Located at the eastern most tip of the Indian Sub-continent lies the biggest national park of India. The Namdapha National Park covering an area of 2000 sq. km is situated in the beautiful valley of the Noa-Dihing like a finger into Myanmar. This rugged terrain formed by tropical rain forests of incredible biological diversity boasts of more than a 1000 plant species, over 500 bird species and a diversity of animal species that is still climbing steeply.
Namdapha National Park spans an altitude range from around 200m to over 4500m. This altitudinal diversity has given rise to many different forest types. The lower reaches are covered in extensive Tropical Wet Evergreen forests. At higher altitude’s, one witnesses Sub-Tropical and Temperate Broad leaved forests, and Pine forests, into Alpine Meadows, and permanent Snow & Ice. One goes from the land of the Clouded Leopard to the abode of the Red Panda – and perhaps the elusive Snow Leopard.
For the wildlife enthusiast, the mammals to be seen are Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Tiger, & at the higher reaches possibly even the Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Hillock Gibbon, the Malayan Giant Squirrel, Languors, the Assamese & stump tailed Macaque, Slow Loris, Flying Squirrel, Marbled Cat, Spotted Linasang, Civets, Deer’s, Takin, Bamboo Rats, Hog Badger and Wild Dogs.
For the bird enthusiast, the forest shelters many rare and threatened species found only in the North East within the country such as Grey Peacock – Pheasant, Red Leaded and Ward’s Trogons, Wedge-billed Wren Babbler, Snowy throat-ed Babbler, Hill Partridges and beautiful Nuthatch, and five different species of the Hornbill to name a few from the long list. A great diversity of insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles also add to the varied diversity of the forest and rivers of Namdapha.
Park has the largest population of Hoolock Gibbons in India Forests like those in Namdapha not only help in fixing the atmospheric carbon dioxide but because of its unique geographic location are home to myriad species of plants and animals, many of which are unique to Namdapha only, and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Namdapha is among the very few national parks in the country where one is allowed to camp and stay inside the forest premises. The forests are among one of the densest in the world, and to camp inside them gives the traveler a chance to live in absolute wildness. A minimum of 2 weeks is required if one has to properly explore this incredible forest. Greener Pastures recommends Namdapha as a really important wildlife site, and it is one of our prime objective to showcase this amazing place to our travelers, and in-turn help in the preservation of this land.
The Northeast India Travel Blog 