Ep 1 Guwahati to Shergaon to Bomdila | Tawang Tour, Arunachal Pradesh, North East India

Summary

Join Harish Bali as he embarks on an unforgettable 12-day Tawang Circuit tour in Arunachal Pradesh, starting from Guwahati. The journey unfolds through scenic locations like Bomdila, Dirang, and Kalaktang, with mesmerizing cloud-covered landscapes, serene rivers, and waterfalls. Along the way, Harish shares personal highlights, such as his top 5 visit to Lubrang Top, a rasgulla tasting in Orang, and stops at local eateries for chowmein and thukpa. Experience the dynamic changes in weather, culture, and views, making this tour a must-watch for travelers seeking adventure and natural beauty.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The journey is a 12-day tour of the Tawang Circuit in Arunachal Pradesh, starting from Guwahati.
• ⛰️ The route taken includes stops in Bomdila, Dirang, and Tawang, with scenic views of clouds and mountains.
• 🏞️ Lubrang Top, accessible via Dirang, is one of the top experiences of the journey, offering unforgettable views.
• 🌧️ The group encounters changing weather, with rain and mist enhancing the beauty of the landscape.
• 🍽️ The travelers experience local cuisine, including rasgullas in Orang and a flavorful chowmein during a roadside stop.
• 🌉 A detour to Kalaktang reveals a beautiful bridge, a calm river, moving clouds, and Buddhist flags that add charm to the scenery.
• 🏞️ They stop at a waterfall near Kalaktang, impressed by the water current and scenic beauty.
• 🍜 In Shergaon, they enjoy a simple, flavorful thukpa and discover local homestays and guesthouses.
• 📜 Travelers must obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) before entering Arunachal Pradesh, either online or at checkpoints like Balemu.
• 🗺️ The narrator suggests an alternate route via Bhairabkund for future trips to see the Bhutan border and improve the experience.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on a travel journey through the Tawang Circuit in Arunachal Pradesh, starting from Guwahati and covering places like Bomdila, Dirang, and Tawang, among others.

What is the starting point of the Tawang Circuit tour?

The starting point of the Tawang Circuit tour is Guwahati, which is known as the 'Gateway to North-East India'.

Which places were covered in the first two days of the tour?

On the first day, they traveled from Guwahati to Bomdila, where they spent the night. On the second day, they went to Dirang, where they stayed for two nights.

What was the significance of the stop at Lubrang Top?

The visit to Lubrang Top was one of the top 5 experiences of the tour for the traveler. It offered beautiful scenic views and was accessible via Dirang.

What are some food highlights mentioned during the journey?

Some food highlights include rasgulla at Orang, chowmein during a stop on the way to Tawang, and thukpa and momos at an eatery named Food Hut in Shergaon.

What information is shared about obtaining an ILP for Arunachal Pradesh?

An ILP (Inner Line Permit) is required to enter Arunachal Pradesh. It can be applied for online or offline. The traveler received the ILP online the same evening after applying, for a cost of Rs. 100 per person.

What are some notable locations visited during the journey?

Notable locations include the SaraiGhat bridge in Guwahati, Bomdila, Dirang, Lubrang Top, Tawang, Kalaktang, and Shergaon. The traveler also mentioned a missed opportunity to visit Bhairabkund, near the Bhutan border.

What was the traveler's experience with the rasgulla in Orang?

The traveler found the rasgulla in Orang to be average and expressed a slight regret for choosing the Orang route over the Bhairabkund route, which would have allowed them to see the Bhutan border.

What advice does the traveler give for planning a trip on the Tawang Circuit?

The traveler advises starting early, ideally at 5 AM from Guwahati, to reach Shergaon by 1 PM for lunch and to explore the town for 3-4 hours. They recommend considering the Rowta and Bhairabkund route instead of Orang.

What were the overall impressions of the places visited during the journey?

The traveler appreciated the natural beauty of the places visited, including the scenic views from Lubrang Top, the calm rivers, and the atmosphere in Kalaktang and Shergaon. The weather, food, and local hospitality added to the positive experience.

Outlines

00:00

🌄 Exciting Start to the Tawang Circuit Adventure

In this opening segment, Harish Bali expresses his excitement about the Tawang Circuit tour, starting in Guwahati, Assam, and making several stops, including Bomdila and Dirang. The journey promises scenic views, with Arunachal Pradesh's unique cloud formations being a highlight. Harish shares the route details, including choosing the Orang route for its famous rasgulla. Along the way, he visits small shops, enjoys rasgulla with his companion Ajay, and remarks on the ever-changing weather, building excitement for the adventures ahead.

05:02

🚧 Navigating Permits and Scenic Routes to Balemu

The second part of the journey focuses on logistics and the importance of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) required to enter Arunachal Pradesh. Harish explains how they applied for their ILP online, making the process smooth. The group passes through checkpoints like Balemu, where they show their ILPs, and make stops at scenic locations. He describes their stop for lunch and a desire to walk along the road due to the mesmerizing mountain views, but acknowledges practical time constraints. The clouds and peaceful scenery add to the charm of this leg of the journey.

10:04

🌧️ Waterfalls, Rivers, and a Small Town Experience

In Kalaktang, Harish explores a picturesque river, a bridge adorned with flags, and a nearby waterfall, marveling at the beauty of the area despite being unable to get too close to the waterfall. He enjoys the tranquil atmosphere of the river and the fast-moving water. Though Kalaktang is a small town, Harish suggests spending some time there for lunch or sightseeing. They continue the journey to Shergaon, where they find an eatery and sample the local dish, thukpa. Harish highlights the natural beauty of the region and his experiences interacting with the locals.

15:04

🍴 Grilled Sandwich Stop and Reflections on the Route

Harish reflects on their decision to take the Orang route instead of the Bhairabkund route, which would have allowed them to visit the Bhutan border. He talks about his average experience with the rasgulla but remains positive about the journey. He suggests starting earlier and stopping for breakfast at Mangaldoi or a nice restaurant they passed, Khar Khua. They enjoy a relaxed stop with a grilled sandwich at the restaurant before continuing to Shergaon for more exploration. Harish appreciates the natural beauty and advises spending 3-4 hours exploring Shergaon before heading to Bomdila.

Keywords

💡Tawang Circuit

The Tawang Circuit refers to a popular travel route in Arunachal Pradesh, India, that includes key destinations like Bomdila, Dirang, and Tawang. This journey showcases the scenic beauty and diverse culture of the northeastern region. In the video, the Tawang Circuit is the main theme of the tour, which spans 12 days and covers various experiences, including stays at different towns and scenic stops.

💡Bomdila

Bomdila is a town in Arunachal Pradesh, serving as the first overnight stop on the Tawang Circuit tour. It is known for its beautiful landscapes and is located on the way to Tawang. In the video, the narrator mentions staying in Bomdila on the first night, and it is described as an important stop along the journey.

💡Dirang

Dirang is a small town in Arunachal Pradesh, visited during the Tawang Circuit tour. It is highlighted as a two-night stay destination in the video, and the narrator reflects on his visit to Lubrang Top from Dirang, marking it as one of his top five experiences. Dirang serves as a gateway to higher-altitude regions and provides a cultural and scenic transition on the journey.

💡Lubrang Top

Lubrang Top is a scenic viewpoint near Dirang that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and clouds. The narrator considers this location one of his top five experiences on the Tawang Circuit tour, emphasizing its beauty and the unique atmosphere it offers. This stop is noted for the dramatic change in scenery and the close interaction with nature.

💡Inner Line Permit (ILP)

The Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a travel document required for Indian citizens to enter protected areas like Arunachal Pradesh. It ensures controlled travel and protects the local indigenous cultures. In the video, the narrator explains that the ILP was acquired online before the journey and was shown at the Balemu check-post, a critical process for legal entry into the region.

💡Balemu

Balemu is a small town located near the border of Arunachal Pradesh, serving as an entry point into the state. In the video, Balemu is where the travelers show their Inner Line Permit at the check-post before continuing their journey. The area marks the boundary between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, making it a significant milestone on the tour.

💡Kalaktang

Kalaktang is a town in Arunachal Pradesh, described in the video as a scenic stop on the Tawang Circuit tour. The narrator mentions a bridge in Kalaktang, with beautiful views of slow-moving clouds and a river. This detour from the main road offers a serene atmosphere and showcases the natural beauty of the region, making it a memorable part of the journey.

💡Shergaon

Shergaon is a small town in Arunachal Pradesh, known for its natural beauty and local homestays. In the video, the narrator stops here to eat thukpa, a traditional dish, and mentions exploring the area. Shergaon is portrayed as a peaceful and scenic place, with the option for tourists to stay in homestays and guest houses while exploring the surroundings.

💡Thukpa

Thukpa is a Tibetan noodle soup, commonly eaten in regions like Arunachal Pradesh. The narrator enjoys a simple yet flavorful bowl of vegetarian thukpa in Shergaon during the tour, highlighting its local significance as a comforting meal in the cold weather. The dish becomes a memorable part of the cultural and culinary experience of the journey.

💡Rasgulla

Rasgulla is a popular Indian sweet made of soft, spongy cheese balls soaked in syrup. In the video, the narrator mentions stopping in Orang, a place known for its rasgulla. However, after tasting it, he finds the rasgulla 'average,' yet this experience highlights the importance of food in the travel narrative. Orang’s association with rasgulla adds a local flavor to the journey.

Highlights

The journey covered 7 KM more since the last stop, showing the excitement of exploration.

The tour of Arunachal Pradesh began in Guwahati and included stops at Bomdila, Dirang, and Tawang.

Visit to Lubrang Top was highlighted as one of the top 5 experiences of the tour.

The group spent 3 nights in Tawang and completed the whole journey in 12 days.

The host emphasized the beauty of the clouds and mountains, particularly between Dirang and Tawang.

The tour is set to contain at least 9-10 episodes, reflecting the depth of exploration.

The excitement of crossing the boundary from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh at Balemu was significant.

The travelers took the Orang route specifically to try the famous rasgulla of the region.

The process of obtaining an Inner Line Permit (ILP) was explained, with tips on how to apply online or offline.

A brief stop at Kalaktang allowed the group to appreciate the slow-moving clouds and calm river views.

The cold weather and scenic mountain views were enhanced by enjoying piping hot chowmein at a roadside eatery.

The host reflected on how walking along the scenic route could extend the trip from 12 to 22 days, but acknowledged time constraints.

A visit to Shergaon led to a taste of local food like thukpa and momos, highlighting the simple yet flavorful cuisine.

The host regretted missing the Bhutan border route but appreciated the journey's detour to try regional rasgulla.

Shergaon was described as a place of natural beauty worth exploring, and a key stop before reaching Bomdila.

Transcripts

I am unable to hold my excitement.

We have travelled 7 KM more since our last stop.

Ohhoo!

Unimaginable!

If you search on Google about the clouds of Arunachal Pradesh...

...I am sure you won't be able to get this scenery.

We began our Tawang Circuit tour of Arunachal Pradesh tour with Guwahati.

We spent the first night in Bomdila.

From there, we went to Dirang, where we stayed for two nights.

My visit to Lubrang Top is one of my top 5 experiences of this tour.

The way to Lubrang Top is via Dirang.

Anyways, you will see all that in the coming episodes.

From Dirang, we went on to Tawang.

On our way from Dirang to Tawang, I could see...

...the whole dynamics of the journey changing.

The excitment rose multi-fold during this journey.

We spent 3 nights in Tawang.

We completed this whole journey in 12 days.

This whole journey will contain, at least, 9-10 episodes.

Namaskar friends! Welcome to Visa2explore!

This is your host, Harish Bali.

We are in Guwahati right now.

Guwahati is also known as the "Gateway to North-east India."

We are standing on top of SaraiGhat bridge.

On this side, you can see the Brahmaputra river.

We are able to see a beautiful river view from this place on the bridge.

It was raining just a little while ago.

Therefore, the weather is awesome!

We are touring in Tawang Circuit in Arunachal Pradesh.

We are planning to stay in Bomdila tonight.

There are two routes to Bombila.

One is to go there via Tezpur and Bhalukpong.

We are taking the second route, which passes through...

...Orang, Mazbat and Shergaon before reaching Bomdila.

This is our today's journely plan.

Let us begin this trip.

Let's go.

We are standing upon the Rowta Chowk.

If we go straight in this direction, see here,...

...we will reach the railway station after 1 to 1.5 KM.

You cannot travel beyond the railway station.

The road ends there.

If we go in this direction, we will reach Balemu via Bhairab Kund.

If we take a right turn from this Chowk, we will reach Balemu...

...via travelling through Orang and Mazbat.

So, we are standing at a point from where two different roads...

....start and take us to one destination, that is Balemu.

Arunachal Pradesh state boundary starts from Balemu.

We are in Assam right now.

We are in Udalguri district right now.

Right?

Look at the clouds above.

Though it isn't raining right now, but looking at the weather...

..it seems like it can rain anytime.

We are taking the Orang route because...

... we will get to eat rasgulla

We've heard that Orang is famous for its rasgulla.

Let's go!

We've reached Orang.

Here, we've found six sweet shops, where we can eat rasgulla.

So, we are standing outside one of these shops, Ruchika.

This is where we shall eat rasgulla.

I've been told that there was a man here who began selling rasgulla.

Though he has passed away but his rasgulla was really famous.

Gradually, other shops started selling rasgulla too.

Let us go inside the shop.

This is the famous rasgulla of Orang.

I have with me Ajay.

Ajay will accompany us on this journey from Guwahati...

...to Tawang and return.

Please eat!

Overall, I won't say whether it is too bad or too good.

It is okay!

Now, we shall go to Mazbat from here, how much 12 KM?

12 KM!

And further 25 KM to Balemu?

Balemu!

Great! Good!

If we hadn't come on this route and if we had taken the....

...route through Bhairabkunda, I could have shown you the gate.

Basically, that is the gate to Bhutan border.

In that area, you have Arunachal Pradesh on one side...

...Assam on the other and Bhutan on the third side.

But, since we took this route, we will have to take a U-turn to go there.

Therefore, we are going straight to Balemu.

We had received our ILP about 5 days before going to Arunachal.

You can apply for it both offline and online.

We applied online and received our ILP the same day in the evening.

That costs Rs 100 per person.

We paid online and by the evening, we saw the certificate on our screen.

This is Balemu check-post.

There is a barricade as you can see.

We've shown our ILP here and now we will continue further.

If you don't come with an ILP in advance, you can get it made here as well.

But that has risks like you have to come here within office timings and...

...it shouldn't be weekend.

It shouldn't be Saturday-Sunday.

So, it is always better to apply for your ILP online.

Let us go now.

Ajay bhai, shall we go?

We've just travelled 20 KM from the check-post.

Earlier, we had planned to have lunch at Kalaktang.

But then, we saw these 3-4 eateries on the way.

So, we've stopped here.

We've asked them to prepare chowmein for us.

The chowmein will get ready in 10-15 minutes.

Till then, let us walk around this place and...

...the mountains seem to be touching the clouds.

What a view!

Someone told me here that it has been raining...

... continuously for the past few days.

We were told we might receive rain further.

For the past 10 minutes, I've been walking slowly.

And carefully observing the clouds over these mountains.

It is a good experience.

You know what I feel?

Once we finish our lunch, I want to walk down this road.

I could spend 2-3 hours walking down the next 10-12 KM.

After that, we would get in the car and go on with our journey.

But looking at it practically, doing this would increase the duration...

...of our Tawang tour from 10-12 days to 20-22 days.

Let us go to the eatery and find out whether chowmein is ready or not.

The chowmein is ready.

Very good preparation.

The vinegar tastes good.

And the main thing is, it has lots of vegetables.

I am eating it piping hot, the weather is cold and...

...the environment is peaceful.

So, overall, a good package meal for us.

Good!

Now, we will finish our lunch and carry on.

If we come across another scenic view before Kalaktang,...

....we will stop there and show it to you.

We've reached Kalaktang.

Just as we reached, I saw a big gate.

It says "Welcome to Kalaktang."

About 2-2.5 KM into Kalaktang, we saw a small marketplace.

And the shops that were open were selling wine.

We came another 1.5 KM and reached this bridge.

Look at the river below.

The water flow isn't that fast but....

....it feels good looking at that from this bridge.

And all these flags on this bridge!

What a beauty!

And though we saw this scene earlier too, but here...

... I can see the same view more closely.

It looks so good, right!

And the difference here is that one can clearly see...

...the clouds moving across.

Clouds can be seen moving across slowly.

Super!

It is good that we came here.

Though we had to take a detour of 3-3.5 KM from the main road.

But still, worth it.

I will stay here for another 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy the weather!

And see the views more closely.

Then we will continue our journey.

We climbed down from the bridge to reach near the water.

And the view from here is so good!

Uff!

The water looked calmer from above.

But from here, the current is quite fast.

Whenever I come across a river, which flows through all these stones...

...I cannot resist getting into the water and sitting on....

...one of these stones.

Wouldn't it be lovely!

Kalaktang is a small town.

If you take the Bomdila route,...

...you can spend half an hour or 45 minutes here.

If you want, you can have lunch here.

There are a few eateries here.

That is a different thing that we didn't see any eatery open.

No problem!

Now, we shall leave here.

After travelling just a kilometer from the bridge....

....we came across this waterfall.

So, we stopped our car to go closer to the waterfall.

But, once we reached here, we saw that won't be possible.

Let me show you, there is no way you can go near the waterfall.

Alright!

But it still feels good standing here.

We aren't that far from the fall, just about 70-80 meters.

The monsoons begins in May month here.

It is still April but this waterfall has so much water.

I am sure, during the rainy season, this fall must be gushing.

There is a dam built up there.

...is the extra water from the reservoir.

Nice!

Good!

Let us leave here now.

We will try to have dinner before we reach Bomdila.

Most probably, we will do that in Shergaon.

Please come!

We've reached Shergaon, in an eatery.

Its name is Food Hut and you are the owner.

Before I came here, I was searching for homestays in Shergaon.

So, do you have homestays here?

Absolutely!

How many?

There are 3-4 homestays.

There are 3-4 homestays.

Yes!

And guest houses?

Yes!

Very good!

Okay, tell me, what can we get to eat here?

Thukpa, momos?

Everything is available!

Veg momos, veg thukpa, veg thali.

Veg momos, veg thukpa, veg thali.

So, we can get everything. Then please make one thukpa for us.

Sure!

Okay, thanks!

Okay, thanks!

After that, I will take more information from you.

The thukpa is ready.

Its texture looks great!

Onion, cabbage, carrot, coriander, noodles!

It is good!

The taste is simple because it has just salt and black papper in it.

Rest is all vegetables.

Good taste!

Looking at the quantity, I think this would be 80% of your dinner.

Let me also add some sichuan pepper too.

If I add too much of it, my tongue will go numb.

Good! It has improved the taste.

Adding a bit more of this chutney has overcome the original...

...simple taste of this thukpa.

But the taste became better after adding the Sichuan pepper.

Anyways, overall, I liked the taste and this place too.

Since it is dark outside, I cannot show you any surroundings.

But when we had reached here, it was still light and...

...one could notice the surroundings easily.

So, I am going to finish this and join you again in some time.

Either when we reach Shergaon.

Sorry! I am already in Shergaon.

When we reach either Rupa or Bomdila.

If I had to undertake this journey again, I would prefer to...

...go via Rowta and Bhairabkund to Balemu.

That would mean we could see the Bhutan border.

I had taken the Orang route because of the rasgulla.

I found the rasgulla quite average.

Therefore I feel, we should have gone via Bhairabkund.

Anyways, the second thing is we should have left Guwahati at 5 am.

We could have had our breakfast on the way at Mangaldoi.

Or at a decent restaurant called Khar Khua, where we stopped anyways.

I have ordered a grilled sandwich for myself for a light breakfast.

This is my grilled sandwich.

I liked this restaurant.

There is music in the air.

And nice seating space.

Your target must be to reach Shergaon by 1 pm.

Have lunch here and then explore Shergaon for the next 3-4 hours.

Bomdila is just 1 hour or around 1 hour and 15 min away from Shergaon.

A lot of people told me about the natural beauty of Shergaon.

Therefore, we spent some more time in Shergaon on our return journey.

We have reached Bomdila.