ECOTOURISM

Sustainable and Responsible Tourism:

Sustainable tourism is: "Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future."*

"Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism ... requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary. Sustainable tourism should ... ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them." (World Tourism Organization, 2004)

Sustainable development implies "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)

Responsible tourism:

- minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts
- generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well being of host communities
- improves working conditions and access to the industry
- involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
- makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity
- provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues
- provides access for physically challenged people
- is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

(Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations, 2002

SPOTS IN ASSAM-

MAJULI,

DIBRU-SAIKHOWA,

JATINGA

MAJULI

Majuli is the largest fresh Water mid-river deltaic island in the world. It is situated in the upper reaches of the river Brahmaputra in Assam within the latitude of 26⁰45’ N – 27⁰12’ N & longitude of 93⁰39’ E – 94⁰35’ E with mean height of 84.5 Mt. above MSL. This landmass, with a population of 1.6 Lakhs, majority being tribals, has a very rich heritage and has been the abode of Assamese Vashnavite culture with tremendous option for spiritual and Eco-tourism. The island is a bio-diversity hotspot and has rich ecology with rare breeds of flora and fauna.

Majuli at a Glance

• The largest Mid-river Deltaic island in the World with a population 0.16 Million
• It is the Abode of Assamese Vaishnavite Culture religion preserve in the Vaishnavite Monasteries called Sattras, a National Classical Dance form of India the Sattriya Dance evolve in the Sattras of Majuli.
• A visible living tradition of men and nature relationship evolved over centuries by a protracted process of assimilation of diverse ethnicities.
• Located in South Asia.
• Situated in India's North Eastern State of Assam.
• It is a Sub-division of District Jorhat of Upper Assam.
• This island is in the middle of the Brahmaputra , India's most tempestuous river, which is 2880 Km. long from its source to destination and bay of Bengal.
• It is located 1100 Km from the mouth of the river Brahmaputra in Tibet.
• Its land mass extends for a length of about 80 KM along east-west direction.
• It lies between latitudes 26⁰45' N and 27⁰10' N and longitudes 93⁰40' E and 94⁰35' E and covers an area of about 880 sq. Km.
• The average height of this island above mean sea level varies from 85 to 95 meters.
• Majuli Island experiences annual Flood and Land Erosion.
• A bio-diversity hotspot with a very unique assemblage.
• The Island has a tremendous potential for Spiritual, Cultural and Eco-tourism.
• The Cultural and National uniqueness of Majuli’s Heritage is presently undergoing scrutiny and consideration for declaring it as World Heritage site as Cultural landscape by UNESCO.

DIBRU-SAIKHOWA

The Govt. has recognized, Dibru-Saikhowa is a reserve forest, a Sanctuary, an Important Birds Area (IBA) a National Park and a Bio-sphere Reserve. However, its importance is not confined to that. In fact, Dibru-Saikhowa is endowed with such characteristic features and potential that it is likely to be one of the most important tourist spots in the world one day. It is a National Park on a river island which is the most famous wet land in India. It is the only National Park in India where eight rivers flowing from various directions have met. On the other hand many naturalists claim that Dibru-Saikhowa is the largest river island National Park (340 Sq.mtr.) in the world. Many channels from these rivers again intersect one another in the heart of the dense forest of Dibru-Saikhowa, adding to the natural beauty of this National Park. The Kalomi Nullah is the main attraction among these channels. The starting point of the Borluit or the Brahmmaputra proper at the lower part of this National Park which is the confluence of the Dibang, the Siang and the Luit rivers, is the most attractive place for the tourists. Besides its flora and fauna, especially Salix tree, Orchids, River Dolphins, Wild Horses, Marsh Babbler, Falcated Teal, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black-Breasted Parrot Bill, White Winged Wood Duck, Bengal Florican, Giant Chenga Fish etc. In fact, Dibru-Saikhowa is a bird watcher’s paradise. About 500 species of various migratory and local birds have been sighted here till now as per record. It needs to be mentioned that Dibru-Saikhowa is the only National Park in India which houses wild horses. Another attraction of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is two forest villages inside the National Park, viz. Laika and Dodhia – of the Mishing Tribe. The ethnic diversity, lifestyle and cultural tradition of other ethnic tribes such as the Mottocks, the Morans, the Sonowal Kocharis and the Nepalis are also quite attractive for interested tourists. Dibru-Saikhowa has immense potential as a flood tour spot since most of the areas of this National Park remain under flood water during the rainy season. The number of picnickers that come to Dibru-Saikhowa during winter is the highest in Assam. This National Park is situated at a distance of 8 kilometers from Tinsukia – the hub of trade and commercial activities in Upper Assam. The nearest airports are Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) and Nadua (Chabua) – 30 kilometers and 20 kilometers respectively from Tinsukia.

TWO SPECIAL PACKAGES  IN DIBRU-SAIKHOWA:

Package No 1: (Picnic or Educational Tour)

This package is arranged during the period October to March every year. This is the best time for the bird watchers in Dibru-Saikhowa. This is also the best season for trekking since the rivers, channels dry-up during this period. This package is for those who intend to savour the local culinary delicacies in the midst of scenic beauty of wilderness without causing any damage to nature; for those who want to have a view of the flora and fauna of the National Park and those who want to be familiar with the tradition, culture and history of the local people. Such tourists are served breakfast in the early morning and are taken on a guided tour to Maguri-Motapung Beel (IBA) for watching the migratory as well as local birds. After the lunch at the Eco-Camp, the  tourists are taken for trekking inside the National Park. On return journey they are shown river dolphins at the Dolphin Point. They are then taken for a river cruise on country boats along the river Lohit to have a glimpse of the spectacular sunset of Dibru-Saikhowa which is followed by camp fire at the Eco Camp.We have a tie up with Wave-Ecotourism .

Package No 2: (Flood Tour)

Each and every tour of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park during the period from April to September is adventurous. Most parts of Dibru-Saikhowa remains inundated with flood water during this period and rowing through the innumerable channels and nullahs during this period is an invitation to adventurous pleasure. Watching various birds and orchids rowing through the lines of Salix trees, taking food on changs (temporary raised bamboo platforms), enjoying the wild natural beauty from the Kalomi Camp are other attractions of this package.

Besides these, interested tourists can have tours of their own choice and itinerary by prior arrangement with Hrishikesh Travels,Guwahati- is now operating in other spots such as Kaziranga, Nameri, Manah, Mazuli, Tawang, Eaglenest, Malini Than, Dihing Patkai, Namdapha, Parshuram Kunda, Tezu, Bhismak Nagar, Miodia, Hunli, Anini, Sadiya, Phaneng Village, Barekuri Hoolockgibbon Park, Brahmaputra-Luhit-Siang-Dibang rivers etc besides Dibru-Saikhowa.

The General Package:

1.    Educational Tour.

2.    Group Picnic.

3.    Adventure Tour – (a) Trekking, (b) Rafting, (c) Swimming, (d) Wild-life watching, (e) River Cruise, (f) Flood Tour

4.    Ethnic-Pilgrimages – Tours of Historical Places.

5.    Film and Documentary shooting.

6.    Jungle Camping and Nature Photography.  

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N.C.Hills ............

Some call it a Magic land......

Some call it a Green Paradise......

& some, the God's Picture Book..

Each place of the district has something celestial &  amazing to offer......

Journey through this land means to stir up your mind & kindle your imagination.........

Let's discover this wonderland ....

"The North Cachar Hills"

HAFLONG:   Up in the rugged terrains    stands Assam’s only  hill  station Haflong, where one can see the rainbow down below. It is the Dist. Head Qr. of  N.C.Hills District. The hills emerge from the heart of Assam like chorus of silent hymns & rise up to the sky like the crescendo. The sportive clouds play around the cliffs like gleeful children. The limitless green rolls away to distant horizon in a beautiful rhythm. Hilly Assam is a land of sensuousness. A heaven to the senses where one touches the sweetest dream with one’s finger. The mountains float in the distant sky. The clouds descend & snugly lie below one’s feet.

Where to stay   : Circuit House,  Dak-Bunglow  ( Addl. Circuit House),  Council's  Guest House,  Hotel Elite,  Hotel Jayashree, Hotel Eastern.

What to wear     : Heavy woollen in Winter. Cotton in Summer.

Other attraction  :  Exciting Trekking in Borail Hills, Traditional dances of the Tribals. 

JATINGA: Just 9 kms from Haflong. World wide famous for birdmystery (Birds Harakiri). The migratory birds come during the monthsAugust to November & it becomes the ornithologist's attraction. From the elevated watch tower one can see them yielding to their death wish & their little plumage dropping down.

MAIBANG:Located on the bank of the river Mahur and 53 kms from Haflong. Maibang once flourished as the capital of Dimasa, kachari Kingdom. Stone house & temple of Kachari king & other ruins of the kingdom are the main attractions of the place.

Where to stay   : P.W.D. Guest House, Irrigation I.B. 

UMRANGSO:112 km from Haflong & 224 kms from Guwahati .The huge Hydel plant has come up under North East electric Power Corporation(NEEPCO) with dams in the Kopili river.

Near Umrangso, there is a Hot spring( GARAMPANI),the water of which is believed to have medicinal value.

Where to stay   : NEEPCO Guest House, P.W.D. Guest House,D.C.'s I.B., & other Guest Houses of Cement factories.

PANIMOOR:Approximately 120 kms away from Haflong, & 8-10 kms from Haflong Tiniali,The Kopili River turns into a thrilling waterfall, rolling over the rocks of Panimoor. 

Where to stay   : Forest Inspection Bunglow, PWD IB at Diyungmukh

Other beautiful places of N.C.Hills  are Laisong, Semkhor, Gunjung, Khorongma, Harangajao, Pathar Nalla waterfalls in the Khrungming Reserve Forest etc.                                 

JATINGA –NC HILLS

As fog comes on a moonless night......

When the wind blows in direction right....

Jatinga turns into an island of search light,

& birds appear like ghosts from nowhere.

Jatinga, famous for the phenomenon of birds “committing suicide”, is located on a spur of the Haflong ridge, the head quarter of the district.  It itself is an offshoot of the main ridge of the Borail range. It is centrally located at the junction of the roads leading to Haflong, Lumding and Silchar. Here the mist & fog lie like a veil around the beautiful face of the damsel from September to November. During these late monsoon months, mysterious behaviour of birds takes place. However, some other conditions are also necessary for the phenomenon to occur.  The air must be foggy, cloudy or misty. If there is slight rain, it would be even better. The wind must be from south to north. It should be moonless dark nights. And the best time is between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.  

Curiously, most of the doomed birds do not attempt to fly away after they land near the lights. They look dazed and disheveled, perhaps due to the trauma of the whole shocking experience. Such birds fall easy prey to the villagers. Some of the birds hovering around the light sources are brought down by a vigorous swing of the bamboo poles. Catapults are also used to bring down the birds in flight as well as those perching on the trees and bushes near the light sources. However, contrary to the popular belief, birds do not commit suicide. Under circumstances not yet fully explained, these birds get caught in the fog and wind, get disoriented and seek solace of the light sources put out by the villagers. They hit against trees or other objects and get injured in their flight towards the light source. The villagers hit the hovering birds with bamboo poles or catapults to bring them down

Various studies have been conducted to unravel the causes behind this phenomenon.  The record maintained show that 44 species have been attracted to the light sources. It has been established that the birds are not attracted to the entire Jatinga Ridge but only to a well-defined strip, 1.5 km long and 200 metres wide. Invariably the birds come in only from the north and attempts at placing the lights on the southern side of the ridge to attract the birds have failed. Another interesting fact has been brought out is that no long distance migratory bird gets attracted to the light traps. The victims are resident birds of the adjacent valleys and hill slopes.  

The unusual behaviour of the birds seems to occur due to the peculiar weather conditions at Jatinga. There also appears to be a correlation between the breeding period of the birds and the Jatinga phenomenon. Studies also reveal that the flight of water birds to Jatinga may be attributed to heavy rains and floods and submergence of their natural habitat in the surrounding areas. It has been observed that there was a high congregation of birds at Jatinga during 1988 which happened to be a year of high floods. Renowned ornithologists Dr. Salim Ali, Dr. S.Sengupta, A. Rauf etc have carried out researches on this subject.  However, no single hypothesis comprehensively explains the Jatinga mystery till date. The problem deserves deeper scientific study from various angles.

North Cachar Hills. . . . . . a heaven to the senses where one touches the sweetest dream with one’s fingers, mountains float in the distant sky and the clouds descend to lie below one’s feet. . . . .

Adoringly  described  by  the  visitors  as  'Switzerland of the East', the North Cachar Hills is a district garlanded by hills.   This dreamland of north-east is an unending  saga  of   undulating  hills  and  valleys, gently  flowing  streams  and waterfalls,  where  the  very  breeze  that  wafts  across  the  paddy  fields  and the bamboo forests is redolent with the fragrance of the land in which man and animal live in perfect harmony with nature.

Whether you travels by road or take the quaint train over the century-old track, the scenes that unfold in an unending procession seem like picture-postcards, crafted by gifted hands that understand something of the pristine beauty of nature. The towns and villages that come into view through the rolling mist and the clouds that float around blend so beautifully with the emerald-green landscape that the visitor begins to wonder how this paradise survived so long against the march of progress.

Waiting to be discovered are a hundred other wonders that seem one with the legends and folklore of the land and its people. A fascinating mosaic of ethnic, cultural and tribal mix, the people of N.C.Hills embody in their lives all the values derived from centuries of shared living on the lap of nature. Equally enticing is the flora and fauna of the land, which has the famed Jatinga village where, drawn by some mysterious alchemy of earth and sky, disoriented birds come in thousands in the cloudy months of September and October to a flaming tryst with the dinger.

Savouring the customs and traditions of the people, their colourful festivals and bazaars and their hospitality compete with the local brew makes a visit to NCHills doubly rewarding. The salubrious climate round the year, the leisurely pace of life and the bounties of nature all combine to beckon the tourists with the promise of an experience they would love to treasure.

 Courtesy- N.I.C., N.C.HILLS DISTRICT UNIT ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, N.C.HILLS, ASSAM