Baisakhi.

Baisakhi.

Tourist companies generally plan a Tawang visit by the route, Guwahati - Balukpong - Dirang - Tawang - Bomdila - Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary - Guwahati.

There may be a bit of variation, Dirang first or Bomdila first, but basically, the places of night halts remain the same.

During our trip, after leaving Dirang and visiting Hot Water Springs, we were on our way to Tawang. 

The journey on a road passing through the beautifully scenic valleys of the Eastern Himalayas is an unforgettable experience. The mountains, the valleys,  the thickly forested mountain slopes, the river flowing way below in the deep gorge, the clouds playing hide and seek with the mountain tops, all present an enthralling visual feast, which makes this arduous trip more than worthwhile and draws millions of visitors every year.

After an hour or so of journey through the climbing, twisting, turning, and hairpin bends of this scenic road comes a time when you feel like stretching your legs or the necessity of visiting a washroom, and at that time, like a Godsend, comes Baisakhi.

Baisakhi is the place where a Military Station is located. The Station authorities have provided just what a visitor needs after a long journey.

There is a large parking area, a restaurant, a tea stall, and a shopping centre, all manned by well-mannered, polite soldiers in uniform looking after your needs with a smile. There is a monument to Sela Warrior, in memory of unknown soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while guarding the integrity and sovereignty of the Nation. There are inspirational signages, like,  I 💗 BAISAKHI, "SEL A WARIORS DEFENDING THE NATION",  राष्ट्रम सर्वोपरी. There is a Buddha statue with colourful pennants. 

The Sela Warrior memorial, the impressive Vijay Dwar of the Military Station and the inspirational signs create an atmosphere of great patriotic fervour. People have a great time in photo shoots. 

A short break at Baisakhi is greatly enjoyed by all the visitors, who pass through this place during a couple of months when the weather is salubrious and the temperatures are in the twenties and thirties. At times like these, my heart goes out to the Army personnel, who themself live in the harshest and most inhospitable weather, for the rest of the year, still, take so much trouble to make the journey of the visitors comfortable and enjoyable.

I wish all the very best. Here is to more power to them.  

Vijay Dwar, Baisakhi Military Station. Photo taken on the move, from a moving car.

Vijay Dwar, Baisakhi Military Station.  Photo taken on the move, from a moving car.

Sela Warriors defending the Nation,

At Baisakhi 11, 246 Feet.

Selfie with 'flip' editing. Makes the letters read the correct way. Of course, our positions, as well as the date and time of the photo, were also reversed.

Tatwawadis at  Baisakhi. 

Bendres at Baisakhi 

Our Group at Baisakhi

War Memorial at Baisakhi 

Bendres. At War Memorial at Baisakhi 

Bendres,  Velankars,

At War Memorial at Baisakhi 

Bendres, 

At War Memorial at Baisakhi 

Velankars,

At War Memorial at Baisakhi 

Renovated Baisakhi Shopping Complex. At the time of our visit, it was just 5 months old.

Renovation of  Baisakhi Shopping Complex. The details.

General view of Facilities provided for toutists and troops at Baisakhi 

Beautiful view of the clouds and cloud covered valley. 

Other buildings and the Sentry Gate photographed earlier, while on the move, are also visible.

Photo taken from a Machan-like viewing platform of the Chai Shop.

General view of Baisakhi

Sela Pass.

 Sela Pass.

Road, NH 13, connecting Tawang to Assam and the rest of the country, passes through Sela Pass. It was strategically extremely important as NH 13, the lifeline for the Tawang district and Army Formations along the borderpassed through the Sela Pass.

Since the opening of the Sela Tunnel, the distance to Tawang is reduced by more than 10 miles and travel time is cut down by almost one hour as NH 13 cuts across the mountain ridges through the tunnel and does not go through the Sela pass.

Nowadays, only tourist vehicles going to Tawang go to Sela Pass as a matter of interest for the tourists. Even these vehicles, on the return journey, use the Sela Tunnel and do not go to the Sela Pass. Only other vehicles that go to Sela Pass belong to Army units located around or beyond the Sela Pass.

All local and even military convoys use the Sela Tunnel and do not go to Sela Pass. The strategic importance of Sela Pas has thus reduced, resulting in less maintenance of that part of NH 13 which used to go through the pass. Unless things change, the road to Sela Pass will deteriorate fast, causing inconvenience to tourists.

The Se La Pass (also called Se La, as La means Pass) is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the border between Tawang District and West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. The Se La pass, at an elevation of 13700 ft (4176 m), is the gateway to Tawang from the rest of India. Tawang shares international borders with China and Bhutan and is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage centre.

Sela Lake is also located near Sela Pass. it is also called Paradise Lake because of its beauty. The lake remains fully or partially frozen during winter. Small rivers flow out of the lake, and yaks can be seen grazing in the sporadic bursts of greenery on the slopes.

This part of the Eastern Himalayan range is special for the Buddhists, as around 101 glacial lakes, including Sela Lake, exist in the area around Se La pass, and each of these glacial lakes has a huge religious significance for the Buddhist community. This place remains snow-covered for most part of the year.

Sela Pass and Sela Lake are Major tourist attractions, especially during the Tawang Festival held every year in October. The scenic beauty of Sela Lake and Sela Pass is Amazing, no wonder tourists are attracted here.

Units of Sashastra Seema Bal, who look after the defences of the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border, also look after the Sala Pass. They have made a big parking area, photo spots and also operate a cafeteria for the convenience of tourists as well as the troops passing through the Sela Pass.

Review based on the information board installed by the Government of India at Sela Pass and my own observations and experiences.

Welcome gate to Sela Pass. 

We were entering the Tawang District. 

Presently 38 Battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal is looking after Sela Pass. They are also running a Cafeteria near Sela Pass for the convenience of troops and tourists.

A fleetingly seen sight and a fast shutter finger to catch this photo from the windshield of a moving Urbania transport

Welcome gate to Sela Pass. 

We were entering the Tawang District. 

At Sela Pass. 

We also love Sela  😀

Information Board installed by the Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Geological Survey of India, with the support of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

Gives information about Sela Pas. Text copied and pasted below.

The Se La Pass (also called Se La, as La means Pass) is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the border between Tawang District and West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The Se La pass, at an elevation of 13700 ft (4176 m), is the gateway to Tawang from the rest of India.

Tawang shares international borders with China and Bhutan and is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage centre.

This part of the Eastern Himalayan range is special for the Buddhists, as around 101 glacial lakes exist in the area around Se La pass, and each of these glacial lakes has a huge religious significance for the Buddhist community.

It witnesses heavy footfall of tourists from a religious as well as tourism point of view, especially during the Tawang Festival held every year in October.

This place remains snow-covered during most part of the year. Attached to the Pass is the beautiful Se La Lake (also called Paradise Lake because of its beauty), that remains fully or partially frozen during winter. Small rivers flow out of the lake and yaks can be seen grazing in the sporadic bursts of greenery on the slopes. The pass remains open throughout the year, irrespective of heavy snowfall, even when temperature goes down below -10° C.

A Geologically, Se La Pass area is exposes rocks of migmatitic gneisses of Palaeoproterozoic era (2.5-1.6 Billion Years) belonging to Galensiniak Formation of Sela Group as a part of higher Himalayan crystallines. The gneiss is intruded by younger tourmaline bearing leucogranite of Tertiary age (66-2.58 Million Years). The transect from Bhalukpong to Tawang passing through Se La Pass gives an unique opportunity to study the features of inverted metamorphic sequence of Himalaya Orogeny. 

At Sela Pass.

VARTAK is the name given to a project to be completed by the Border Road Organisation.

The proper name is "Project Vartak ". It is

Simply called "Vartak". 

Responsible mainly for the development of road connectivity in the geographical areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

 These unsung heroes have done 

a yeoman's job over the years and continue to do so.

Priti With Jaya Tatwawadi. at Sela Pass.

Tatwawadis at Sela Pass.

A large parking area at Sela Pass for the convenience of trops and tourists. 

Just imagine the efforts and the labour required to level such a large area in such hostile enviornment.

Another view of surroundinga of Sela Pass.

The Sela Tunnel.

The Sela Tunnel.

Militarily, the Tawang Sector is of vital importance.  Guwahati - Chauriduar - Tawang highway NH13 is the lifeline for the Tawang district and Army Formations along the border. Highway, NH13, used to become snowbound during winters, cutting off Tawang and forward areas from Assam. 

For the economic development of Tawang District and the uninterrupted supply and movement of troops, the construction of an all-weather road that would remain open throughout the year was considered essential.

In the 2019 budget, 'Sela Project' was sanctioned for the construction of a road that would remain open throughout the year and ensure year-round connectivity between Tawang and Assam. 

Under this 'Sela Project', Border Road Organisation constructed two tunnels with a connecting road. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) was used for the construction of the tunnels.  Sela small tunnel (T1) is a single tube tunnel. It is 980 meters long.  Sela Main Tunnel (T2) is a twin tube tunnel. It is 1555 meters long. Of the twin tubes, one is for double lane traffic and the other is an escape tunnel for emergencies and services. The two tunnels are connected by a newly constructed 1.28-kilometre-long link road. The tunnel is the longest bi-lane tunnel in the world at 13,000 feet.

The foundation stone of the tunnel was laid by the Prime Minister on February 09, 2019, and the construction commenced on April 01, 2019. The tunnel has been completed in just five years, overcoming challenges of difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions. The Sela tunnel was virtually dedicated to the nation on 9 March 2024.

During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Maha Vir Chakra awardee Jaswant Singh Rawat held elements of the Chinese Army off at this mountain pass with the help of two local Monpa girls named Sela and Noora. Rawat held off the enemy for 72 hours. Later, Sela was killed, and Noora captured. To honour the sacrifice of Monpa girl Sela, The Lake, the pass and the tunnel are named Sla Lake, Sela Pass and the Sela Tunnel.

Sela Tunnel has reduced the journey between Tawang and Assam by more than 10 kilometres and reduced the travel time by one hour.

Now winter blockage of Tawang is a thing of the past.

Today, Sela Tunnel is providing, even in the harshest of winters, an uninterrupted road connectivity to Tawang and forward areas of our border.

Information from open sources on the internet.

Sela Tunnel long-distance view, while approaching from Tawang.

A fleetingly seen sight and a fast shutter finger to catch this photo from the windshield of a moving Urbania transport.

 

Selfie at Sela Tunnel. 

A beautiful and unique photo spot.

"Arunachal Pride of India."

A first.

Not seen any other state putting up such a sign.

A fleetingly seen sight and a fast shutter finger to catch this photo from the windshield of a moving Urbania transport.

A view of the escape/Services  Tube tunnel, next to the main two-way traffic tube tunnel.

Photo taken from the parking lot where our Urbania was parked.

 

Sela Main Tunnel (T2) opening.

South Portal.

Border Road Organisation.

The unsung and unappriciated Heros.

Sela Tunnel.

A beautiful and unique photo spot.

Sela Tunnel.

A beautiful and unique photo spot.

Sela Tunnel.

A beautiful and unique photo spot.

Sela Tunnel .

You are at 13000 ft.

BRO , the unsung HEROS.

Hot Water Springs, Dirang, (Hot Springs, Dirang.)

 Hot Water Springs, Dirang, (Hot Springs, Dirang.) 

Hot water springs in Dirang are promoted as a major tourist attraction and are locally and generally referred to simply as "Hot Spring", omitting the word "water". I am also going to refer to it as Hot Sprigs.

Hot Springs are located about 2 km on Tawang Road from the Dirang Town Centre. It is an open public site. There is no entry fee, and there are no working hours. Visit during daylight hours is recommended for personal safety, as the approach path is in bad condition and not lighted. 

After leaving our hotel, we were to stop at the hot springs. So when our driver stopped the Urbania, we did not know why he had stopped, as we could not see a hot spring or any indication that hot springs were anywhere close by. The driver pointed to a battered, old and disfigured signboard announcing the presence of hot springs.

The message on the other side of the board is in a slightly better condition, but if approaching from Dirang, one can not see this board as it is hidden by vegetation and trees, and there is every possibility that the visitor will overshoot the location and take some time to find the approach path to the hot springs, which is located close to this battered sign board. 

From the Tawang road, one has to walk down for about 100 meters on a descending path towards the Dirang River to reach the hot springs. At a fast pace, it takes only around 5 minutes to reach from the road to the hot springs.  

The descending path starts near the signboard. Concrete steps lead downwards. Soon, the steps are replaced by a narrow paved path leading down towards the Dirang River. Both sides of the steps and this narrow path are bordered by wild growth of grass and vegetation. As one follows this narrow path, the condition worsens, and the surface becomes broken. Towards the end of the path, there are steps again, but they are broken and in a bad state. One has to be very careful to negotiate the last portion of the path; otherwise, there is every chance of a mishap and an injury.  

The gradient is reasonably steep. On the way back to the main road, If you are not fit, you may have to rest in between to catch your breath.

For a place being touted as an attraction, the approach path to that "attraction" is in pathetic condition. 

One is thankful that one has to walk for only around 5 minutes to reach the hot spring. Anything longer and it would have been a really trying exercise.

First look at the hot springs every everything appears quite colourful. The complete area of hot springs is divided into two paved areas, one upper and one lower level.

The lower level has a children's play pen, and the upper area has benches and tables, etc, for the visitors to relax. This level has built-in steps to descend to the hot water pools. At either end of the upper level are changing rooms for gentlemen and ladies. 

 The depth of the water appeared to be just 6 to 8inches in these pools. Of the two hot water pools.

One of the pools has a gravel bottom. In this pool, from the top left corner, bubbles were seen coming out of the gravel bottom. This is where the underground hot spring water enters the pool and is warmest. As you get away from that corner, the water gets cooler.

​The other pool seems to be paved with large quartz pebbles. The pebble flooring is broken in places, and muddy soil is seen in these broken portions. 

Though I did not see any notices, I presume one of the pools would be for gentlemen and the other for the ladies., 

Towards the hillside of the upper level of the hotwater pools, there is a retaining wall separating the hot spring area from the hillside, which is covered with wild vegetation growth and tall evergreen trees.  The wall construction is based on the Tibetan style. It is painted in bright terracotta red colour. It has a niche for a Buddha statue. When we saw it the niche was empty, but a Buddha statue was placed near it. Beautiful​ and colourful Tibetan motifs are painted on this wall.

This  Beautiful​ and colourful wall with the Tibetan motifs is the only saving grace that would make a visitor smile and feel good. 

The hot water spring is a total disappointment due to its sorry state caused by to neglect and apathy of the authorities.

 What is urgently needed is a total makeover of the approach path. 

Reconstruction of the pools themselves under the guidance of experts in the field. Regular maintenance and care of hot springs is being touted as a tourist attraction.

Approach path to the hot springs Dirang is located next to this battered and disfigured sign board.

Approach path to the hot springs Dirang.

Approach path to the hot springs Dirang.

Approach path to the hot springs Dirang.

Approach path to the hot springs Dirang.

Hot springs, Dirang.

 one odd Children's play things is completely broken and others were also not too good condition.

 there were plenty of plactic plant- pots  for balcony railings were installed. All were sans any plant some had garbage in place of plants. Plants in bigger pots were in reasonable state.

Hot water springs, Dirang.

Bubble were seen towards the top left corner area. That is where the water from underground hot water springs enters the pool and  is warmest. As you get away from that corner, the water gets cooler.

Hot water springs, Dirang.

Bottom paved with larger quartz pebbles.

 The base is broken with pebbles missing. Mud patches and soil exposed.

Towards the hillside of the upper level of the hotwater pools, there is a retaining wall separating the hot spring area from the hillside, which is covered with wild vegetation growth and tall evergreen trees.  The wall construction is based on the Tibetan style. It is painted in bright terracotta red colour. It has a niche for a Buddha statue. When we saw it the niche was empty, but a Buddha statue was placed near it. Beautiful​ and colourful Tibetan motifs are painted on this wall.

This  Beautiful​ and colourful wall with the Tibetan motifs is the only saving grace that would make a visitor smile and feel good. 

At Hot  Springs, Dirang.

Hot  spring, Dirang.

could not find out purpose of this structure. Appears to be an incinerator.

View of the hotel Rigsel and Dirang River from Hot  Springs, Dirang.

View of the hotel Rigsel from Hot Springs, Dirang.

Cropped copy

All the area in front is the plantation of Kiwi Fruits. Unfortunately could not get a closer look at Kiwi Plants.