Covering 2500 km through picturesque Arunanchal Pradesh, Trans Arunachal Drive 2022 comes to pleasant end

TAWANG: The second edition of the 12-day Trans Arunachal Drive was flagged in at Tawang recently by the state Chief Minister Pema Khandu to mark the end of an exhilarating 2,500 km journey that saw a convoy of 30-plus vehicles weave its way through dense evergreen forests, river valleys and mountainous and glacial terrain – all of which form part of this world biodiversity heritage site.

Commencing from the historically significant Pangsau Pass, which during the Second World War played a crucial role in the allied forces’ fight against the advancing Japanese army, the convoy wound its way over Arunachal Pradesh’s silken-smooth roads to stop at yet-unseen villages, to be greeted by inhabitants who themselves were meeting people from the outside for the very first time.

The participants were treated to the village’s unique cuisine, even as they immersed themselves in the local culture by visiting “dukaans”, witnessing their dances and in many instances, staying overnight at the home of the village people. Acknowledging the contributions of these one-of-a-kind experiences to the burgeoning tourism of the state, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, said, “I must congratulate the organisers and the entire team, including the Director of Tourism. The model you all adopted this time — of promoting homestays — this is a model that you should all continue with. Promoting homestays is of utmost importance — it is what will lead to positive changes in rural tourism.”

And truly, this move was a conscious one on the part of key players who have gained insight from the first edition of the drive and strive to make the experience increasingly meaningful each year. Abu Tayeng, Director, Tourism Department, said, “We started our first edition in April 2021 and have learnt to do better in this edition. Focused on exploring ways in which we could let participants visit homes in places like Mechuka, Rima and Bomjir, we started with homestays. This process enabled us to help the local economy, which is what our intent is — to boost the local economy.”

The convoy stopped at Rima Village, home of Buddhist Kathina Civara Dana cum Achariya Kanto Poi Festival; Bomjir along the mighty river Dibang and Kambu, one of the oldest villages under 27 Liromoba Assembly ST Constituency, now being developed by the government as a model village; the picturesque hamlet of Mechuka in West Siang District, just 29 km from Indo-Tibet border and Arunachal’s oldest town, Pasighat, land of the mighty Siang and indigenous hanging bridges; Pakke Kesang, on to Dirang along the Meyong river banks; and finally, Tawang, site of the Gudpi and Chong-Chugmi ranges, Tawang Chu River and numerous glacial lakes.

The 12-day journey was an eye-opener to the enormous challenges and efforts that go into linking many of the state’s isolated villages and tribes, like the Yobin and Lisu tribes that live off the Namdapha National Park, to the rest of the country through road links. It is the belief of the government that the establishment of such road links will act as a catalyst for Arunachal Pradesh’s tourism economy and bring in the attendant infrastructural benefits to the state’s inhabitants.

In addition, Pema Khandu addressed the role played by the participants who create digital links with the rest of the world, and said, “Word about Arunachal has spread exponentially because of electronics and digitalisation, and I am very hopeful that this time around, too, you will all go home and write about your own experiences in Arunachal and add to the efforts that have brought a “quantum increase” in the tourism of our state every year.”

Organised under the auspices of the Department of Tourism as part of the “DEKHO APNA DESH, DEKHO APNA PRADESH” and sponsored by Mahindra Adventure and Kogo Navigations, the Drive introduced participants to not just Arunachal Pradesh’s remarkable range of flora and fauna, but also to its numerous tribes and sub-tribes, their unique culture and ways of living. It showcased the impressive infrastructural developments in the state and the extraordinary potential it holds as a tourism hub.

Not to mention how Arunachal Pradesh is dotted with religious sites of historical significance. “Apart from the Parsurampur Kund, we have the tallest, naturally-formed Shivling in the entire world, which you can find in Ziro. And then, we obviously have the world-famous monastery in Tawang. For those who keep up with the news, you may have read about the discovery of an ancient settlement that was excavated a few days ago in the Itanagar area, in a district called Papum Pare,” Pema Khandu mentioned in his speech.

Considered to be one of the eighteen “biodiversity hotspots” in the world, Arunachal Pradesh is home to over 5000 species of flowering plants, including an astounding 500 varieties of orchids. With its extraordinary variety of bird species, it also shelters tigers, leopards, the clouded leopard, snow leopard as also the rare Golden Cat and Marbled Cat.

The first TRANS ARUNACHAL DRIVE in 2021 traversed 2500 km from Namsai in the East to Tawang in the West and led to a spurt in road trips along the Trans Arunachal Highway. “This is the second edition (of the Trans Arunachal Drive) and I am overwhelmed by the support from our state government and participants. Arunachal Pradesh tourism advisor, Laisam Simai, mentioned that the event was possible due to the support and encouragement of the Chief Minister. “You have been our pillar of support in tourism and that enabled us to go ahead with the event,” he said. He also mentioned how the flag off was started at Pangsau Pass on a different energy level and how the mood changed as it was flagged in, saying “the drive went through different weather conditions and experienced different cultures of the people. It truly showcases what we have in our state.” “I cannot think of a better way than a drive through our state,” seconded Lhakpa Tsering, one of the main organisers of the event, expressing confidence that the participants had had a “very holistic experience” of Arunachal Pradesh, given that every detail of the drive has been carefully planned.

After all, an event of such a massive scale that the organisers say “covered 3,000-odd km” spanning across “13 districts in AP 4 districts in Assam” required meticulous plans down to the finest details. With “108 guests from across the country plus America and Cuba” traversing in 40 vehicles, lodging in 750 plus rooms, and guzzling down 4,500 cups of chai and an immeasurable amount of Apong/Chhang (locally-brewed beer), there was certainly more than what meets the eye. Among the many challenges, Lhakpa Tsering mentions “dysentery and diarrhoea due to over hogging of local food” and “frayed tempers”, hinting at the hard work he put in that eventually cost him a weight loss of 5 kgs.
And yet, Lhakpa Tsering ends with great hope and determination.

“This will be an annual event and we hope to be able to do it at a greater scale and with as much passion each year,” he said.