LOHIT VALLEY

LOHIT VALLEY


Getting there was half the fun. Soon after we crossed into Arunachal Pradesh the road merged into the tendrils of the Lohit river. Jeep-boat-jeep-boat-footmarch-boat-jeep. And suddenly we were in Tezu, a disarmingly quiet District HQ. It had all the naïve charms of a small town and none of its despairs. There was a painter of signs, a vendor of sweets and a well-run District Library where I found first editions of Argonauts of the Western Pacific, and News from Tartary. And no, I didn’t steal either one.


We took to the hills, chasing the Lohit up its valley until it slipped away across the border into China’s Yunnan province. On the way we passed a succession of dusty frontier towns that creaked and slumbered like dusty frontier towns. Hyuliang, Hawai, Walong, Kibithoo. Frankly, they sounded more alluring on the map. But the frontier had nothing to do with maps. We were on the edge of a more elusive universe, hidden high in the densely forested slopes that towered above the road and its settlements. At night we could see the flames of Jhuming opium cultivators flickering like beacons. It only took one night in a small Mishmi hamlet for me to get hooked. Maybe it was the timeless impermanence of thee bamboo longhouses. The gentle indifference of old folks on opium. Or waking to the clamour of hysterical cockerels and a day of different priorities. I’ve already been back twice.
-- Kai Friese



It is important to remember that even Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit to visit Arunachal Pradesh. You can obtain a permit at the Arunachal Bhawan in Delhi (011-23013915) or from Deputy Resident Commissioners in Kolkata, Shillong and Guwahati. See www.lohit.nic.in.
Getting there: The nearest airport and railhead is Dibrugarh, 160km away. What to do: For beauty and adventure, head to the unspoiled Mishimi Hills.

     
Lohit district
—  District of Arunachal Pradesh  —
Location of Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh
CountryIndia
StateArunachal Pradesh
HeadquartersTezu
Area
 • Total2,402 km2 (927 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total145,538[1] (2,011)
Demographics
 • Literacy69.9%[1]
 • Sex ratio901[1]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SEX and the Indian Temples

Image
SEX and the Indian Temples  We Indians even have a god for sex - Kama. So it is only natural that we have erotic sculptures on our temples. There have been many questions raised on the reason behind having erotic sculptures and sexual imagery in a place otherwise considered so 'holy' and 'pure'. There are a few theories floating about but the most popular one seems to be that in order to enter a place so pure, you need to relieve yourself of all your desires and lust. It is by acceptance of lust and desire in you that you can learn to control it. Furthermore, these sculptures are always on the outer walls of temples meaning that the humans need to leave their desires outside before stepping in. In many Indian manuscripts, sex was considered to be spiritual and not hedonistic. There are many such theories but the fact remains that these temples are known more for their erotic sculptures than the deities residing inside. 1. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh The most f
Read more

Different Folk Songs of Assam

Image
A ssam has a unique pride of place when it comes to traditional folk songs and music. Region-wise  however, these traditional songs and music have their own distinct styles and forms, and they differ in their rendition patterns, thanks to different cultures in different parts of the state. Yet, all these combine together to make the colourful composite Assamese culture. And, even as we march towards modernity, these very folk traditions reflect our cultural identity.  Historians claim that a distinctive culture of the conglomeration of Songs, Musical Instruments and Dance was observed in Assam during the 2nd century. The legend of Princess Usha of Sonitpur and her cohort  Chitralekha  also enlighten us on the Musical expertise of the Assamese women. History also claims that Assamese Music was admired even in China. Goalpariya songs are a major component of the Assamese folk traditions. With a distinctive style, these folk songs instantly touch the inner chords of listeners
Read more

Piya Se Naina:Amir Khusro - A journey of different moods

Image
Amir Khusro Khusro was born in 1253 A.D. in Patiyala, India, His paternal ancestors belonged to the nomadic tribe of Hazaras from Transoxiana, who crossed the river Indus and migrated to India in the thirteenth century. Khusro's father served the Sultan of Delhi, Shamsuddin Il-tutmish, in a high position, and Amir Khusro was educated in theology, Persian and the Quran. From his mother who was of Hindustani origin and from his maternal grandfather he acquired both, an intimacy with the local languages as well as a rooting in the immediate cultural ambiance  When his father died when Khusro was only eight he came under the care of his maternal grandfather. Ab'ul Hasan Yamin al-Din Khusrow (Persian: / Urdu ابوالحسن یمین‌الدین خسرو‎; Hindi: अबुल हसन यमीनुद्दीन ख़ुसरौ), better known as Amir Khusrow (or Khusrau) Dehlawi was an Indian musician, scholar and poet. He was an iconic figure in the cultural history of the Indian subcontinent. A Sufi mystic and a spiritual disci
Read more