Hornbills love this fruit, but did not see any at that time

There were two of the HAWTs there...for some strange reason they looked like a couple, one was silent and the other was full throttle ..:-)

This beauty made me chase for long time before settling down on the leaf

Lohit seem to be flowing ...but isn't as happy as I had seen it in the year 2002.  The construction and excavation have ruined the unique geographical features as a result of the work on the dam, as well as a bridge a few hundred meters away

Malayan giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) seemed oblivious about our presence

Just a board without a single soul around...

The rocky outcrop is supposed to be the axe of Parashuram

The setting was beautiful. But was longing for hot cup of tea. Hence, crossed over the bridge and found a tiny shop run by a Nepali to enjoy the tea

Saw this cutie waiting for someone

Being not really a very religious person, I was happy to see the kund from afar..

We returned to Wakro and as planned met "Uncle Moosa" at his Apne library ..more on this very inspiring person will be posted soon on this blog soon..

We were to meet again, but never mind one group photo..:-) 

We decided to check on the routes for Kamlang .We could not but admire this beautiful Mishmi dwelling on our way...

The typical frontal roof of the Mishmi House

The brother n sister were chooo chweet and enjoying their school vacation time.

uuuuhhhhh look at that sweet smile when we requested her to do pose.

At a closeby house saw the well preserved Mithun remnants

The fruit resembled Brinjal  

When the clouds cleared a bit, butterflies started showing up

 A wide variety of wildflowers can also seen around the place.

Emerald dove was pacing across the road. You can see these birds all over Arunachal

Love the pink of the wild banana flower 

 It was time to return back to the circuit house 

The entire landscape was mesmerizing in the setting sun.We decided to explore this beautiful spot again the next day day and finally drove back to the circuit house to retire for the day...

Notes from the North East - Tinsukia to Wakro

After two nights stay in Guwahati at a friend's place and a quick visit to Pobitora, I set out for my long journey to the east. Almost equal number of 22 days which I had done in the year 2002 while travelling across Arunachal Pradesh with a group of senior citizens. Boarded the night train to Tinsukia. Arrived around 8ish and freshened up at another friend's place. Prashanta of Help Tourism had arranged a Bolero for my entire trip. Mulla the driver, an expert who knows most of the Arunachal roads arrived by noon.

I had to purchase 100 books to be gifted to the Wakro Library which we purchased in Tinsukia .Happy with the deal I got for the books as it made sense for not having carried the books all the way from Bangalore..Picked up our guides Bidyut and Poksham for both of whom it was an exciting exploration to be in  too.

Stopped at Drak for the mandatory tea break and quick entry formalities a little ahead to enter Arunachal Pradesh.

We took the road to Namsai. Had our lunch at this daabha owned by two ever smiling friends at a place known as Duo mile. 

A little ahead spotted this vulture which looked like white rumped. Could not venture out of the vehicle as it started pouring heavily around that time.

The entire route looked as if it was soaked in water.

I decided to take a look at the Golden Pagoda and stopped the vehicle just around the road where the road takes a turn to take you to the Pagoda. The place is good for early morning birding But again rain did not allow much scope for us to stay back there though this Greater Racket-tailed Drongo ( Note the crest which differentiates the Himalayan Race from the Andamans) posed happily at a distance.

The hoary bellied squirrel made a quick dash down a tree trunk

It was getting darker soon

The spot undoubtedly has lot of potential for birding so I marked the place for future bird-watching .

We reached the gate of the Golden Pagoda post 4.00 pm and were not sure if it was still open . In Arunachal Pradesh time winds up by 4.30 pm. Checked with few monks around and they gave a green signal to enter the gate

Monks and to be monks were playing together at a corner

Poksham was eager to click the photos of the kids and they were more curious to know how they looked in his camera.

Kids were all over Poksham

Godlen Pagoda has a welcoming well laid and manicured path to lead

Constructed with contributions by Chowna Mein, the then Minister PHED and his wife MLA Namsai, Nang Sati Mein ,Golden Pagoda or 'Poi Lu Kongmu Kham’ as known in the Tai-Khampti dialect is a marvelous architecture and craftsmanship in this side of the country.Situated in Thengapani ,it is also one of the largest Pagodas of North East India. It took six years for an architect from Mynamar and 300 masons to build this Pagoda and was inauguared in the year 2010. The pagoda is also a Centre for Buddhist Study and Research which was engineered to keep together the Institute of Cultural Research and Work on folklore and folk song of the Tai Khampti-Singpho tribes, which are vanishing rapidly. Eastern Arunachalis follow the Theravada sect of Buddhism hence you wont find the inner walls painted with mural of divinities and saints like those of Gelugpa Sect.Built on a three hectare of elevated land,the whole outer structure is painted with golden color which giives it a majestic look even from a distance

For the memories sake with a tired look:-)

 All of us spent some time clicking the beautiful surroundings of the Pagoda

Inside the main pagoda is the beautiful five feet tall gilded statue of Buddha facing north, modeled on the Kala Buddha of Nalanda archive.

It was pleasant to see many happy young faces in the compound. Everyone seem to be busy doing something or the other

After a quick round over we decided to continue our journey to Wakro

I wanted to to enjoy and  soak in the sunset in the land of the rising Sun and felt time stood still on this bridge on the River Kamlang

When you pass through such scenery , you know you are in a beautiful land

We arrived at Wakro late evening . Our stay was booked at the well maintained simple Wakro Circuit House thanks to "Uncle Moosa " of Apne Library. The caretaker was instructed to make dinner for us .Had good simple meal and retired for the day