Arunachal Permit help!!!

I desperately need help, so I'd be so thankful for any information...

My husband and I are going to be in Sikkim for 2 weeks from beginning of October, than we are hoping to go to Arunachal Paradesh for 2 weeks.

We already paid the fees to a protected area permit here in Lonbdon to the India Visa Application Centre in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, after they took our money they told us they don't do protected area permit to Arunachal in the UK.

We tried calling Arunachal Paradesh resident commisioner in Delhi and they told us to call a travel agency, we called and they told us we must spend the whole 2 weeks with them(which we don't want to, we understand you need a guide to some areas but not everywhere...), so I tried calling FRRO in Delhi (like 20,000 times) and they keep hanging up on me or giving me the "call after some time" answer, but no one really tell me if I can get the permit with them...

to make it shorter(although its already quite a long message);
does anyone know how I can get the permit in Delhi? how much does it cost? how long does it take? someone told me you can get it the same day in the Delhi FRRO, but it sounds too goods to be true!!!

again, I will truly appreciate any REAL advice
Thanks
Keren

Moderator Note:

I am shifting your thread to "Other Areas" which includes information for travel to Arunachal Pradesh. Hopefully you might receive an answer to your query.

hi

you can get your permit form Delhi, or Itanagar .. you have to pey @USD 50 per person... for arunacahal tour... also same in itanagar.. but i reccomend you to go to FRRO office( arunachal Bhaban)New Delhi for your prmit.. may be same day can get...

Hi Arunachal Bhavan in Delhi is a good place to start. Also, if you fly into the state, the airlines could do it for you, if things have not changed in the last few years.

For Indian nationals, the permits are issued by Arunachal Bhavan the same day (2-3 hours). You have to submit an application form (in their format), along with photos, proof of residence, etc, along with your itinerary.

However, when I applied and got permit through Arunachal Bhavan, Delhi, they missed out half the places that I had asked for, and the permit was of no use to me.

So, I caught hold of a travel agent (actually, KS did it) in Dibrugarh and redid the entire process all over again. The permits issued at Dibrugarh were what I wanted. The travel agents charge you something nominal. You need to apply for permits in advance since you will not be allowed to go to even Itanagar (you have to show permits at the State border check post). The travel agent couriered us the permits.

for Indian national it is easy to get permit.. just approach to FRRO office New delhi, kolkata, guwahati... but for foreign national it is little bit complicated... have to go through an agent... i think...

There are several authorised travel agents who make the permits for their clients. The agents generally charge USD 50 per person (govt royalty) + 10 % service charge. The permit is valid for 30 days for entire Arunachal Pradesh except Tirap and Changlang district. The permits can be extended after 30 days by paying additional royalty to the govt.

Guys, appreciate if someone can direct me to a travel agent in Guwahati who will be able to help me obtain the Restricted Area Permit prior to our arrival in India. Mum, Dad, bro and I plan to travel to Arunachal Pradesh probably Mar or April 2010

Try Jungle Travels, Guwahati. Link given below

http://www.jungletravelsindia.com/

I have taken permits through Jungle Travels several years ago.

Thanks for the referal. Will definitely communicate with them

The travel agencies are quoting based on tour packages with guide for the whole of 2 weeks(which we don't want to, we understand you need a guide to some areas but not everywhere... Its frustrating. Our enquiry was solely on the permit - as this will kind of a free and easy trip for my elderly parents

Thanks again guys for all the advise - I'm communicating with the above mentioned ones, but they stop when they realise my query was only for the permit. Perserverence is the key

Sreee

i think because of problem in Tawanag betwwen INDIA_ CHINA... they advise people to take a local people who knows all places... if you go with a good driver i think it is OK... few days before one of my friend visied tawnag with only driver and vehicle... you can do that

cherrrrsssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Guys, just read over the news that the foreign journalists who had planned to travel to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh were denied entry as their permits was obtained through Arunachal Bhavan. We are all learning here.

NEW DELHI: Foreign journalists who obtained inner line permits to be present in Arunachal Pradesh during Dalai Lama’s visit had “short-circuited” the visa process, official sources here said.
They said that the foreign journalists should have applied for the permits through the Ministry for External Affairs.
But according to their “understanding,” the scribes had short-circuited the visa process and applied directly to the Arunachal Bhavan here for inner line permits.
“When the Arunachal Pradesh government realised this, they withdrew the permits,” said the sources.