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**Samarth 619** · 03-10-2020, 10:49 PM

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

Tourlogue approved.

Nice route.. Keep us updated.

**jfazer** · 03-11-2020, 12:12 AM

ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

~ How it started ~

This trip was originally planned by my rider wife (Raima) for her own solo ride to North-East states. She had picked up date, made day-to-day itinerary and applied for Arunachal ILP(Inner Line Permit) online, which got approved the next day of her application. She was all geared up to leave.

In the meantime, I was thinking; I have to make my own solo ride arrangements for Arunachal in the near future as I always wanted a trip there.

Since, I did not make any long trip for last 3 years; I was kind of tempted by her North East trip; namely Arunachal. I was undecided; if I should join her as co-rider and visit Arunachal or wait for later for my own solo ride. One thing, I decided to do; apply for ILP and have the permit ready in case I can’t wait and leave right away. I got the permit approved.

Then there is this THING; me and my wife’s riding ways are entirely different (she is "slow but steady cruising-speed" nonstop rider, I am “need-for-speed” with ‘many intervals’ type rider). We do not agree on many things during our co-op trips; which translates into many pointless arguments about everything, nothing; they really do not matter; what matters is, trip is ruined by disagreements.

Co-ride or solo? my trip dilemma started right from the beginning.
Then, I made up my mind to make trip together as co-riders and see what happens..

Since, the trip was originally planned by her; she made it official that I will have to comply with her trip routes, places to visit, and day-to-day itineraries. All I have to do is, tag along as long as I can (possibly) deal with them. If, disagreement; we can depart and make it solo trip individually. Sounds about right!

In case, you are wondering who is Raima?
She is here on xBhp

Her trips..
2015: https://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/...-_-solo-3.html
2017: https://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/...-desert-3.html

~ Journey Begins ~

~ Day #1 [April 17, 2019] ~
Destination: Siliguri, West Bengal
Route: NH2, NH-34, NH-31 [Never mind what Google Maps renamed them now! it's really confusing]
Distance: 576 Km [Kolkata - Siliguri]

We left home around 1:30 am in the morning and kept cruising towards Siliguri. We availed Burdwan-Khargram-Morgram route, and reached Siliguri by afternoon hours.

somewhere near Bagdogra

our usual pit-stop before Siliguri beside these familiar tea gardens..

~ Day #2 [April 18, 2019] ~
Destination: Alipurduar, West Bengal
Route: NH-17, NH-317
Distance: 175 Km [Siliguri - Alipurduar]

Today, we were reaching for Alipurduar. Route was full of scenic vista of all the dooars goodness; tea gardens, forests. Ride was a leisure.

ever-green Teesta

Raima

stay at Alipurduar

~ Day #3 [April 19, 2019] ~
Destination: Tezpur, Assam
Route: NH-27, NH-15
Distance: 407 Km [Alipurduar - Tezpur]

Next up; Tezpur, Assam.
Left at morning hours and kept cruising towards Tezpur, Assam.
April Sun was not helping. Too much heat tired us up.
We arrived Tezpur around late afternoon hours. Booked hotel on-the-fly.

smooth asphalt upon leaving Dooars

THESE were plenty beside roads towards Tezpur; so we picked one up for inspection

near Tezpur

We reached Tezpur around afternoon time; next day we will be leaving for Arunachal.

~ Day #4 [April 20, 2019] ~
Destination: Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh
Route: Chariduar-Tawang Road
Distance: 154 Km [Tezpur-Bomdila]

Who knew, this day will be such an eventful day;
Lets dig in..

We left Tezpur hotel early in order to reach Bomdila within daylight time.

ILP Checkpoint, Bhalukpong; Gateway of Arunachal..

One of the many 'landslide work-in-progress' we had to wait for..

Since I had nothing to do except wait, I kept clicking our surroundings..

I thought it was cool to see clouds building up to make mountains more majestic;
little did I know what could happen when it starts raining non-stop..

After riding for a while, we had to stop and take shelter because of This..

Photo cannot portray the heavy non-stop rain we witnessed;
everything was white washed; water raging through roads and all..

Initially, I thought it was cool to witness heavy rain in North-East;
so I took a cup of coffee and started enjoying the vista;
but it became worrisome as it kept raining for hours at the same extreme pace..

We kept waiting for rain to stop, it did not..
It was getting dark, daylight was dying; rain did not stop but extreme pace was calming down..
it started drizzling..

We decided to move forward to check out what's waiting for us next; we just rode few hundred meters until we had to face a massive landslide right in the middle of the road; road was completely blocked and a JCB was at work in the afternoon dimming light with a BRO truck parked nearby..

That's the 'landslide' in the middle of the road.. also more landslides ahead as per BRO..

I have no idea what she said to the BRO truck personnel; but she managed to secure her seat in the truck (clever lady) instead waiting outside in chilly cold drizzly rain..

And then, it completely went dark while waiting in the truck; JCB was still at work..

~ Live Landslide - we were so lucky ~

In the dark, while waiting in the truck, me and Raima saw live landslide so up-close like we have never seen before..

First we heard rock sliding sounds but we could not see anything as it was completely dark; then just in front of the truck approximately 15 feet ahead that 'whole thing' came down crazy carrying trees, huge rocks with it..
yes, it was a 'live landslide'..
if it was 15 feet back; our shelter BRO truck carrying us, our bikes parked behind it would all slide down the hill; and that would have been the endgame for us all..

We were so lucky.. us and BRO personnel saw this live;
we were so terrified of what just happened..

When this day started; we thought it would be a scenic ride to Bomdila; little did we know what events were waiting for us..
crazy non-stop rain, many landslides; 'live landslide just before our existence'; and here we are in the dark, in the middle of nowhere; all we could see is diligent hardworking BRO personnel (really grateful and thankful to them) clearing roads with JCBs; so that we and other travelers can actually move forward and find a temporary shelter for the night..

Bomdila is far away..

Around 10:45 pm, JCB finally cleared the eminent landslide in front of us and we were informed that there is a very basic truckers' hotel within 1.5 km where we could find our night shelter.. we were relieved to know at least we do not have to spend the cold night out in the open; with rain drenched clothes, jackets and all..

This is the spot..

Shelter for the night

Where we intended to reach, where we ended up..

Long eventful day; but at least we were lucky to find a place for the night.

~to be continued in Part 2..~

**krishna77** · 03-14-2020, 11:15 PM

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

Nice route! n unconventional but beautiful one!

**sajalsheth** · 03-15-2020, 10:25 AM

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

Nice Ride @jfazer ji

How is road condition now from Howrah to Siliguri, Specially Bardhman onwards....And that tiring Farraka, Malda patch?

**zestbiker** · 03-16-2020, 10:39 AM

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

nice going [MENTION=26343]jfazer[/MENTION] -waiting for the next installment

**jfazer** · 12-02-2020, 05:26 AM

~Part 2..~

~ Day #5 [April 21, 2019] ~
Destination: Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh
Route: Chariduar-Tawang Road
Distance: 69 Km

We woke up early in the morning, it was sunny day; all rains cleared. It was time to reach Bomdila finally.

Gateway

Settled in for the day

~ Day #6 [April 22, 2019] ~
Destination: Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Route: NH-13
Distance: 176.7 Km [Bomdila-Tawang]

It is time to reach last destination, Tawang; where we will hang-out few days then return back to home.

I like the number of it..

Pitstop for fresh hot noodle break..

he was so cute and cuddly..

near Sela pass, it started getting foggy, cloudy, and drizzly..

curious local kids

through Sela pass

frozen Sela Lake

Sela pass was scenic, but so harsh with extreme cold

Arrived late at Tawang

~ Day #6-8 [April 22-24, 2019] ~
Place: Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

We will be staying at Tawang for few days and explore its nearby places..

Tawang City

Tawang Monastery

Monastery Gateway

PTSO Lake

So, that was it of our Tawang exploration;
for what I have seen and experienced so far;
Tawang is so majestic and full of scenic vistas on its way around the places..

Next day, we will be leaving

Tawang; and descend towards Tezpur..

~ Day #9 [April 25, 2019] ~
Destination: Tezpur, Assam
Route: NH-13 and Arnatulla Kalaktang Road
Distance: 396 Km [Tawang-Tezpur]

On our return ride; we were informed by the locals that road towards Bhalukpong (the road we availed and faced landslides) often experience landslides, but if we avail Kalaktang Road via Rupa; then we will have to cover more kms, but roads are not marred by landslides; this is the road Army avails; so road condition is generally better.

Towards Sela Pass

Sela Lake

you are at 13,700 ft

Road towards Kalaktang via Rupa

one of the best moments captured..

We arrived Tezpur around late afternoon hours.
Ride was, lets just say 'pleasantly scenic'

~to be continued in Part 3..~

**dichkaun** · 12-02-2020, 09:46 AM

awesome thread.

**jfazer** · 12-02-2020, 09:47 AM

~Part 3..~

~ Day #10 [April 26, 2019] ~
Destination: Siliguri, West Bengal
Route: NH-27
Distance: 576 Km [Tezpur-Siliguri]

While reaching Tezpur, on our pitstops we were discussing about how we should move forward from Tezpur onward..

This is her trip, so she decided to transport her bike to Gati; and avail flight from Guwahati; she asked what about me? I said; lets finalize once we reach hotel in Tezpur.

Once we arrived at Tezpur hotel; she wanted to know my decision about transporting bikes.
I said; this is your trip; you can transport your bike or ride; that is entirely up to you. But, for me; I do not like the idea of transport in a biking trip unless bike is broken down and needs transport assistance.
You go transport and flight, I go ride..

This is exactly what we decided before starting this entire trip; that if any disagreement; then the trip will be solo individually. Eventually; from Tezpur to home my trip was actually solo and I liked it this way..

Lets ride solo..

I woke up early in the morning as distance from Tezpur to Siliguri will be tiresome after all these previous rides..

early morning tea to get started..

lets ride

leaving Tezpur

Checking on distance..

tea gardens; it must be Dooars

Sun was going down, Siliguri was still a stretch

I was meant to avail National Highway, bypassing Alipurduar city state highways; but I somehow ended up availing congested Alipurduar by miscalculating route; so I was delayed to reach Siliguri.

Sevoke hill roads I had to avail completely in dark.. and it was no fun in the mountain as opposite vehicles were on high-beams mostly like morons..

Anyway, I reached Siliguri at evening; but I was not able to secure a hotel room in any app; so I had to keep asking for room availability in the vicinity. None were available until I noticed Lemon Tree. They had the room and it was expensive. I was tired; so didn't bother; checked right in for the night.

much needed refreshment

Settled for the night.

~ Day #11 [April 27, 2019] ~
Destination: Home
Route: NH-31, NH-12[I am not calling it anything other than NH-34]
Distance: 545 Km [Lemon Tree, Siliguri - Home]

I have no idea what happened, but I woke up really late around 11:30 am. Got way too relaxed last night I guess. Well, what is waiting ahead is dreaded NH-34, lets go..

yep, keep checking that distance, this is NH-31, 34 is yet to come..

After Siliguri, there were not much to click for, so I didn't care to take photos anymore after Malda Bypass.. and Sun was going down on me again.. come on..

NH-34 at night with hundreds of trucks congesting the highway; what a night!
I have no idea what was happening; but trucks were stranded for miles; had to cut short and make my way through it all along..

I think around 3 am at night, I finally reached home; way too late than I anticipated; but nonetheless I was home and safe.

What a trip!

~ and, that's the end of it ~

Keep riding guys!
Make trip to Arunachal; it will be more than worth it!

**jfazer** · 12-02-2020, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by dichkaun View Post

awesome thread.

Hey, thanks buddy!

**jfazer** · 12-02-2020, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by sajalsheth View Post

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

[ATTACH]253531[/ATTACH]

Nice Ride @jfazer ji

How is road condition now from Howrah to Siliguri, Specially Bardhman onwards....And that tiring Farraka, Malda patch?

sajalsheth I am really sorry to reply after many months as I am not really active on here most of the time..

Well, in April 2019; road condition from Bardhaman onwards to Siliguri was narrow but smooth most of its stretch, it was my first time availing that road; as I normally default to NH-34/NH-12(what Google calls it now) for Siliguri.

Farraka was as usual potholes, damaged patches;
but for Malda, you could avail Malda Bypass to avoid Malda city congestion entirely.

**jfazer** · 12-02-2020, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by zestbiker View Post

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

nice going [MENTION=26343]jfazer[/MENTION] -waiting for the next installment

zestbiker,
After many months, I finally managed to complete the trip-log I stared in March 2020.
It is complete now. Thanks!

**jfazer** · 12-02-2020, 09:19 PM

#jfazer #raima

**jfazer** · 12-04-2020, 03:50 AM

Originally posted by krishna77 View Post

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

Nice route! n unconventional but beautiful one!

krishna77, Thanks man! Arunachal is really majestic in many ways..

**jfazer** · 12-04-2020, 03:56 AM

Originally posted by Samarth 619 View Post

Re: ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

Tourlogue approved.

Nice route.. Keep us updated.

Samarth 619
Tour-log complete, all updated. Thanks!

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ARUNACHAL_The Land of Dawnlit Mountains

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