my story: 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.

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.