Namdapha is a 1,985 sq km national park and tiger reserve in Changlang district, rising from about 200 m to 4,571 m along the Myanmar border. The entry town is Miao, about 160 km from Dibrugarh, with the Deban camp 26 km inside. Indians need an eILP, foreigners a PAP, plus park fees. Visit November to March.
Namdapha is one of the largest protected areas in India and one of the least visited. It runs from lowland tropical forest along the Noa-Dihing river to snow peaks on the Myanmar border, and it is one of the few places anywhere with four big cats on record: tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard. Hoolock gibbons call from the canopy at dawn, and around 425 bird species have been recorded, including several hornbills.
It was declared a national park and tiger reserve in 1983. Do not expect safaris or jeep tracks. Namdapha is a walking park: you base yourself at Deban, on a bend of the Noa-Dihing, and go out on foot with forest guides, or take a multi-day trek deeper in towards Firmbase and beyond.
We tell guests that sightings of big mammals are rare. People come for the forest itself, the birds, the gibbons and the feeling of being a long way from any road.
What makes it worth the trip
Deban and the Noa-Dihing
The forest rest house and camp on the river, 26 km inside the park, with morning mist and gibbon calls.
Birding
About 425 species recorded, including hornbills, wren-babblers and forest species rarely seen elsewhere in India.
Hoolock gibbons
India's only ape, heard daily and sometimes seen around Deban and the Hornbill area.
Multi-day treks
Guided treks from Deban to Haldibari, Bulbulia, Firmbase and Moti Jheel, camping in the forest.
Miao and the Stilwell Road area
Tibetan settlement crafts at Miao and Second World War history around Jairampur and the Stilwell Road.
Sourabh.biswas003 · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rohit Naniwadekar · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sourabh.biswas003 · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Things to do
- Cross the Noa-Dihing by boat from Deban and walk forest trails with a guide
- Listen for hoolock gibbons at dawn near Deban
- Spend a morning birding along the road between Miao and Deban
- Book a 3 to 5 day trek to Firmbase or Moti Jheel with park staff and porters
- Visit the Tibetan settlement handicraft centre near Miao
- Stop at the Second World War cemetery at Jairampur on the way in
- Attend the Pangsau Pass Winter Festival at Nampong in January if dates suit
Getting there
From Dibrugarh, drive via Tinsukia and Margherita to Miao, about 160 km and 4 to 5 hours, entering Arunachal at the Jairampur side where the eILP is checked. Deban is a further 26 km inside the park, about an hour on a rough road. Tinsukia (115 km from Miao) and Margherita (65 km) are the nearest railheads, and Dibrugarh's Mohanbari airport is the nearest with regular flights. Taxis from Dibrugarh to Miao cost roughly Rs 3,500 to 4,000. Check current status before you travel, especially after heavy rain.
Where to stay
Inside the park, the Deban Forest Rest House, with 11 rooms overlooking the Noa-Dihing, is the classic stay and is booked through the park and district offices. In Miao there is an Inspection Bungalow, a forest guest house, a circuit house and the private Namdapha Jungle Camp. Rooms are basic, power can be limited to generator hours, and food is simple. Book early for November to March, as the few rooms fill quickly.
Local tips
- Book Deban through the Field Director's office in Miao well in advance
- Carry leech socks, even in the dry season
- Bring binoculars, a headlamp and quick-dry clothes
- Carry enough cash from Dibrugarh or Tinsukia; there are few ATMs beyond Margherita
- Mobile signal disappears after Miao; Deban is effectively offline
- Treks deeper into the park need park staff, porters and permission arranged in Miao
Rain and weather
Source: IMD normals
November to March for dry trails, fewer leeches and good birding; the park is best avoided in the monsoon.
