'The land of the rising sun', Japan may be described by this phrase but for India Arunachal Pradesh gives us the experience of sun which no where else will. Typically, early morning, the valleys are filled with fog. We can hardly make out depth of the land. As the sun rises it casts a magic on this fog for us to witness a beautiful combination of a valley surrounded by mountains all over, the fog sort of trapped inside this bowl with sun teasing it and partly allowing it to escape and partly locking it over the land. It's an indescribable moment to behold.
This is the reason why I want to cycle in the North Eastern States of India every year. Nature appears to retain God's creation in these Mountains and valleys and rivers and skies and trees and birds and believe it or not the humans too. The honesty, sincerity, the soft attitude of people all around makes us forget our own brashness of city life and yearn to gel into this gods own place.
Our journey started from Balukpong to proceed to Jamiri, Bomdila, Dirang, Senge, Jang and finally to Tawang. 300 km stretch with an elevation gain of 17000 m satisfied all the hunger of Mountain Cycling. Each place was different, each route was unique. The Indian Military have a strong presence all along but the beautiful thing to experience for us was the warm attitude of the army offering tea, hot drinking water, place to stay and in an incidence even saving us from life threatening cold. Salutes to these noble souls.
All the places had 'Bukhari' which used to keep the room warm and us alive. 'Dam Dum' a poisonous variety of fly left their marks in two of us who unknowingly wore cycling shorts with the legs exposed to these dangerous insects.
Tukaram Naik, Amit Varde, Mitraji Naik, Nilesh Jakhotia, Abhay Dhumal, Ramakant Zanwar and Amit Mulay along with your truly were the lucky voyagers who could experience this heavenly journey.
My Vipasana for 2018 was complete in Arunachal. The mind refreshed and raring to go on the return journey.
