Going to Arunachal

Maysun

Hi, I just found this site. I'm off to Arunachal Pradesh in the first week of October and will be travelling there until December probably. It's a writing/painting trip and I'm really, really looking forward it.

If anyone has travel tips about Arunachal, I'll be happy to hear them.

Does anyone know about hotels in Rangapara, or if it is safe to stay in the station waiting room? I'll probably be reaching there at 11.30 p.m. and will need to stay overnight.

I plan on going to Tawang first, via Rangapara.

DestinationNE.com

ddutta

Hi


AP is really beautiful place to visit. Have been to Itanagar , Zero etc 3 years back & enjoyed the state very much. the entire NE Region is feast for eye. Till now less spoilt by the tourists and will literally find virgin land still. The only problem is law & order situation. Anything can happen in the next moment.My advise to youis if you reach Rangapara at 11.30PM dont venture out unless you have local people with you. We need to show Inner Line Permit(for Indians too) to enter AP. In fact we have to show it several time at the check posts in AP. So please arrange it beforehand from the appropriate authority. For more deatis about AP please log on to

http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in
http://www.arunachaltourism.com
http://www.northeastindiadiary.com/a...radesh-travel/

steven_ber

I've been told there is no acommodation at Rangapara and it is not advisable to stay on the station overnight, Rangapara has a bus link with Tezpur (about 27 km), I can give you details of a guest house in Tezpur (about 300 Rs I think), I'm not at home at the moment, but can post the details in 2 days.

Are you going via Rangia? There is another train from Rangia other than the 1/2 on the Indian Railways website, again I will post details.

If your looking at a 15 month old railway timetable, it is most probibly out of date (?????).

The metre gauge railway track that used to connect Siliguri with Rangapara is being converted to broad gauge, you are best to get any train heading to Guwahati and change trains at Rangia.

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How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

ddutta

Hi

Steven is right (boss is allways right) .Tezpur is 27km from Rangapara. But going to Tezpur at 11.30 PM is also not safe. Moreover the track record of the trains running on these route is not good too. In fact up to Guwahati by train is ok. after that it is not advisable to avail train. It will be better to get down at Guwahati & avail bus. Bus service is good is Assam , AP , Meghlaya , Nagaland. Anyways Tezpur is big town & have good hotels. I stayed in Hotel Luit at Tezpur & is ok. Log on to this for more about Tezpur (known as Sonitpur too ).

http://sonitpur.nic.in/tezpur_festival.htm

Maysun

Tanmoy and ddutta, your sites were really helpful!

I also found these two rather good sites -

www.traveljini.com
www.traveljadoo.com (good help with railway schedules)

I spoke to the District Commissioner in Guwahati about the Inner Line Permit. I'm getting it all in order before I set off. He said it's only valid for 15 days, but that it probably should be possible to get it extended to a month or longer while in AP.

Steven, do you mean the Samastipur Tezpur Express? It leaves Rangiya at 1.15 p.m. and reaches Rangapara at 6.40 p.m.

Are there buses at this time from Rangapara to Bomdila/Tawang?

Or do you know about bus timings from Guwahati to Tawang?

If I don't get off at Rangiya (11.05 a.m. by the Dadar-Guwahati Express), I reach Guwahati at 12.30 p.m. and I'm trying to find out if there is a bus connection an hour or so after that.

steven_ber

Unless there has been a change of timing of the Samastipur Tezpur Express, it departs Rangiya at 15:00 and gets to Rangapara at 20:15 and Tezpur at 21:45.

The timing is convenient; you should expect the Dadar-Guwahati Express to be about 2 - 4 hours late.

I can only tell you what I was told about a train similar to the Dadar-Guwahati Express, "it's a bad train, it goes through Bihar during the day"

I was told the same about the Bramaputra Mail; typically, I ignored the warning, when the things I was warned about started happening, I took notice of the other things I'd been told.

You will find that lots of extra people come into your carriage (whatever class you're travelling in), they will squeeze in anywhere they can, make sure all your stuff is locked away and your luggage is locked onto the chain under the seats, If you have an upper berth, use it, you should be OK if you have a side berth as only one person can sit in your seat (you), but don’t get up, whatever you do, don’t argue with these people.

All that said, you should be perfectly safe.

Sorry, I know nothing about buses in Assam.

Maysun

I know, I'm hearing all kinds of awful things about passing through Bihar.

So to be on the safe side, what about the Gitanjali Express to Howrah? One other person I asked said it was a good train - do you know anything? It takes just three short stops through Bihar - Rourkela, Chakradharpur, and Tatanagar Jn.

Reaches Howrah at 2.15 p.m. and then there is a train - the Kamrup Express - to Guwahati at 5.35 p.m. - reaches the next day at 6.00 p.m.

steven_ber

I wouldn't change the train, it is well timed, even if it's late, it will get there, just try to get a side berth.

I normally add 10% to the journey time when considering a connecting train, the Gitanjali Express takes 32 hours, it could be close, though I've heard that this is the best & most reliable train between Mumbai and Calcutta.

The carriages on the Kamrup Express, I've heard, are not looked after very well.

ddutta

Gitanjali Express is no doubt a good & popular train between Mumbai - Kolkata . Again Kamrup - Dibrugarh is also ok. But the problem is ,if Gitanjali is late by 3 hours you will be in trouble. If you are taking the risk for Kamrup then why not for Saraighat (15.50 Dep ) ? Saraighat is much better than Kamrup & you will reach Guwahati at 09.45 (next day) instead of 18.00 hrs by Kamrup.( again if it is late you have to stay at Guwahati ) The safest will be to avail Kanchanjunga on the next morning at 06.25 hrs .Arrives Guwahati at 04.00 hrs (next day). You can safely get bus from Guwahati & reach Bomdila (342 km) same day. These private agencies run regular long distance bus service in NE from Guwahati & popular with the local people. Can contact for timing & schedule.
1)Rhino Travels
M.L. Nehru Road, Panbazar
Guwahati - 781 001
Ph:+91-361-540061/540062
Fax:+91-361-547025

2)Blue Hills Travels
G.S. Road, Paltan Bazar
Guwahati - 781 001, Assam, India
Ph:+91-361-601490/547911
Fax:+91-361-524877

3)Network Travels
G.S. Road, Paltan bazar
Guwahati 781001, Assam, India
Ph:+91-361-520719/8, 522007
Fax:+91-361-522105

ddutta

Some more sites for NE .
http://assamgovt.nic.in/touressen.htm
http://www.assamtourism.org/
assampolice.com/

ddutta

For NE Region
http://databank.nedfi.com/

ddutta

One more suggestion ; (can think of it )

Mumbai to Delhi by Rajdhani Exp, (runs daily)
2951 Mumbai Central New Delhi Rajdhani Express 16:55 (Dep) 09:55(Arr) OR
2953 Mumbai Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express 17:40(dep) 10:55 (Arr)
Delhi to Guwahati by Rajdhani Exp.
2424 New Delhi Guwahati Rajdhani Express 14:00 (Dep) 17:00 (Arr) Tue,Wed,Sat
Your journey time will be more or less same but will be more comfortable & safe.

steven_ber

ddutta, you beat me to it.

The 2 Rajdhani's would complete the journey from Mumbai to Guwahati in 47.5 hours (if you took 2953)

Dadar - Guwahati express takes 52.5 hours.

In 2-tier air conditioned class the Dadar - Guwahati express would cost Rs 2447

The 2 Rajdhani's would cost Rs 5020, HOWEVER, a 2-day Indrail pass would only cost Rs 3255 ($ = 46.5) and would cover the whole journey. (as long as you used 2953 from Mumbai to Delhi)

An extra Rs 800 for the luxury of the Rajdhani's, good timings and a saving of 5 hours are a nice bonus, got to be worth it.

The Rajdhani from Delhi to Guwahati runs 5 days a week (not Sundays or Wednesdays I think).

Maysun

ddutta, I really appreciate those addresses.

I've finally decided to take the Gitanjali - I've been to Delhi several times, but I haven't seen the Rabindra Setu even once.

Anyway, so if I come across anything worth sharing on this trip, I'll definitely post it here.

You guys have been really helpful. Thanks so much again.