Working 6 days a week, after office calls, hectic business tours –are the reasons of my frustration and stress. To escape these I often seek for a secluded place, a place apt for thinkers, philosophers, explorers and me. Mayodia is the one which I was looking for.
Mayodia is a snow seeker’s abode – a budget winter destination in North east India. It offers everything from greener canvases, white snow, misty fog to the blue sky. Located in the upper Dibang valley at an elevation of 2655 mtr above sea level, in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, it is also the gateway to Indo-China border.
The journey:
We started from Duliajan, a small town in the state of Assam and drove straight to Saikhuwa Ghat. As the bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra is still under construction, ferries are the only means of transportation. To reach the ferry ghat we had to cross the sandy banks of the river. As there are no proper roads to the ghat, it is advisable to follow the tracks in the sand. The last ferry leaves the ghat by 3 PM. We had to rush to book a ferry for us and our SUV. Boarding our car into the not so tiny boat was a challenge. Though a bit scared and with the help of some local guys, finally my friend drove it right on to the boat deck. We took a breadth of relief and sat under the tiny shed on the boat. Munching our lunch with some cocktail under the tiny shed, feeling the breeze, was a sheer pleasure. Once we crossed the river, the tough road awaits us till Sadiya. Due to the pathetic condition of the road it took us an hour to reach Sadiya. From there it was a quick drive to Roing. Roing a small town at the foothill of the Dibang valley, is the district head quarter of the Lower Dibang valley. It has a few eateries and lodges too. We then drove another 11 kms up the mountain to our resort – The Dibang valley Jungle camp.
The Stay:
Ever thought of living amidst of lust Orange orchards? If you have ever dreamt of, then this is the place you have been thinking of. Set idyllically in the middle of a private orange orchard, surrounded by forest, the Dibang Valley jungle camp is a perfect spot of serenity and relaxation. The camp has 2 big cottages with a total of 4 cosy wooden rooms built with hardwood, bamboo, bricks and cane brakes. Each cottage has a view balcony with a great view of the river valley. My personal favorite is the dinning cum lounge which gives a breath taking view of the sunset. We spent long hours sitting in the balcony of the dinning hall with our poison glasses.
The sun has set, the air is chill and its time to open our bottles, eat the meat, sing a song, sit by the fire and be merry.
The next morning, we got up pretty early to see the birds and enjoy the nature.
The journey ahead:
After a sumptuous breakfast, we started off to Mayodia pass. The road was narrow, steep in some places and covered with thick forest on either side. The site of Mithun (wild buffalo), birds, elephant, monkeys and butterflies were common in our journey.
After a road trip of 3 hours we reached the Mayodia pass. Mayodia remains covered with snow from the month of November to February but we were unlucky enough not to have snow even in mid December. The site from the pass was heart stopping. The snow clad mountains, the misty atmosphere, the freezing breeze made us mystical. To beat the chill, hot Maggie in a local hut was bliss.
We headed back to our camp for the night. The next morning we started early to take a different route to Duliajan. We planned to go via Bhishmaknagar, Tezu to Parshuram Kunda and finally enter Assam through Namsai. Though this route was longer but we really wanted to experience the rich flora and fauna of the region. The road was good but the bridges over small streams and rivers were still under construction. Driving through the knee deep water was a true thrilling experience. To our surprise we reached a valley, completely covered with butterflies. There were butterflies of different colors and sizes. This rare site of flocks of butterflies made us feel heaven.
Finally, after driving for more than 6 hours we reached Duliajan with unforgettable memories in our hearts.
“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end”~~Gluin
Location: MAP
Lodging Cost: Approx INR 5000 for 2 persons including food @ Dibang Jungle camp.
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