Karbi Anglong- A Paradise Unexplored

Rupjilika Timungpi

B.Tech, 2 nd Year

Civil Engineering Department

The Karbi Anglong district, situated in the heart of Assam, is bounded by the states of Nagaland and
the Golaghat district in the east; the “Abode of Clouds” Meghalaya, Kamrup and Morigaon districts
in the west; the Dima Hasao district in the south. Nagaon district bifurcates it into East and West
Karbi Anglong. However, recently West Karbi Anglong has been declared a new district with Hamren
as its headquarters. With its sprawling paddy fields, dark and dense forests, the magnificent hills and
mountains with water tumbling down them giving birth to heavenly waterfalls and the rivers flowing
lucidly in all its glory, Karbi Anglong presents picturesque and breathtaking images of Mother
Nature. Its richness in biodiversity is reflected in the numerous species of flora fauna coexisting
together in a perfect blend of harmony. With the marvellous bounty and glorious treasures and
wealth of nature that the Almighty had bestowed it with, Karbi Anglong has immense potential to be
developed into the ultimate destination for tourists, trekkers, wildlife enthusiasts and
photographers. This exquisitely beautiful hilly place however remains unknown to many of the
residents of Assam, let alone India and the rest of the world.

Rich and diverse wildlife is one of the main features of the forests of Karbi Anglong. Following are
some of the wildlife sanctuaries of the district:

The East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary – The East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at
a distance of 37 km from Dokmoka. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year 2000. This
sanctuary, covering an area of about 221.8 sq.km, houses animals like elephant,tiger,langur,different
varieties of reptiles and amphibians like Brown Tortoise, Python, King Cobra, Monitor Lizard etc.
About 260 species of birds have been recorded to be found here.

Garampani

Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary – Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 451 sq.km,
Diphu being the nearest town to it. It was officially declared a wildlife Sanctuary on 17 th April, 2003.
It is an ideal habitat to a great variety of different species of mammals like Elephant, Tiger, Lesser
Cat, Barking Deer, Wild Pig etc and birds like Hornbill, white winged duck etc. The river Jamuna flows
beside this sanctuary and the area is hilly along with the presence of swamps and marshy areas.

Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary – The Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the border of the
Karbi Anglong and Golaghat District .It covers an area of 6.05 sq km and is about 92kms away from
Diphu. Established in the year 1952, it is one of the oldest sanctuaries and is particularly famous for
the natural hot spring which is popularly known as Garampani as water in it remains warm
throughout the year, irrespective of the prevailing season. It houses endangered species of flora and
fauna and numerous varieties of mammals, reptiles and birds.

North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary – This is a proposed wildlife sanctuary situated to the south
of the Kaziranga National Park and generally is a home to animals which migrate to it during the
occurrence of floods. Animals commonly found here are Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Bears, and
Hoolock Gibbon. It is about 205 kms away from Diphu town.

For people seeking recluse from their tedious schedules and boredom, the following treasures of
Karbi Anglong are sure to give them the peace and tranquillity they are seeking for.

Silbheta – Silbheta, flowing alongside the serpentine national highway (NH-36) connecting
Bakaliaghat and Diphu, presents an enchanting view to the travellers as they pass by it. The lush
greenery in and around the place is due to the presence of rain forests on all sides. Silbheta is a
popular picnic spot and people throng this place in large numbers during the months of December-
January. Due to the high inflow of tourists, a park has been developed for recreation purposes. The
area is also very rich in trees like teak which are safeguarded by the Forest Department of the
district.

Silbheta Dikrutpi (Bheloghat)

Dikrutpi Waterfalls – The Dikrutpi waterfalls has recently become a favourite place for nature
lovers and avid photographers. Popularly known as Bheloghat all over Assam, the Dikrutpi falls is a
grand spectacle in the true sense with sparkling white water flowing down from the bosom of the
mountain. It is about 100 kms away from Diphu, Dokmoka being the nearest town.
 Jambili Athon (Recreation Park)

Recreation Park – The Biodiversity-cum-Recreation Park, located in the Diphu-Manja route, was an
initiative of the Department of Environment and Forest, under the administration of the Karbi
Anglong Autonomous Council. It was under the guidance and the idea of a Forest Range Officer in
the year 1998 to develop the area covering 40 hectares to be developed into a botanical garden due
to its soil which is suitable for the growth of various kinds of medicinal plants, flowers and fruits. As
many as 700 species of plants are there in this park, out of which some are yet to be identified.
Moreover, this park is a home to a variety of wild animals, birds and reptiles. Manmade structures
add to the beauty and charm of the already alluring environment of the park.

Karbi Hem-tun

The Jambili Athon, which is the cultural symbol of the Karbis, has been beautifully constructed near
the old entrance of the park. A replica of Hem Tun (traditional bamboo cottage of the Karbis), made
of concrete, has been constructed in the premises and the traditional utensils like lumphlak, beleng,
etc. present inside it, showcases the unique and day to day life of the Karbis. The exceptional
carvings on the trunk of a dead standing tree, standing in the middle of the park throws light on the
brilliant and exquisite skills and craftsmanship of the workers of the region; the theme of the carving
being the conservation and preservation of the balance in nature. The park also has a zone for the
amusement and enjoyment of children. Besides these, the park also has a gigantic model of a hill
tortoise, a water fountain and a water tank which is depicted in the form of planet Earth.

Apart from these, the park also has boating facilities for visitors. The floral diversity is also one of
the main attractions of this park. It provides shelter to around 80 indigenous flower species, 16
numbers of bamboo species and 25 numbers of orchid species.

Koka – Koka, situated in West Karbi Anglong and about 30kms away from Nagaon, is a scintillating
cascade of radiant blue water which is a must in every enthusiastic traveller’s bucket list. The
pristinely beautiful surroundings and the exuberant growth of vegetation in its vicinity make it a
natural masterpiece. It has become one of the most sought hubs for picnic and excursion purposes.

Koka Kangthilangso

Kangthilangso – Kangthilangso is a hidden jewel situated in the serene village of Kangthi, around 12
kms from Dengaon. It is an exotic location where one can spend quality time with their loved ones
and bask in the arms of nature, while beholding the mystic and breathtaking charisma that the
quaint little waterfall possesses.

Longsokangthu (Siloni) – Siloni or Longsokangthu Eco tourism Park is a wonderful picnic spot in
East Karbi Anglong. With recreation facilities available, it is an ideal place for relaxation as one
observes the spectacular view of the crystal clear water gushing past the rocky surface.

Longsokangthu Ecotourism Park

Khanduli – Khanduli is temperate grassland located in the Dongkamukam block of West Karbi
Anglong. It is situated at a distance of 26 kms from Hamren, the headquarters of West Karbi
Anglong. This place is a favourite among visitors because of the alluring backdrop and calm environ
that the undulating topography of the grassland offers.

Singhason Peak – The peak of the Singhason hill, situated at an altitude of 1600 m above the sea
level, is the highest in Karbi Anglong. It is a place of attraction for passionate trekkers who encounter
rocky and bumpy terrains throughout their way, with the gigantic rain forests conferring on them
the extra adventure because of animals like golden langurs, deer, pygmy hog that thrives in them.
The Singhason Peak also boasts of an army airstrip which was constructed by the British during the
Second World War. Standing at the zenith, one can have an intriguing sight of the majestic
Brahmaputra valley, the Barail and Patkai ranges and the Himalayan ranges, the Abode of Ice. The
view is sure to arrest one’s eyes so much so that it leaves one with a sense of wonder on the
prowess of scenic beauty.

Taralangso Karbi People’s Hall- The Karbi People’s Hall, maintained by the Karbi Cultural Society, is
located in Taralangso, a heritage village, situated about 6 kms away from Diphu Town. With an
amphitheatre and open auditorium, it is the venue of the annual Karbi Youth Festival held every
year during the month of February with great fanfare and gaiety. The Karbi Youth Festival is a
portrayal of the vibrant and kaleidoscopic culture of the region represented through the traditional
dances, folk songs, artistically woven clothes, beautifully carved ornaments and the rich ethnic tribal
cuisine. It sees the coming together of all the communities residing in the hilly district and embracing
one another’s cultures with open arms and joyful spirits. It has been recognized as the largest ethnic
festival in the North Eastern part of India.
 Glimpse of Karbi Youth Festival at Taralangso

It would not be wrong to say that although Karbi Anglong has tremendous potentialities, its tourism
industry has a long way to go since its potentials has remained undiscovered and untapped
unfortunately throughout the past years. Numerous problems hinder it from flourishing even if
there is ample scope for development. One of the main factors, I would say, is the unstable law and
order situation prevailing in the district. Due to the frequent bandhs, strikes and attacks, people
consider it unsafe to travel to this otherwise beautiful place. Secondly, a place of accommodation
along with hygienic food and water is a necessity wherever a traveller goes. Due to the lack of good
hotels, lodges and resorts near the tourist spots, it becomes difficult for visitors to plan a trip to
these places. Furthermore, most of these tourist spots are not located by the national highways and
the roads leading to them are narrow and are in poor conditions with large potholes and stones
making it partly inaccessible to people. Therefore, for the progress of the tourism industry, the
problem of unrest in the political scenario should be resolved at the earliest and the government
must allocate funds for the improvement of communication and they must also lay emphasis on
providing sanitation facilities, river cruising and sightseeing towers in those places. Moreover,
initiatives should be taken for the provision of accommodation close to the tourist spots. If these
methodologies are successfully implemented, it is very likely for the tourists to get attracted. With
the increase in the number of tourists, it will increase the employment opportunities of the local
people and also throw spotlight on the region. With this, it might attract the attention of the higher
authorities towards the region who would then look into it with interest and would be likely to work
for its growth and development not only in the aspects of tourism, but also in the fields of
commerce, industry, agriculture and education.

As is seen, Karbi Anglong has been blessed with impeccable natural as well as cultural beauty which
can make it the forefront in the tourism business. However, mere presence of several tourist spots is
not enough. Coordinated efforts of the public as well as Government is highly required for meeting
all the requirements of its evolution, which can then help in economic development of the region
and reduce poverty to a certain extent.

KARDOM