Dehing Patkai National Park - A Naturalists Haven

A vast stretch of forest cover in the heart of Assam, where emerald forests of hollong stretch as far as the eye can see, there lies a National Park of enchantment that awakens the senses and delights the soul. Its realm untouched by time home to endangered species, emerges as a birders & butterfly lover's haven, where nature's most delicate dancers, primates take center stage in a symphony of color and grace.Did you say it Kaziranga ?.No you got it wrong.It is Dehing Patkai National Park !. A Naturalist Haven & is waiting for you to be Xplored

Dec 9, 2024 - 11:13 Updated: Jan 1, 2025 - 10:50

0 279

Dehing Patkai National Park - A Naturalists Haven

Inside Dehing Patkai NP

The New CAA amendment act passed on 11 December 2019 had disrupted our travel plan and we had to cancel our much awaited trip in last minute. Entry and travel in Bodo land, which is the gateway to Northeast and travel beyond seemed to be a nightmare.!

After desperately waiting for 5 years i could plan a trip to Arunachal Pradesh and Dehing Patkai National Park located in Rhino Land - Assam.

Though not many will be able to decipher Dehing Patkai National Park (DPNP) on a map, it’d been on my must visit places for decades. It only was in limelight after it became a National Park in year 2020.

You can have a glance about River Dehing and interesting facts about Patkai here

Around 6:30 am, we were at the entry point , Soraipung, which is around 20 km from the town. “ Sorai ” literally means bird in Assamese and this area seemed like a birding heaven with tall trees surrounding a small open area from three sides. We finished the formalities and we could see only one narrow mud path leading into the jungle. It was dense that it was hard to see too far beyond a few metres. The sun was up and was making furious attempts to pierce through the canopy.

After a briefing, we gained entry into the park accompanied by guides, forest guards armed with guns. After about 10 minutes walk, the guide identified a mating call of Grey Peacock Pheasant, Streaked Wren Babbler in the bushes and soon we walked into the bushes in a narrow path.Because of thick canopy, we could only hear to the calls of elusive bird.

Our guide Vijay Panikar, pointed at the giant trees that was rising above the canopy and mentioned that it was hollong trees. Few interesting fallacies about hollong trees. Firstly, they are the state trees of both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, secondly, they are an important part of the habitat of hoolock gibbons

( Here you need to notice that similarity in the names, both the English names have been derived from Assamese names).

( You can see my blog on Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary )

Hollong trees rise above the rest piercing the sky

Another interesting thing about these trees is the big helicopter seeds. They look like two giant wings Propellers and can rotate and fly away in the wind, especially when they fall from such a height. This helps the seeds spread far and wide for pollination. I picked up one of them and tried dropping rising my hands above.

We continued the walk and we could hear some loud calls from a distance. It was of Hoolock gibbons and capped langurs resting on trees.We could see fresh elephant dungs along the sides. We had been asked to be careful and could see certain pathways through the jungle that should be elephant crossing points..

Haven for Butterfly & Birdwatchers

I could see only few in the morning, as the sunlight intensified i could spot many species along the path.Few species like Commander,Tawny Nawab, Nawab,Sikkim Spot Judy,Common Leopard,Orange staff Sergeant,False tiger moth, Purple hair streak,Himalayan Color Sergeant,Common Baron, Common Pierrot, Common fouring, Golden banded skipper,Great Eggly,Common Castor,White dragon tailed butterflies, few moths, Lesser gull and Red Lace wing

We could hear the chirping of birds from thickets.Which included Sultan Tit,Parakeets,Rufous throated fulvetta,Pygmy cupwing,Larger scimitar babbler,Pygmy flycatcher,Black backed forktail,Scarlet minivet,Common Iora to name few

State Bird of Maharastra

On the second day,it was a bit muggy weather.Maji had sighted a herd of elephants in the bushes.So we turned back from bridge.During the return journey, I walked ahead of Maji.I could hear Maji calling me in a feeble voice, " Sir aapko Ek surprise hai, dekho Upar pedh pe " i was fortunate to spot a Capped Langur Mother with a young one resting cozily embracing a branch of a tree.The sun rays kissing the canopy.It posed for us for few minutes and later moved to other tree in the wink of the eye.

Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Their population is declining are Nationally protected in all the countries of their existence

After lunch, i heard about White winged wood duck from Maji, I was fascinated to sight it in the woods.However my first attempt in the evening to get a glimpse of elusive bird was futile.I still insisted Maji to give a try next morning in the wee hours.

Check my details blog on White winged wood duck - A Celebrity of Woodlands. We were very very fortunate to sight it next day morning.

Known as deo haans (spirit duck) in Assamese due to its ghostly call.

It is the state bird of Assam

As per IUCN status it is Most ENDANGERED

I personally felt that over shadowed by Kaziranga National Park these places have been neglected and are in sheer threat in the hands of bussiness entreprenuers.

Having spent 2 full days i was elated and not willing to go back to concrete jungle again.

The fight for declaring Dehing patkai as National Park of Nature Enthusiasts and local community is highly commendable.

In the meanwhile as i left the village in the evening.Looking at the colourful sun and chirping of birds i felt that is is high time to protect the species before they disappear forever. We need to remember that we have No REASON to let the white-winged duck lose its existence and fade out of our country.

“The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.”

DEHING PATKAI NATIONAL PARK

Location

It is located in the northeastern corner of Assam bordering Arunachal Pradesh on the foothills of Patkai hills.

Nearest Railhead & Airport

Tinsukia is nearest Railhead 30 km away

Dibrugarh is nearby Airport about 60 km away.

Entry Permits

Permit is required to enter the National park

Timings 6 :00 am to 5 :00 pm

Entry Fee Indian Citizens INR 100/- Per entry

Camera Fee INR 100/- Per entry

Non Indians

Entry Fee INR Rs 650/- Per entry

Camera Fee INR Rs 200/-

ACCOMODATION

I opted for a Basic Homestay at Sorai Pung and food was at its best and affordable.The stay is located just a km before the main entrance to Dehing Patkai National park

Cost for stay Rs 750/- Per person/ Day