Ranaghat Bridge near Pasighat: Mesmerizing View of the Brahmaputra River

If you are on a road trip through the state of Arunachal Pradesh, you are bound to fall in love with its mighty rivers, long bridges and endless scenic panorama. While Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with multiple rivers, the one that takes the cake is its largest. Known locally as the Siang or the Brahmaputra, all rivers of Arunachal Pradesh somehow find their way to the Brahmaputra and make it swell to such an extent that it feels like an ocean during the monsoon season. This bridge, just outside of Pasighat is over the gorgeous Brahmaputra river and is a fabulous pit stop if you are traveling towards Roing, Anini, Tezu or Kaho.



The beauty of this bridge begins way before you cross the actual bridge itself. If you are traveling from Aalo, the Siang river will be following you on your left. At a certain point, the road snakes down and you can see the entire flood plains of the Brahmaputra river and if you look closer, you can see the Ranaghat bridge as well. Here, the view is of tall mountains and dense greenery giving way to large flood plains. And when you are on the bridge, you can see the sheer width and size of the river. Even during the dry season, the river wore a menacing look. I am sure it would be a sight to behold during the monsoon season when it carries all the floodwaters from the mountains.



If you stand on the bridge and look around, you will see the Himalayan mountains to the north and the east providing a beautiful background to this wide greyish river. To the south and next to the river bank is a pretty little walking path that is ideal for those lazy evening walks by the river. Here, you can enjoy one of the many local snacks while admiring the beauty of the Brahmaputra. It is a great location for both early morning and late evening picnics by the riverside. Overall, the Ranaghat bridge near Pasighat is a lovely pit stop on your Arunachal Pradesh road trip. Whether you spend a lot of time here or you simply cross the river and continue the rest of your journey, it is bound to leave an impact on you. Such is the charm of the Ranaghat bridge.



Other popular tourist attractions of Arunachal Pradesh:

1) The world of rhododendrons between Mechuka and Lamang

2) Lamang: Unknown snow covered paradise of India

3) Kaho: The first village of India

4) Mechuka: That gorgeous Himalayan hill station no one knows about

5) Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary: Switzerland of India

6) Anini: Offbeat stunning hill station of Arunachal Pradesh

7) The rich mountain culture and nature of Western Arunachal Pradesh

8) Sela Pass: A high altitude Himalayan wonderland

9) India’s Last Cafe: Gorgeous pit stop enroute Lamang, Arunachal Pradesh

10) Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary: Birdwatcher’s paradise in the Himalayas

11) Tongpen La View point: A Himalayan vista

12) Tawang: India’s true shangri-la

13) The serene and majestic Tawang Gompa

14) Dirang: Arunachal Pradesh’s hidden magical world

15) Sangetsar Lake: Abundance of Himalayan vistas

16) Tenga Valley: Tucked amidst the Eastern Himalayas

17) Jung Falls: A sensational setting

18) Penga Teng Tso: A high altitude Himalayan lake

19) Ugyenling Monastery: Birth place of the 6th Dalai Lama

20) Sangti Valley: A valley in heaven

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Dhondup Homestay: Traditional Memba Tribal Home in Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh

Are you planning a trip to the offbeat hill station of Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh with its gorgeous valleys, snow capped mountains, hanging wooden bridges, lush forests and beautiful waterfalls? If yes, you might be looking for a good place to stay here. Like most of Central and Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, the best place to stay would be at local homestays that offer you a beautiful mix of local culture, good food and great hospitality.

During my visit to Mechuka, I stayed at the Dhondup homestay, a traditional Memba tribal home that is located in a residential locality, but real close to the town centre. I stayed here for 3 days and 3 nights and this review is based on my recent experience of staying with them.



1) Dhondup homestay is the home of Mr. Philley and his family who follow the Buddhist religion and belong to the Memba tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a gorgeous wooden home with a traditional open kitchen where everyone sits around the fire for warmth. The thing that you will notice as soon as you enter the homestay are its smiling owners who are always trying to help you and make your stay comfortable. Be it stay, food or local sightseeing, Mr. Philley and his lovely family will go all the way to make your Mechuka holiday memorable.

2) Dhondup homestay has a total of 8 rooms, which can accommodate 16 to 24 people. Each room comes with 2 beds, an attached bathroom with western toilet and hot water geyser. Backup power is also available here. The rooms costs INR 2000. Food costs are extra.

3) They also have a dormitory and a common toilet for the drivers on a chargeable basis. Typical charge is INR 500 per driver.

4) The lady of the house cooks delicious local and Indian food. They are happy to cater to any of your specific dietary or taste requirements if the raw materials can be procured from the local market. Food needs to be ordered in advance so that they have the time to buy the groceries. Dining at Dhondup homestay is a very pleasurable experience as all the people including the homestay’s family eat together and share stories and interesting local information.



5) Mr. Philley, who used to be a teacher before he set up the homestay is very helpful when it comes to getting necessary permits and planning your sightseeing itinerary. In fact, when I was there, he helped me and the other groups with getting permits for Lamang, even though the office was closed due to it being a Sunday. He also helped us understand the lay of the land and all the important tourist attractions, timings, places to eat, etc.

6) The homestay is located very close to the town centre. All the shops are within walking distance from the homestay and a petrol bunk is just 400 metres from the property. A Buddhist monastery is located just behind the homestay and can be visited whenever you crave for a short walk.

To make your bookings at Dhondup Homestay, you can contact Mr. R.D.Philley at +91 94029 97347.

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Cab Services for your Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya Holiday

Are you planning a holiday to North East India, especially the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya? Are you planning on covering multiple places during your trip? If yes, then you most probably have a road trip on your mind. Train and flight connectivity in the North East of India is fairly limited and you have to reach most destinations by road. Either, you can drive or ride on your own or hire a comfortable car for your holiday. This article is for you in case you are looking at hiring a comfortable cab/taxi/car for your holiday to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya.



One of my favourite drivers to explore North East India is Madan Basnat. I have been availing his cab services for the last 15 years. He owns a one year old Innova Crysta (with a Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya permit) and a white board Mahindra Bolero that can be used to explore the other parts of North East India. I have traveled in both these vehicles, though on my most recent trip this March, I traveled in his new Innova Crysta for two weeks while exploring Central and Eastern Arunachal Pradesh.



Madan Basnat is a native of Tezpur in Assam. He is of Nepali origin and has spent most of his life driving the mountain roads of North East India. When he started his career, he drove trucks and then moved to driving for the Indian army and border police. For the past two decades, he has been driving his guests in his own vehicle. As he is well traveled in the region, he is well versed with the route, the languages, the different tourist attractions, the challenges that come with the terrain and the local permit requirements.



Some of the highlights of traveling with Madan Basnat:

1) His Innova car is just one year old and is in excellent road worthy condition.

2) Madan is a capable, reliable and able driver.

3) In the North East, people usually drive between 5 AM and 6 PM. Night driving is generally avoided. So, please try not to push the driver to drive during the night. One or two days might be fine. But, in such challenging terrain, the driver needs to remain fresh and alert at all times.

4) Madan is a friendly chap and is extremely accommodating with the itinerary, pit stops, etc. He may have some ideas to share on his own from time to time.

5) If you are planning to rough it out on your own in your tent or sleeping bag for a few nights, do let Madan know well in advance so that he can carry his bedding and sleeping bag with him and rough it out along with you.

6) Madan offers full pick-up and drop service from your airport or railway station.

7) He manages a small basic property near Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam. If you wish, you can ask him to arrange for accommodation at his place for a night or two.

8) Madan is a great person to have a conversation with while you are on the road or when you are at the hotel. He has lots of stories to share.



His pricing is fairly simple: INR 5500 per day per 250 kms drive for the Innova car. Extra kilometres, if any to be charged separately or you can fill the fuel for that. Accommodation and food, if not given free by the hotel where you are staying, you will have to pay the bills. Typically, in popular tourist circuits, drivers are given free accommodation and food by the hotel because they bring tourists to the establishment. However, this doesn’t apply to remote corners of the North East, say central and eastern Arunachal Pradesh for example, where you have to pay for the driver accommodation and food in addition to your accommodation and food. If you don’t want the headache of paying separate bills, he charges an all inclusive rate of INR 7000 per day per 250 kms of driving. For the Bolero car, he might charge a lower fee. It is best to call him and figure out the latest prices.

During my trip to Aalo, Mechuka, Lamang, Roing, Anini, Tezu, Namsai & Kaho in Arunachal Pradesh and Guwahati & Dibrugarh in Assam, I paid him INR 5500 per day and I took care of all his food and accommodation expenses. He stayed and ate with us during the entire trip just like one of us. Madan is like a travel friend and is a great person to explore North East India with.



To contact Madan Basnat and to book your road trip, you can call him at +91 94018 38475 or at +91 84029 56554 (also his whatsapp number). You can mention my name (Sankara) or my blog name (Be on the road) to get royal treatment on your road trip to Arunachal pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya. I recommend Madan with multiple thumbs up.

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The World of Rhododendrons between Mechuka and Lamang: A Photo Story of Exotic Blooms

It is a riot of colours during the spring months. The Eastern Himalayas are decked up in full colour. I am talking about rhododendrons that burst out in colourful blooms during the spring months in the Himalayan forests. Rhododendrons can be spotted at many places in India – Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. But, this is one of the lesser known locations where the forest is untouched and where there are hardly any crowds.

This location is between Mechuka and Lamang in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. And if you visit here during the spring months of March and April, you will see the entire landscape dotted with these colourful rhododendron flowers. I got a chance to see these exotic blooms up close a few months back when I visited Eastern Arunachal Pradesh (mainly the area of Mechuka, Anini and Kaho). A short drive from the gorgeous Mechuka valley to the unknown snow covered paradise of India called Lamang will present many sightings of these fabulous looking flowers. Some of them are located right next to the roads, while others are the foreground of valleys and waterfalls. Some of them are also located amidst snow. And that too in multiple colours along with other exotic flora. This photo story of exotic blooms aims to showcase this world of rhododendrons between Mechuka and Lamang to you and I hope it entices you to visit this destination next spring for your own offbeat rhododendron experience.

Above photo: This gorgeous scene of red rhododendron flowers, pink leaves fresh ferns and an overall lush atmosphere was spotted right by the main road that leads from Mechuka to Lamang.



Above photo: I spotted these pink rhododendron flowers just at the snow point a few kilometers below Lamang. The snow and the rhododendron flowers offer a great combination and are a treat for the eyes.



Above photo: Another rhododendron shot amidst beautiful nature. This shot of pink rhododendron flowers with waterfalls, misty forests and pine trees in the background was seen very close to India’s last cafe.



Above photo: Little different shade of pink seen here. Rhododendron flowers with their droopy leaves add a lot of colour to the landscape during the spring months.



Above photo: Here, you can see these flowers amidst dense greenery and moss covered branches. These pinks against a green background make for fantastic viewing.



Above photo: These are not rhododendron flowers, but these white flowers are exotic too and you can see them blooming at many places between Mechuka and Lamang during spring.



Above photo: This is a close-up of the bright red rhododendron flowers that were blooming very close to the highway connecting Mechuka with Lamang.



Above photo: The white rhododendron flowers are as equally magnificent as the red and pink ones.I spotted these very close to the Hanuman point between Mechuka and Lamang.



Above photo: A rich mixture of red rhododendron flowers, colourful leaves and pretty ferns all in one frame. You will see many such spectacles on your drive from Mechuka to Lamang.



Above photo: Here is a close-up of the white rhododenron flowers that were blooming very close to Hanuman point on the Mechuka – Lamang highway.



Above photo: These red rhododendron flowers were seen blooming in abundance on the walking path at Gurudwara Shri Tapo Ashtan Sahib. This Gurudwara is located between Mechuka and Lamang and closer to Mechuka.



Above photo: These bright red rhododendron flowers against the dark green background are a sight for sore eyes. I spotted these while heading to eat at the langar of Gurudwara Shri Tapo Ashtan Sahib between Mechuka and Lamang.



Above photo: These rhododendron flowers are so pretty that they will catch your attention at many places between Mechuka and Lamang and will entice you to stop your vehicle and take some pictures.



Above photo: While photographing rhododendron flowers, I spotted these small white exotic flowers. These tiny flowers were absolutely stunning and showed me that the flora here is truly diverse and special.



Above photo: The Mechuka to Lamang forest stretch is not only famous for rhododendron flowers, but also equally famous for its rich and diverse exotic flora. A case in point is this amazing plant that was growing on the rocks by the main highway.



Above photo: Another close-up of the white rhododendron flowers. They are slightly smaller in size when compared to the red rhododendrons, but they bloom in bunches making for a flowery treat.

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India’s Last Cafe: Gorgeous Pit Stop enroute Lamang, Arunachal Pradesh

If you are headed towards Arunachal Pradesh’s Lamang – the unknown snow covered paradise of India, you should definitely know about this gorgeous pit stop. Referred to as India’s last cafe, this eatery joint is the last place to find something to eat and drink before you head deeper into the army camps and into Lamang, the last place where civilians are allowed and before the actual line of control on the Indo – China border.



Located by the Jang Bahadur waterfall amidst the pine forests and surrounded by the tall mountains of the Himalayas, this last cafe of India offers the perfect environment for a hot cup of coffee/tea/chocolate milk with some cookies and/or cake. First, the cool weather makes you ache for something warm and sweet and what better than a hot cup of mocha and some fresh cake to satiate this hunger.



Second, India’s last cafe offers not just a stunning view of pristine nature, but it also allows you to indulge in its many sounds. During the rainy and the summer seasons, you can hear the waterfall thundering in front of you while you sip on your drink and drown away all your worries. And during the winter season when the water flow reduces, you can hear the many birds chirping in the forest.



This place is a hot favourite with visitors for taking selfies and photographs. Nature lovers and bird watchers can keep refilling their coffee cups and just immerse themselves in nature’s divine bounty. And people who are simply hungry can indulge in a quick snack while enjoying the picturesque location.



However, if the light food and beverages served here are not enough for you, I would recommend that you head down to the Gurudwara Shri Tapo Ashtan Sahib for some hearty meals served at their langar. Even this place enjoys a fabulous location and is surrounded by many flowering trees too. Both these places are fantastic locations to grab a bite on your return road trip from Mechuka to Lamang. I really enjoyed both these places personally and both of them offer the perfect environment to walk and burn off all those calories that you will end up indulging in at these places.

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