General Information
Area of the Park: 1985.23 square kilometers
Longitude: 96°15’ E to 96°58’ E
Latitude: 27°23’ N to 27°39’ N
Altitude : 200 metres to 4571 metres
Temperature (°C): Varies from 37°C to 8°C
Rainfall: Varies from 1485 mm to 2508 mm
Clothing: Cotton for Summer & Woolen for Winter
Languages Spoken: Tangsa, Singpho, Assamese, Hindi, English
Best season: October to April
Address: Namdapha National Park, Miao, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India, PIN: 792 122
Namdhapa is a combination of two Singpho words “Nam” means water and “Dapha” means origin (the river which originates from Dapha Bum glaciers. This National Park is a 1,985 square kilometers (766 square miles) large protected area in Arunachal Pradesh of Northeast India. It including a buffer zone of 177 square kilometers / 68 square miles and a core area of 1,808 square kilometers i.e. 698 square miles. Namdapha was originally declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1972, then a National Park in 1983, and became a Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger scheme in the same year.
With more than 1000 floral and about 1400 faunal species, it is a biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas. The national park harbours the northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests in the world at 27°N latitude. It also harbours extensive dipterocarp forests, comprising the northwestern parts of the Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests ecoregion. It is the fourth largest national park in India.The national park is located in the Changlang district of the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, near the international border with Myanmar. It is located between the Dapha bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range with a wide elevation range between 200 meters to 4,571 meters i.e. 656 feet to 14,997 feet. It is crossed from east to west by the Noa Dihing River that originates at the Chaukan Pass, located on the Indo-Myanmar border. The land cover changes with increasing elevation from tropical evergreen forests to temperate broadleaf and mixed forest.Namdapha is Botanist’s dream and it may take as long as 50 years to complete a comprehensive survey of its botanical resources. There are more than 150 timber species. The Pinus merkusi and Abies delavavi are not found elsewhere in India. One of the rarest and endangered orchids, the Blue Vanda found here. The most famous local medicinal plant Mishimi Teeta (Copti teeta), which is used by the local tribal for all kinds of diseases is available here but its export has been banned.
Mammals: Because of the elevation range from 300 meters to 4,500 meters i.e. 980 feet to 14,760 feet and vegetation zones from evergreen, moist deciduous to temperate broadleaved and coniferous forest types to alpine vegetation, the park is home to a great diversity of mammal species. It is only park in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia), and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa), and numbers of Lesser cats also. Other predators present in the protected area are dhole, Malayan sun bear, Indian wolf, and Asiatic black bear. Smaller carnivores include red panda, red fox, yellow-throated marten, Eurasian otter, Oriental small-clawed otter, spotted linsang, binturong, Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, large Indian civet, masked palm civet, marbled cat, fishing cat, Asian golden cat, and two mongoose species. Large herbivores are represented by an Indian elephant, wild boar, musk deer, Indian muntjac, hog deer, sambar, gaur, goral, mainland serow, takin, and bharal. Non-human primates present include stump-tailed macaque, slow loris, hoolock gibbon, capped langur, Assamese macaque, and rhesus macaque. The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) was first collected in the park and described. It is endemic to the park and critically endangered.
Birds: The park has about 425 bird species with many more to be recorded from work in the higher areas. There are five species of hornbills recorded from the area. Several species of rare wren-babblers have been recorded in Namdapha. Other bird groups include laughing thrushes, parrotbills, fulvettas, shrike babblers and scimitar babblers. The snowy throated babbler is a rare species of babbler found only in the Patkai and Mishmi Hills and nearby areas in Northern Myanmar, is found in Namdapha. Other rare, restricted range or globally endangered species include the rufous-necked hornbill, green cochoa, purple cochoa, beautiful nuthatch, Ward’s trogon, ruddy kingfisher, blue-eared kingfisher, white-tailed fish eagle, Eurasian hobby, pied falconet, white-winged wood duck, Himalayan wood-owl, rufous-throated hill-partridge, and white-cheeked hill partridge. Several leaf warblers and migrants such as amur falcon and several thrushes can be seen here. The first mid-winter waterfowl census in Namdapha was conducted in 1994 when species such as the white-bellied heron, a critically endangered bird was recorded for the first time.
Butterflies and Moths: The region is very rich in Lepidoptera species. Both butterflies and moths are found in equal abundance here, along with a variety of other insects. As per the observations taken during the National, Camp organised here in October 2014 by BNHS, a lot of rare species of butterflies were seen. These include the Koh-i-noor, naga tree brown, red caliph, cruiser, wizard, fluffy tit, East Himalayan purple emperor
Ethnography: There are a few settlements of Lisu tribal people within the park. Most of the Lisus are, however, located beyond the eastern border of the park towards the international border of India with Myanmar. There are also Chakma, Tangsa, and Singpho settlements around the park. Some of the locations of interest in the park that have been identified are
Deban: A beautiful forest camp on the bank of the river Noa-Dihing. It is located within the boundary of Namdapha National Park. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of overlooking the Noa-Dihing River. The Forest Inspection Bungalow located at Deban itself surrounded by evergreen forest overlooking the river Noa-Dihing is worth-staying. It is also ideal for trekking, hiking, and angling on the river Noa-Dihing.
Firmbase: Located on the Noa-Dehing Riverbank 25 Kilometers from the Deban Forest lodge. This is a popular camping site full of nature’s splendours. The track leading to the idyllic spot is enveloped by luxuriant forest and it is not uncommon to come across birds and wild animals on the way. For camping at Firm base, equipment and guide provided by the forest department is a unique experience.
Hornbill: Just 09 kilometers from Deban, this is as the name suggests is a homing ground for hornbills. Here flocks of these birds can be frequently spotted flying from one grove to another.
Haldibari: This picturesque camping spot, just 05 kilometers away from Deban, lies across the Noa-Dehing river can be reached by boat. An overnight stay here is an enjoyable experience in jungle camping.
Bulbulia: This is an enchanting camping site overlooking a large aquifer and derives its name from its several natural springs. You need to be extremely lucky for an opportunity to stay here overnight and experience close encounters with wild animals frequenting the water holes in the dark.
Camera Point: This camping site, as the name suggests offers a vantage point for a breath-taking view of Namdapha and its lush green landscape.
Moti Jheel: There are a pair of large forest-encased aquifers in this spot providing grazing pasture for a number of herbivores. The 5 kilometers track from Gibbons land to this enchanting site is a veritable feast for bird watchers.
Gandhigram: It is situated in the southeast periphery of Namdapha. This is the remotest and the last village in India wedged China and Myanmar and is the homeland of Lisu (Yobin) tribe. The village is at a distance of about 120 kilometers from Deban. A weeklong trek through lush jungles is more enjoyable for those having a craving for adventure.
Communication: To reach Namdapha, Dibrugarh airport and Tinsukia rail station are the nearest points. Assam State Transport Corporation and Arunachal Pradesh State Transport buses ply daily from Dibrugarh to Miao via Tinsukia, Margherita, Ledo, Jagun, and Kharsang. The attractive little township of Miao on the banks of the river Dehing in the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh is a threshold entry for Namdapha. The distance between Dibrugarh and Miao is hardly 160 kilometers. A further one-hour drive through an enchanting 26 kilometers stretch of forest road interspread by several streams, runoffs, falls, narrow gorges brings a new destination Deban, a tiny hamlet nestled between the gentle folds of the Patkai range of hills of the great Himalayas. It is advisable to have own transport, as taxies from Miao to Deban could prove very expensive. The best season to visit the park is from October to April, till the onset of monsoons. How to get there: Air: Nearest Airport: at Mohanbari, Dibrugarh, Assam 182 kilometers from Forest Rest House, Deban, within the Namdapha National Park area. Rail: The nearest long-distance Railway station is Tinsukia Railway Station, Assam, 141 kilometers from Forest Rest House, Deban, within the Namdapha National Park area. The nearest Passenger Railway station is Margherita Railway Station, Assam, 91 kilometers from Forest Rest House, Deban, within the Namdapha National Park area. Road: Good motorable road is connected up to Miao which is the entry point of Namdapha. The Forest Rest House, Deban, within the Namdapha National Park area is 186 kilometers from Dibrugarh, 141 kilometers from Tinsukia, 91 kilometers from Margherita and 136 kilometers from the district headquarter Changlang.
Stay: Tucked in the dense forests of Miao, near the beautiful Noa Dihing river in Arunachal Pradesh is a warm and cozy place called the Namdapha Jungle Camp. Namdhapa Jungle Camp offers one of the finest stays. Visit and feel the stay with nature. Experience the rich local culture, food, flora, and fauna that the stay has to offer. Get one with the local tribes, take in the sights and smells with a walk in the local market. Enjoy the quiet riverside of the Noa Dihing River with snacks and your favorite drinks/books. Take in the scenic views and dense jungles. Experience Namdhapa and the promoter Phupla Singhpho of the stay
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