Spread over an area of 1985km 2 Namdapha is among the larger protected areas of India. The park is at the eastern end of the province in Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. The area is mountainous, criss crossed by innumerable watercourses forming part of the catchment for the Brahmaputra through the Noa-Dihing (Diyun) river system. The park is named after the Nampdapha river, a main tributary of the Noa-Dihing. Managed under Protected Tiger since 1983 the sanctuary is reputed to be unique in harbouring all four big Himalayan cats: Tiger, Leopard, the rarely seen clouded Leopard and the almost mystical Snow Leopard. Also, there is a great diversity in avifauna as well. The area boasts 665 recorded bird species including Blyth’s Tragopan, Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blue-naped Pitta, Wedge-billed Wren Babbler, Snowy-throated Babbler and Beautiful Nuthatch. Our next highlight of the journey is Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. The 340 km 2 Reserve encompasses a patchwork of seasonally flooded forests, beels, and grassy pockets in between the braided arms of the river Dibru and Brahmaputra. The sanctuary is the perfect place to spot the rare specialised grassland and swamp forest birds such as the threatened Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black-throated Parrotbill, Rufous-vented (Swamp) Prinia, and Jerdon’s Bushcat.
Being comparatively wetter and colder than its neighbors in the North of India, it is unique in its own right. From lush green coniferous forests to bamboo thickets, from limestone caves to undulating waterfalls, from miles of hilly croplands to jungles, its diversity is exhilarating for every visitor.
