Tawang - Arunachal Pradesh Trip Planning / Discussion

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

TF Folks,

Has anyone travelled to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh? We are planning to go to Tawang by Helicopter from Guwahati. IHCL has opened Hotel (Under Vivanta Brand name) in Tawang recently a year back, so any one has stayed there? Any suggestions or travel experiences would be appreciated.

 

[kuchbhikuchbhi is verified member.]

by Helicopter from Guwahati. IHCL has opened Hotel

😵 😮 🙀 .

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

😵 😮 🙀 .

Any ideas? Or suggestions?

 

[kuchbhikuchbhi is verified member.]

Any ideas? Or suggestions?

No sir,
Never have I ever travelled alone till now.
Don't have any experience in this field.
Never planned any trip.

 

[Paradjanov]

TF Folks,

Has anyone travelled to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh? We are planning to go to Tawang by Helicopter from Guwahati. IHCL has opened Hotel (Under Vivanta Brand name) in Tawang recently a year back, so any one has stayed there? Any suggestions or travel experiences would be appreciated.

Tawang is indeed a must-visit place. You wouldn’t repent it, ever.

The helicopter on the Guwahati-Tawang sector frequently gets cancelled due to bad weather. I understand the benefit of it—time it saves, as opposed to travelling by road—but the trip could very easily be cancelled, despite months of advancing preparation; which is why—despite spending more days in/for the trip—a road-trip to Tawang is always far more advisable than a helicopter trip. The road trip is now actually safer—and shorter—after the opening of the Sela Tunnel, just beneath Se La [pass].

From Guwahati, you’ll get plenty of cars to take you to Tawang. There are buses too. [Check RedBus.] However, a car would certainly be far more very comfortable than a bus would, and—importantly—give you far more agency in deciding where exactly to stop, and what exactly to see.

The mistake that many people make is to start their trip to Tawang from Guwahati. You should actually start from Tezpur, which is a city slightly less than 200 kms East/Northwest of Guwahati. The true “base” of everything pertaining to the western half of Arunachal Pradesh is actually this very city: Tezpur. Just about any commercial vehicle in Tezpur will happily take you to Tawang, with safer drivers [than those in Guwahati], and at better rates.

Additionally, Tezpur is a very scenic city, also has numerous forests and several National Parks nearby. 55 kms to the East of Tezpur is Kaziranga NP [a UNESCO WH site], and just 30 kms North of the city is Nameri NP [which falls on the road to Tawang anyway]. I would advise giving two days to Tezpur [and surroundings], before proceeding to Tawang.

If possible, try to stay for a night at Bomdila, which is, certainly, an attraction in itself.

[Regarding Vivanta Tawang: I haven’t been there; but I hear it’s very, very good.]

 

[darthvader1]

TF Folks,

Has anyone travelled to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh? We are planning to go to Tawang by Helicopter from Guwahati. IHCL has opened Hotel (Under Vivanta Brand name) in Tawang recently a year back, so any one has stayed there? Any suggestions or travel experiences would be appreciated.

As mentioned above the chopper service is very dicey.
Best is take a cab from Guwahati (Paltan Bazaar, just behind the Railway station), to Tawang. Do carry a couple of portable oxygen cyclinders, water, head ache medicines and winter clothings. The mentioned property is on the outskirts of Tawang and Tawang itself is best for 2 days max (even 1D 1N is suffice tbh).
Guwahati-Tawang is a painful journey though, ~10 hours or so. I'd visited Tawang in 2020.

 

[panchabhut]

Helicopter service in Arunachal is risky business. Remember, the then CM of Arunachal died in a helicopter crash.
Also, you will visit only once in a lifetime so no point in visiting Tawang alone. Bomdila and Dirang en route is also beautiful and demands equal attention. Also, Sela pass (old route) and Sela Tunnel (new route) also are must visit and can be covered by opting for one while going and the other while returning. You can also stay at Nameri Reserve forest which is between Tezpur and Bhalukpong.
Plan for about 6-8 days. While going break at Nameri and Dirang enroute, it would also give you time to adjust to altitude. While returning stay at Bomdila. While returning, from Bomdila you can take route via Rupa to Guwahati and have a short few hours visit inside Bhutan enroute.
Arunachal requires Inner Line Permit. Make sure to get it online before you travel. If you plan to visit Bhutan, carry Voter ID, they often refuse Adhaar.

 

[Jkt]

I went there last April for a week. go via road, i booked via My Tawang taxi, 8258080764. i was a good experience. booked cab from Guwahati Airport to Airport. the roads are better, Army maintains them. We stayed at Vivanta, the hotel is the best property in Tawang.

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

Helicopter service in Arunachal is risky business. Remember, the then CM of Arunachal died in a helicopter crash.
Also, you will visit only once in a lifetime so no point in visiting Tawang alone. Bomdila and Dirang en route is also beautiful and demands equal attention. Also, Sela pass (old route) and Sela Tunnel (new route) also are must visit and can be covered by opting for one while going and the other while returning. You can also stay at Nameri Reserve forest which is between Tezpur and Bhalukpong.
Plan for about 6-8 days. While going break at Nameri and Dirang enroute, it would also give you time to adjust to altitude. While returning stay at Bomdila. While returning, from Bomdila you can take route via Rupa to Guwahati and have a short few hours visit inside Bhutan enroute.
Arunachal requires Inner Line Permit. Make sure to get it online before you travel. If you plan to visit Bhutan, carry Voter ID, they often refuse Adhaar.

As mentioned above the chopper service is very dicey.
Best is take a cab from Guwahati (Paltan Bazaar, just behind the Railway station), to Tawang. Do carry a couple of portable oxygen cyclinders, water, head ache medicines and winter clothings. The mentioned property is on the outskirts of Tawang and Tawang itself is best for 2 days max (even 1D 1N is suffice tbh).
Guwahati-Tawang is a painful journey though, ~10 hours or so. I'd visited Tawang in 2020.

So in April weather will be little better, so will helicopter ride will be little better right?

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

I went there last April for a week. go via road, i booked via My Tawang taxi, 8258080764. i was a good experience. booked cab from Guwahati Airport to Airport. the roads are better, Army maintains them. We stayed at Vivanta, the hotel is the best property in Tawang.

Thanks for your view on Vivanta.

How long it took by road? Which vehicle was it?

 

[CARDBITRAGE]

So in April weather will be little better, so will helicopter ride will be little better right?

Yes. It should be fine after March, as the summer will start. But keep in touch with a taxi provider just in case of cancellations.

 

[Jkt]

Thanks for your view on Vivanta.

How long it took by road? Which vehicle was it?

You wont be able to reach Tawang in a single day. So you need to plan for a night stay on the way. Its a long but beautiful journey!
The vehicle we got was XUV500 + xylo