Tipi Orchid Museum and Research Centre.

From Bhalukpong, as you enter Arunachal Pradesh through a grand welcome gate built across the road, the first attraction is the Orchid Research Centre at Tipi Town.

The Orchid Research Centre was inaugurated in 1972 with the aim to carry out research on orchids.

Places to visit in The Orchid Centre are: Orchid Information Centre, Orchid Forest, Laboratory, Cactus House, Ornamental Orchid House 1, and Ornamental Orchid House 2, Orchidarium and A shop selling knick-knacks and memorabilia connected with the Orchid Research Centre. 

The orchid forest is densely packed with evergreen rainforest trees with equally dense undergrowth. You feel as if you are in a forest, as indeed it is a real forest. We did not see many orchid blooms, just as we had not seen them in the various glass houses.

 One of the main attractions is the Orchidarium. It is a glasshouse with of fiberglass roof, a display gallery around and a central pond with a fountain. It was inaugurated by Shri B.K. Nehru on 26.12.1972. The house accommodates about 1000 exotic orchids displayed in pots, hanging baskets, etc. Curious and attractive blooms of the species and hybrids of Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium, Cattleya and Vanda groups are a feast to the eyes of visiting tourists.( as given on their website).

Unfortunately, we were there at the wrong time. It was not orchid season, with the result that we did not see many orchid blooms, be it in the orchid forest or various well-protected and maintained glass houses or their pride of place, the Orchidarium. But as they say one can not have everything one wishes for.

The place is well-maintained, clean and nicely signposted. It would be heavenly to visit this place in the thick of orchid season, when this place is full of orchid blooms and a riot of colours.