Bhalukpong

Positioned on the crossroads between Arunachal and Assam, between the Kameng and the Brahmaputra rivers, the Pakhui sanctuary and the Kaziranga National Park, Bhalukpong has evolved as a blissful merge of cultures and environments. It seems to have absorbed the best of all worlds and maintains its own tranquil lick.

The little town is on the Kameng River and lies along the dense forests that form the periphery of the Pakhui Game Sanctuary. Bhalukpong is a gateway to popular destinations like Tawang and Bomdila, but it has its own special charm too. Strategically sited near the border to Assam, Bhalukpong lies close to the region where the Kameng enters Assam. Here the Kameng and other rivers teem up with the mighty Brahmaputra as it rages down the Himalayas to flood Assam. If you are driving in via Guwahati, the Kaziranga National Park - the sanctuary of the one-horned rhinoceros is en route.

A further wonderful attraction at Bhalukpong is rafting downriver using a helium balloon rubber yacht and angling for mahseer in the Kameng. Angling season begins in early October right up to April. Though you can fish here throughout the year, the river is in full wave during the monsoons; this is also the spawning season for fish. Rafting as an adventure sport is becoming increasingly popular in the area.

One can get a immediate feel of the great route that lies ahead to Bomdila and the crossing of the Sela Pass to the Tawang Monastery. The elephants with their mahouts are ready to venture into the forest, the air malodorous of the rich shrubbery below and the tangled canopy overhead.