Mechuka Travel Guide

The mystical and magical land of Arunachal Pradesh has innumerable natural treasure troves in its kitty This “rising land of sun” in India is famed around the globe for its serene beauty and diverse flora and fauna.

This beautiful and virgin state of North-East India has several wonderful places that can mesmerize you at the very first glance. Among all the alluring places of the state, Mechuka valley is one such place where you can behold the exotic charm of the “Mother Nature”.

Mechuka, the forbidden valley of Arunachal Pradesh is nestled in the Eastern Himalayas. It is the divisional head quarter, in the northern part of the West Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh. Mechuka is blessed with stunning beauty of blue hills, river Siom, and lush green forests.

Mechuka valley is the home to the people of the Memba tribe. They are mostly the believers of the Buddhism and speaks Memba, Adi, Hindi and English. This place of Arunachal Pradesh is known for both its religious and historical significance.

The prime attraction of Mechuka is an ancient Buddhist Monastery. It is called Samten Yongcha of Mehayana sect. This 400 year old monastery is perched at a hilltop in the western part of Mechuka valley. This gompa or monastery is contemporary to the great Tawang monastery of the state and it serve as one of the important tourist spot of the region. Mechuka is also embellished with numerous ancient statues.

It is said that around five sanctuary ago, the teacher of the Sikh religion Guru Nanakji has once visited Mechuka and has done meditation at the origin of the river Siom. Even Mechuka has political importance also. It is just 29 km away from the Indo-China international boundary and had played a pivotal role during the Indo-China war of 1962.

It is one of the rarest place of India which can be visited throughout the year. The weather of this place always remain pleasant due to its proximity to great Himalayan mountain ranges. It is not at all difficult to reach this place. You can reach here via fight, train or bus. The nearest airport to Mechuka is at Mohanbari (Assam) and the closest railway station is at Silpathar. If you want to travel to Mechuka via roadways while enjoying the scenic beauty of the country side than you have to board a bus from Along which is 215 km away from Mechuka.

So, what are you waiting for? Listen to the beckoning of this pristine valley and immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of this land in company of your beloved person.

By Jolly Mazumdar

RAJGARH: THE PEACH BOWL OF ASIA

Rajgarh is a scenic valley of Himachal Pradesh, located about a 100 km from Chandigarh and about 380 km from Delhi, in north India. It is enveloped by the picturesque Renuka Lake and Churdhar mountains. Rajgarh is known as the peach bowl of Asia because it alone produces around 4 crore worth of peaches every year. Due to peach cultivation, pink flowers beautifully decorate and cover the whole valley of the region in the months of March-April.

The main attraction of the place, apart from the peach orchards, are the maneuvering lakes through green mountains covered with vibrantly colored flowers. The breathtaking scene and the ultimate serenity of the area will surely make you wish to extend your stay in Rajgarh.

For sightseeing, you can visit the Lord Shiva Temple and the Shaya Temple of Lord Shirgul, which are important religious spots of Rajgarh. Lord Shaya is the local name for Lord Shiva only, who is believed to have arrived in Rajgarh first before settling on the nearby Churdhar Mountains. An annual fair is held in this temple, during which devotees from Sirmaur and Shimla come to offer prayers to their deity. Apart from the religious places, you will also find a historical fort here which belonged to the king of Sirmaur district. Later it was used as a PWD Office.

Rajgarh has a plethora of camping options available near Giri river, which is close to Yashwantnagar. Giri River originates from Churdhar Mountains, resulting from melting of snow. There is an important temple of Lord Shiva on the snow laden peaks of Churdhar mountains, which is a pilgrimage spot for the locals. Winters is a good time to experience the beauty of these cottony peaks of Churdhar Mountains, which lie at an altitude of 12000 ft.

Giri river is also a good spot for angling. Offering a remarkable blend of beauty and tranquility is this place near Yashwantnagar. You can go for short treks or enjoy cycling on its periphery, you can come here for picnics or do yoga in the heavenly surroundings with a background score of chirpings, the experience will be just amazing in this quiet little hill station.

Cherrapunji-a land of incessant rains

North-eastern part of India is a land full of natural treasures. “Mother Nature” has overwhelmed this region with her immense love and care and thus created such wonderful locales that can beckon you through out your life.

Lush green canopies, verdant valleys, blue mountains, rocky hills, untamed gushing rivers, diverse flora and fauna are the part and parcel of the North-east India. Every place in this region is blessed with some wonderful nature's wealth that can behold your attention at the very first sight. One such spectacular place is Cherrapunji.

Declared as the “wettest place on earth” by the esteemed Guinness Book of World Records, Cherrapunji is located in Meghalaya state of North-east of India. Just after a short drive of 60 km from Shillong, the state capital, you will enter into a world of completely different ambiance.

Unlike the jungles of concrete, Cherrapunji is a place to cherish the ever-lasting beauty of nature. This is the sole place in the entire world where one can enjoy the monsoon season round the year.
Incessant rainfalls are the most charming aspect of Cherrapunji which can be varied from high to medium to light. Here in Cherrapunji, you won't find a single month without rain. Rainfalls are measured in feet but not in millimeters.

Another surprising fact about Cherrapunji is that the everlasting rains that occurs here does not affect the day to day activity as it rains mostly at night. Cherrapunji is also known as the paradise for botanists. This place enfolds wide range of flora within its lap. Lush green vegetation are not the common scenario in Cherrapunji as it assumed to be. Instead, colorful and rare orchids, ferns, moss plants and dense wood forests are available in small patches. Orchards of oranges and pineapple are the most common sight of Cherapunji. Oranges of Cherrapunji are considered as the forefathers of the famous Nagpuri oranges.

Nearby area of Cherrapunji is also embellished with some splendid natural beauty for instance village of Mawsynram, which has recently acquired the title of the heaviest rainfall record. Few kilometers away from Cherrapunji is the spectacular cascading 1,035 ft high Mawsmai Falls.

It is the fourth highest water fall in India. Another nearby attraction of Cherrapunji is a fascinating labyrinth of underground passages, located under the age-old caves. Also you can visit the Khasi monoliths (stones in memory of their ancestors) present in the forests of Bastar.

But, slowly- slowly this pristine town of Meghalaya is losing all its glory due to deforestation and pollution. So, irs high time that we should take some important steps to safeguard this wonderland of North-east India.

By Jolly Mazumdar