Crossing the Brahmaputra upper Assam

anorak

Can anyone tell me of any river crossings across the Brahmaputra in upper Assam near to Tinsukia?
I'm trying to get to Murkongselek without having to enter Arunachal Pradesh.

Cheers

Anorak

steven_ber

There is a ferry from a place about 6 kms from Dibrugarh, I'm not sure where it goes to, but it crosses the river.

I had planned to use it a couple of years ago, but changed my plans after having tolerated too much rain in Assam.

I can recommend a good hotel in Dibrugarh, I can search for the details, but I think it was about Rs6-700 a night, it was a 10-minute walk from the train station.

There is a new rail/road bridge being built across the Bramaputra from Dibrugarh to some place on the other side, but I think it's about 2 years away from completion, I think it will also be the longest bridge in India when it's completed.

If you're into steam engines, there is a steam train 'graveyard' near New Tinsukia train station, but you'd need to be a real enthusiast, it just looked like a load of rusting junk to me, apparently, enthusiasts had stripped them of anything useful.

But there is a tiny working steam engine at Tipong Colliery (photo in my photos on this website), I went there to take some photos of a house.

The metre gauge train line from Murkongselek to Rangiya (north of Guwahati) will close soon to be converted to broad gauge, if I find out when; I'll let you know.

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Train information.

steven_ber

(Can't edit the above post for some reason)

Here's the photo of 'David the Engine'.

Why are you going to Tinsukia?

kullukid

Great pic steven, luv it! KK

anorak

That's great Steven, thanks. There was no reason for going to Tinsukai except to cross the river, Dibrugarh will do nicely.
Info on the hotel would be appreciated too, I'm not going 'til March so no rush.
Hopefully the MG will stay open for a bit longer.

Cheers

Anorak

steven_ber

I've spent about an hour this morning looking for the receipt I had from the hotel (no joy) and finding details of the hotel on the net, I'm 99% sure it was the Natraj Hotel (all the rickshaw wallahs will know it).

I could find the address (Hanuman Singhania Road - Dibrugarh 786 001) on the net, but not a single photo or a single Dibrugarh map to confirm that this is the right place.

You exit Dibrugarh railway station alongside one of the platforms (on the right as the train approaches), outside the station, turn right and walk about 400 metres then turn left (it's maybe the 2nd or 3rd left turn, there's a nice air con restaurant on the corner), then walk about 100 metres along the road and the hotel is on the left.

Here's the front of the hotel.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/4...era3134td2.jpg


I think the line from Murkongselek to Rangiya will close soon, it was indicated in the budget that this conversion was a priority, I also think the line will take a long time to convert, the route has had many problems over the years, it travels along a route with many (small) bridges and has to deal with a massive amount of water coming down from the hills to the north, I've read about 6 stories over the last couple of years about these bridges being washed away, I really hope Indian Railways will take the opportunity to strengthen or replace many of the bridges.

anorak

Thanks for all the info Steven, our plan now is to cross by road over the bridges from Jorhat to North Lakhimpur via that island I can't remember the name of! That's if the NFR don't ruin our plan by closing the line.
We're doing a circular trip from Kolkata through Bangladesh to Agatala, then Lumding, Murkongselec, NJP, Katihar and back to Kolkata. MG heaven!

steven_ber

There are also plans to convert the Lumding-Silchar section to broad gauge (I've no idea when), but this is very confusing to me because the new line being built to Agartala is metre gauge.

Not sure if sitting on the roof of the train is your thing, if it is, do the Badarpur-Lumding section during the day, many locals sit on the roof and the scenery through the hills is wonderful.

anorak

Sitting on the roof is right up my street Steven, best seat in the house! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyoJ15d1fXo

I made some enquiries about the new Agartala line thinking it would be MG but apparently it's being built as broad gauge and wont be ready for a good few years yet by which time Lumding - Silchar "will" be converted. Some conversion work has started and it will run via a new alignment avoiding Haflong Hill, but guerilla activity in the area is slowing progress and a couple of workers have been kidnapped.

steven_ber

I saw this today....

So the gauge conversion won't start till at least April.

anorak

Well, we managed to cross the river from Dibrugarh to Oriyamghat.
The ferry leaves around 5km from Dibrugarh at 09:30, not 07:00 as we were told, we got a Sumo from our hotel near the station for an extortionate RS800, after much faffing around we eventually got to the correct place. There didn't seem to be any organised transport to the ghat.
A bloke set up a tea and food stall on the beach,and a couple of water/biscuit/crisp/cigarette/whisky vendors turned up too.
The ferry cost RS70 for the 7 hour crossing, tea, hot food and Bollywood films were available on board too.

At Oriyamghat there was a bus and a couple of jeeps available, the bus goes to Pasighat and for RS10 will drop you in Oyam, where onward transport to Murkongselec was available by rickshaw for RS150. The crossing into and out of Arunachal Pradesh wasn't too difficult without permits, I asume you don't need them for such a short transit.
There's one hotel in Murkong, the Hotel Beauti (RS150 for a twin), Beauti isn't the word I'd associate with it though.

Hope this is of use to someone, let me know if anyne needs more detail.

Cheers, Anorak.

steven_ber

Thanks for the info, very useful.

Are you now going from Murkong to Rangiya?

anorak

I'm back home now.
We did Murkong to Rangiya, via a night in Tezpur. The line to Rangiya was crawling with armed Railway Police special forces, they told us the area was unsafe due to Naxalite activity and not to stray from the station areas.

A few days earlier we got caught in a strike in Silchar after 3 railway staff were murdered by the Black Widow guerillas at Harangajao in the Cachar Hills, the Barak Valley express resembled a troop train the day after, so we were glad to get out of the area.

After Rangiya we made our way back to Delhi via Samastipur, Lucknow and Bareilly.

Great trip in all, really enjoyed Bangladesh too,