Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang, Bomdila

messina

Who has ever been to Tawang or Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh?
Is it possible to go there in December or January? What about the temperatures? I would be glad if somebody could give me some informations.

Shiver me Timbers

this really is a part of India I'd love to hear more about.....

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bhaktijananda

I had been to arunachal pradesh during february and it was quite cold. On the way to Tawang you can visit Bomdila or stay for a night. There is nothing much to see there. If you start early in the morning towards Tawang, you dont have to stay in Bomdila. Otherwise you will have to stay for a night as you will not find any place to stay between Bomdila and Tawang. To be frank there is almost nothing in between these two places. On the way to Tawang there is a place called Sela Pass which is the second highest motorable road in India. The temperature was minus 4degree celsius and the weather was windy. We had reached that place at around 4pm and the sight was so beutiful that it will always remain in my mind. I had been to a lot of places in India and Nepal but Sela Pass was something different. There is a frozen lake near the Pass and we witnessed the sunset there. In Tawang there are a lot of things to see. The Buddhist monastries, the War Memorial, the Market and so on. The temperature in Tawang was not like that of Sela Pass but it was cold. Me being an indian needs only the inner line but foreign tourist need special permits to enter Arunachal Pradesh. Any other information you need is most welcome.

it is a nice place to see

messina

Thanks bhaktijananda for your comment.
I've heard that you can't go to Tawang in winter because the streets are noch drivable (snow, bad weather). Is that true?

hitanshu

@Messina: Stuff from a gent whose truly BTDT beyond most of us: http://the-never-ending-road.blogspot.com/

drop him a line for any questions!

holiday

December & Januray is extremely cold in Arunachal Pradesh,it is advisable not to travel during this period, else you can tour the region from Mid February else before 15th November.

arunchs

I was there in March this year, and it was a bit cold even then, and there was some snow in SeLa and regions above Tawang(on the road that takes you to border). Dec/Jan, not advisable, you may get snowed out.

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bhaktijananda

Messina,
Going to any part of Arunachal is not a problem. During the winter season also people go for sightseeing in Arunachal. If you plan the trip for three days also you will have to plan it for at least one week in case the road gets closed due to snowfall. As far as I know the Border Roads Organisation responsible for the maintainance of the roads are very well organised and they clear the roads. The two lane project is also going on so the roads are also getting broader. Actually it is risky to go to Arunachal during the rainy season as in some places the roads are washed away by the flash floods. I think it is totally safe to go there during the winter season. I have a friend who travels to Arunachal Pradesh almost once in two months on official purpose. I went there with him and I felt that it is actually safer to go there in the winter season only. Even my brother went there on March this year with my parents and family friends and he also didnt find any problem. There was much more snow at that time.

chris123

Hi. please advice on the following:

1. we plan to visit Bomdila and Tawang between 16th and 21st December 2007, please advice how do we undertake the travel without the tour operators directly from Guwahati.

2. Please advice on the ILP permit from Guwahati, what would be cost of it and the time required for issuing the same...

You can send in your feedback on my email address at johnsircar@gmail.com

Thanks in advance

bhaktijananda

Hi Chris,

You will have to stay for a day or two in Guwahati to make the ILP. It is issued by the resident commissioner in the Arunachal House in Guwahati. You will have to give the details of the persons going and the vehicle number in which you will travel. Xerox copies of your passport or your driving licence and passport photos will be required for the fomality. Or else you can go directly to Tezpur and make the ILP there. If you take a taxi from Tezpur, the taxi driver will help you to make the ILP.

Tour operators are not required to visit Bomdila and Tawang. They only make some formality easier for you like taking out the ILP. The best tour operator in Ghy is the Jungle Travels.

Dont worry much about the trip as a lot of people undertake journeys to Arunachal Pradesh.

If you want any more information, please feel free to post it.

Cheers,
Bhaktijananda

chris123

Hi.

Thanks for the information regarding obtaining ILP etc...
Can you please instruct us on the following points:

1. We wish to travel directly to Bomdila from Guwahati.. Please advice on means of direct transportation, cost etc .

2. We wish to travel from Bomdila to Tawang next day.. Please advice on means of direct transportation, cost etc from Bomdila.

3. Any good economical hotels in Bomdila and Tawang..

4. Any other general tips you think can be useful for us...

Thank you very much in advance for all the help

sics66

I(with family and friends) am going to Arunachal Pradesh during December 24th to 31st. We plan to tour Bhalukpong-Bomdilla-Dirang-Tawang. Will it be necessary to make advance bookings at hotels ?Or are they relatively vacant at that time of the year?Also,is it better to book a car(Tata Sumo)for the entire tour or take shared cars from a place to place? BTW,I am from Kolkata.

chris123

Hi,


We are married couple from Bombay - India and are traveling to Tawang/Bomdila in December 2007 to explore the mini cities and experience snow, Anyone willing/wishing to travel with us are most welcome...

beesakopie

Good luck folks. Just one word of caution : Arunachal Pradesh (especially Tawang and beyond) can get extremely cold in december. So do pay attention to the weather bulletins. At one point of time you will be crossing Sela Pass which is at the height of over 12000 ft. So do get advance info on whether the road is clear.

Logistics :

1. To access Bhalukpong from Assam side, you need to go through Tezpur. My suggestion is that you fly directly to Tezpur. (Tezpur is connected to Calcutta)

2. ILP to access Arunachal state can be got from Tezpur. (In my time, a liaison officer for Govt. of Arunachal used to be available in all Assam airports...we needed to contact this guy for the permit to Arunachal. Perhaps there is one such officer still posted at Tezpur airport. My best suggestion is to call the airport - if you can get a number - and investigate in advance)

3. The last I heard was that Balukhpong / Bomdila have circuit houses (tourist lodges) and no hotels. Maybe that has changed (I last lived in Assam in year 2000)...Tawang has hotels. I think in the month of december, you do not really need to book a place especially.

4. It is definitely better to book a Tata Sumo for the entire journey. Why do you want to take unnecessary hassle in taking a new car at every stop?

Here is a website that will help you:

http://www.arunachaltourism.com

sics66

Thanks Beesakopie. I have already booked a Tata Sumo for the whole trip.We are taking flights to and from Guwahati(no flights to Tezpur on our days of journey).Gathering more information about accommodation.I had already visited the website you have mentioned.Good info there too.