Situated on the foothills of the Himalayan range of Arunachal Pradesh, DehingPatkai Wildlife Sanctuary is the only rain-forest in Assam, covering parts of both Dibrugarh and Tinsukia district of Assam. The Sanctuary got its name from the Dehing river which flows through the forest and Patkai is the name of the hill on the foot of which it lies. Often referred to as ‘Amazon of the East’, because of its large area and thick forests,the Sanctuary is a part of the Dehing-Patkai Elephant Reserve, also including parts of Upper Dehing West Reserve Forest, Dirok Rainforest and Jeypore Rainforest.
The forest takes pride in its rich biodiversity. The Sanctuary is also rich in orchid diversity. What is interesting in this Sanctuary is that, it is the only forest in the world having seven different species of wild cat – Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Jungle Cat and Marbled Cat. It is also home to seven non-human primates – Rhesus Macaque, the endangered Assamese Macaque, Slow Loris, Capped Langur, Pigtailed Macaque, Stump tailed Macaque and Hoolock Gibbon. Some of the other rare mammals found here are – Chinese Pangolin, Flying fox, Sambar etc.
The Sanctuary is also a bird paradise, where bird watchers can enjoy glimpses of some of the beautiful and rare birds like Lesser Adjutant Stork, White Winged Wood Duck, White-backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, White-cheeked Hill Partridge, Great Pied Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon etc. The reptile species that are found here are Rock Python, King Cobra, Asian Leaf Turtle, Monitor Lizard etc.
This is an apt destination for wildlife and nature lovers. The unique vegetation amidst the dense forest and the beautiful landscapes on the banks of the Dehing river can be mesmerizing. One can also make a visit to the tribal villages and learn about their culture and tradition. Some of the other attractions for tourists are the World War II Cemeteries near the forest, the famous Stilwell Road, which was earlier the passage to the golden land of Myanmar, and the Digboi Refinery, the oldest refinery in Asia.The DehingPatkai Festival, which aims to promote the eco-cultural tourism in the region, also attracts many tourists from across the globe.
One can enjoy their stay in the Forest Inspection Bungalow or in one of the Private Tourist Lodges.
