BUDDHIST SPLENDOUR - I

01N BHALUKPUNG + 01N DIRANG + 03N TAWANG + 01 N BOMDILA + 01N GUWAHATI
Package Code : GC-NE- 24

Itinerary :
Day 01
GUWAHATI – BHALUKPUNG (250 km / 5 hours)
Welcome on arrival at Guwahati Airport / Railway station. Transfer to Bhalukpong, , a town on the Assam – Arunachal Pradesh border  & overnight stay.

Day02
BHALUKPUNG – DIRANG (185 Kms / 6 ½ hrs)
Morning after breakfast, drive to Dirang (4910 ft). Enroute visit Tippi Orchid Centre.  Arunachal, the ‘Orchid Paradise’ is famed to have the largest variety of orchids in India. The Orchidarium at Tipi shelters 500 or more varieties of orchids which are available in various parts of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a premier Institute of excellence in orchid research and development, under the State Forest Research Institute (Department of Environment and Forests , Arunachal Pradesh). 
Check in Hotel. Evening at Leisure. Overnight at Dirang.

Day03
DIRANG – TAWANG (155 Kms / 6 hrs)
Morning after breakfast, drive to Tawang (10,000 ft). En route witness the unique Dirang Valley famous for its monasteries, hot Springs, Apple & kiwi Orchards, sheep breeding farms & charming valleys.  Also witness the snowcapped Sella Pass at 13700 ft, the Jaswant Garh War Memorial and Jung Falls.  Overnight in Tawang. 
Jaswant Garh War Memorial : Legend has it that Jaswant (Mahavir Chakra Awardee (Posthumous) of 4th Batallion Garhwal Rifles), fought a lone battle against the invading Chinese during the 1962 war. His spirit is still believed to protect the place.

Sela Pass : @13700 ft, the Sela Pass is  is snow-covered (full or partial) all through the year and has breathtaking mystic views. Close to the Pass is the beautiful Sela Lake, a heart-shaped lake chiseled between the mountains, which intensifies the beauty of the region. The Lake is mostly frozen in winter.  The Sela Pass is the main route to access Tawang town and is located 78 km before reaching Tawang.
Jung Falls : The Nuranang falls  (original name) @6000 feet is located about 40 km before reaching Tawang is famed as one of the most stunning waterfalls in North East India. The falls height is about 100 meters. The legend about the waterfalls goes that it is named after a Monpa girl Nura who aided an Indian soldier during the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
 
Day04
TAWANG
Tawang is the beautiful land of the Monpa tribes. ‘The Land of Dawn-lit Mountains’ at 3500 mts gives you unparallel purity of nature. After breakfast, visit the Tawang Monastery, Urgelling Monastery, Ani Gompa.
 The Tawang Monastery, also known as the “GALDEN NAMGYEL LHATSE” is one of the largest Lamaseries of Mahayana sect in Asia and is the largest of its kind in India. The Monastery is 400 year old  and is adorned with the 18 feet high statue of Lord Buddha. It stands at 10,000 feet amidst the exotic Himalayan ranges and overlooks the Tawang-Chu valley.  The Urgelling Monastery is located 5 km from Tawang city, and is the birth place of the 6th Dalai Lama, born in the 17th century. 
Later visit the War Memorial commemorating the bravery of the Indian heroes of the Indo-China war of 1962. Witness the light & sound show in the evening.  Overnight in Tawang

Day05
TAWANG
After breakfast proceed for an excursion to Sangestar Lake, Bum La Pass and China Border (subject to permission from Indian Army).

The Sangestar Lake, or more popularly known as the Madhuri Lake, is about 20 kms from Tawang, en route to the road leading to Bum La Pass.  The lake is surrounded by the majestic snow-capped mountains and a marvelous valley offering spectacular views.

The Bum La Pass is one of the four officially agreed BPM (Border Personnel Meeting) point between Indian Army and People's Liberation Army of China for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies, which helps in defusing face-offs.  The other BPM points in India are - Chushul in Ladakh, Nathu La in Sikkim and Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand.

The process of procuring permit to visit China Border requires at least one of the guest members to visit the DC’s office the previous day for certain formalities. Permission is on the discretion of the officials. Sometimes there may be last moment cancellation even after getting permission as the region is a high security zone. DC’s office remains closed on Saturday & Sunday. Overnight in Tawang.

Day 06
TAWANG – BOMDILA (180 Kms / 6 hrs)
Morning drive back to Bomdila. At a height of 8OOO ft., Bomdila is a small town famous for its Buddhists monasteries, magnificent valleys and Himalayan landscapes. Evening free at leisure. Overnight in Bomdila.

Day07
BOMDILA – GUWAHATI (340 Kms / 9 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Guwahati. Check in Hotel. Overnight in Guwahati.

Day08
GUWAHATI AIRPORT DEPARTURE
Morning visit Kamakhya temple (if time permits). In time transfer to Guwahati airport for onward journey. TOUR ENDS HERE.

Situated on top of the Nilachal Hill, Maa Kamakhya Temple is the most sacred among the tantrik shrines of Shakti worship in the world. Kamakhya temple is also famed for the annual Ambubachi Mela held for 4 days  during monsoon season. There are images of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Chamundi and many dance fixtures. Situated on the Nilachal Hill, the temple structure resembles a Shikhara - a beehive.  Besides the main Devi temple, there are temples of 10 Mahavidyas in and around temple. These include  Bhuvaneshvari,  Bagalamukhi,  Chinnamasta,Tripura Sundari,  Tara,  Kali,  Bhairavi,  Dhumavati, Matangi and Kamala Temples. Temple doors remain open for devotees in the following timings - 08:00 am to 01:00 pm & 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.