Эколог Анил Кумар описал путешествие в Таванг как трансформацию восприятия ландшафта и биоразнообразия

For me, a student of field ecology, a journey to Tawang, the land of monasteries was not merely travelling through the eastern Himalaya mountains, but into an hidden paradise where every valley with a varied vegetation was unique in its topographical features. The moment I stepped out of Guwahati airport, it was a pleasant surprise for I felt that I had arrived in a completely different region. Arriving from the cooler mid-Himalayan climate of Kumaon, I immediately felt the warmth and humidity of the Guwahati plains as a striking contrast to the mountain air I had left behind. Yet, around me was an unmistakable glimpse of the Northeast’s different faces, languages, traditions and cultural expressions, all hinting at the rich diversity that lay ahead. My mind, however, had already travelled far beyond Guwahati. I had been reading about Tawang valley, exploring its landscapes and culture online, and imagining the mountains that lay ahead for long. The attractiveness of mountains of Tawang had drawn me to its landscapes, forests and the botanical richness of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. So absorbed was I in the anticipation of the journey that I scarcely noticed the heat and humidity of the valley. The road ahead promised a transition not merely from the plains to the mountains, but from one Himalayan landscape and culture to another. On leaving Guwahati, the next morning, the landscape slowly began to change with different tree species along the roadside particularly Bambusa species, jackfruit, Neem, Banana tree, and other tropical plants forming a distinctly different character from the forests that awaited us in the mountains. The mighty Brahmaputra River, one of the largest rivers of Asia, was a vast expanse, flowing quietly through the rich landscape, a deeply moving sight never seen before. After we reached Bhalukpong, the gateway to Arunachal Pradesh, the road steadily began to climb to Bomdila. With the elevation rising, the vegetation changed to dense pine forests, vibrant Rhododendrons, broadleaf mountain trees and cultivated apple orchards began to appear along the route. The dense forest cover was enriched by a wide variety of wild orchids, many of which are native to the Eastern Himalaya. Then came the much-anticipated journey towards Sela Pass one of the most spectacular enchanting mountain peaks of the entire route. As we climbed higher, the forests gradually became shorter and more open, and the landscape transformed into a high-altitude environment dominated by alpine vegetation. Snow-covered mountains appeared around us, while the famous Sela Lake emerged as a breathtaking high-altitude landscape. Standing beside Sela Lake, it was difficult to put the experience into words. The combination of the deep blue waters, surrounded by mountains, snow patches and alpine vegetation created a scene that genuinely felt like a paradise on Earth. The alpine flowers are in bloom; the surrounding landscape becomes even more spectacular. The rocky terrain around the lake supported a greater diversity of high-altitude tree species. Several species of Rhododendron, including dwarf forms scattered dwarf birch and conifers. The alpine slopes were covered with a lush green carpet, dotted with small, colourful flowers, while a white sheet of snow over the surrounding peaks added to the beauty of the landscape, creating a spectacular and almost surreal sight. I was reluctant to leave this enchanting place, but the journey ahead promised many more hidden beauties waiting to unfold. The journey continued towards Jaswant Garh, the historic war memorial dedicated to the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers. We paused there to remember the courageous men who served and soldiers in these difficult Himalayan landscapes. The memorial added a deeply emotional dimension to a journey that had, until then, been dominated by high altitudinal peak pass, different landscapes, forests and botanical discoveries. As we continued on the winding mountain roads, pausing to admire the valleys unfolding around us, we finally arrived in Tawang the land of Buddhist culture, where the serene chants from monasteries seemed to echo through the tranquil mountain air. The landscape of Tawang along with different vegetation, monasteries, mountain villages and local traditions came together to create a cultural and ecological experience unlike anything we had encountered earlier on the journey. Along the way, the changing vegetation remained as fascinating as the mountains themselves. Dense forests, cascading streams, moss-covered slopes, flowering plants and remote mountain settlements appeared one after another, each unleashing another aspect of the Eastern Himalaya. The journey to Tawang was not without its challenges long hours on winding mountain roads, changing weather and the increasing altitude tested both body and mind. Yet, every difficult stretch seemed insignificant when a new forest, an unfamiliar plant, a cascading stream or a distant snow-covered peak appeared before us. Being a mountain researcher, fatigue has a strange way of disappearing when the landscape continues to reveal something new. What stayed with me most was not a single destination, but the succession of landscapes we had travelled through from the tropical vegetation and Brahmaputra valley around Guwahati, through the forests of the Kameng foothills, pine and rhododendron forests of Bomdila and Dirang, to the alpine vegetation and stark beauty of Sela Pass and Tawang. I felt that we had travelled through much more than mountains. We had crossed ecological zones, encountered multiple types plant diversity and entered landscapes shaped by centuries of Himalayan culture and tradition. Five days in Tawang and a total of 15 days in this region deepened that feeling. Looking back, the journey feels less like a trip that ended more like a journey that continues in memory. The forests, orchids, Rhododendrons, alpine flowers, mountain streams, monasteries and quiet villages remain vivid long after the road has disappeared behind us. Perhaps that is what makes travelling through the Northeast so special the landscape does not simply pass before your eyes indeed it stays with you. And somewhere between the Brahmaputra valley and the high mountains of Tawang, I realised that some journeys are not measured by the distance travelled, but by how deeply they change the way we see a landscape. Dr Anil Kumar is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Management (CBCM), G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora, Uttarakhand. A passionate mountain traveller and nature lover, Anil has travelled across many high altitude Himalayan ranges in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Leh–Ladakh, and Northeast India. Driven by an enduring curiosity, his research focuses on the intricate connections between landscape ecology, biodiversity, and conservation. Anil hails from Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.