Arunachal Pradesh – The Green Lungs of the Himalayas

Tucked in the far eastern corner of India, Arunachal Pradesh is not just a state — it’s a breath of fresh air. Quite literally! With lush green mountains, dense forests, and pristine valleys, this Himalayan jewel is often called the “lungs of the Himalayas,” thanks to its extraordinary contribution to carbon sequestration and environmental balance.

More than 80% of Arunachal Pradesh’s area is under forest cover, making it one of India’s greenest states. These vibrant forests, rich with Himalayan broadleaf trees, bamboo groves, and alpine meadows, act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. According to data from the Forest Survey of India, Arunachal holds over 1,000 million tonnes of carbon stock, playing a vital role in maintaining the subcontinent’s air quality and climate equilibrium.

But Arunachal is more than just a climate hero — it’s a haven of biodiversity. From the colorful red pandas in the forests of Tawang to the towering trees of Namdapha National Park, every inch of this land teems with life. The air is cleaner, the rivers are clearer, and the skies—oh, the skies!—stretch out in hues of blue and gold, welcoming every traveler with open arms.

Tourists visiting Arunachal not only witness nature at its finest but also unknowingly become part of a larger story — one of sustainability, beauty, and balance. Walking through its evergreen trails, crossing crystal-clear streams, or just soaking in the silence of its sacred peaks, visitors breathe easier — both in body and spirit.

Arunachal Pradesh stands as a proud guardian of India’s natural wealth, offering not just breathtaking views but also a deeper connection with nature. Come, explore the land that keeps India breathing — where every step is greener, every breeze purer, and every experience unforgettable.

Discover Arunachal. Discover the lungs of the Himalayas. 🌿

Whispers of the Yomgo: Discovering Aalo’s Hidden Paradise

If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping to a place where nature writes poetry in every breeze and every ripple of water, then let me take you to Aalo — a serene gem tucked deep within the mystical folds of Arunachal Pradesh.

Here, the Yomgo River winds its way through emerald valleys, its crystal-clear waters shimmering like a ribbon of silver under the sun. As it carves past bamboo groves, quiet villages, and mist-covered mountains, the Yomgo doesn’t just flow — it sings. Specifically, Yomgo is a popular name for the Siyom River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. And if you listen closely, it whispers a message: slow down, breathe and let the world’s worries drift away.

Where the river hums its ancient song, hearts find a place where they belong.

Walking along its banks, you’ll be enchanted by the river’s gentle music. The sky seems to lean closer, mirrored in the glassy surface, while forested hills stand in quiet majesty. Around every bend, Aalo paints a new masterpiece: children’s laughter on the riverbanks, prayer flags dancing in the breeze and the sweet scent of orange orchards drifting through the air.

River Rhythms & Revelry: The Yomgo River Festival

To truly feel Aalo’s heartbeat, time your visit with the Yomgo River Festival — a lively celebration where tradition and adventure meet. Locals gather in joyful spirit, showcasing folk dances, music, crafts and thrilling rafting competitions on the Yomgo. It’s a dazzling display of Arunachal’s rich culture, drawing both domestic and foreign travelers eager to immerse themselves in the festivities and the unmatched hospitality of the region.

Stay Under the Stars: Where to Rest Your Head

Aalo’s accommodations charm visitors just as much as its landscapes. Choose from cozy government circuit houses, warm family-run guesthouses, or scenic riverside homestays where you can fall asleep to the murmur of the river and wake to birdsong. For the full experience, opt for a homestay with a view of the Yomgo — a front-row seat to nature’s theater.

The Journey is the Adventure: How to Reach Aalo

Getting to Aalo is an adventure in itself:

●By Air: Fly to Dibrugarh (Assam), then enjoy a stunning 6–7 hour drive via Pasighat.

●By Train: Reach Murkongselek (Assam) by rail, followed by a scenic road trip into the hills.

●By Road: Aalo connects to Itanagar and Pasighat by winding mountain roads with shared jeeps and buses. Get ready for jaw-dropping views around every curve!

Where the River Sings: Best Spots Along the Yomgo

The Yomgo River threads gracefully through Aalo in the West Siang district. Some of the best places to soak in its beauty include the Aalo town bridge, the Yomgo Viewpoint and the peaceful banks near Bene village. Whether you’re a photographer, a nature lover or just someone craving a quiet moment, these spots offer unforgettable vistas.

Your Invitation to Aalo’s Magic

Aalo and the Yomgo River are more than places — they’re an invitation to step off the beaten path, dance in the festival lights and rediscover the joy of simplicity. For the curious traveler, this is a destination that promises authenticity, adventure and the kind of peace that lingers long even after the journey ends.

Come for the river, stay for the magic —Where the river sings and the mountains embrace you.

Namdapha Flying Squirrel: The Ghost of Arunachal Pradesh

"Where the clouds kiss the mountains and every sunrise feels like poetry — Arunachal Pradesh, the Land of the Rising Sun, where nature whispers its timeless beauty."

Arunachal Pradesh stands as the exclusive refuge for the Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi), a critically endangered mammal that embodies both scientific intrigue and conservation urgency. Endemic to India, this elusive species has garnered international attention for its mysterious status, ingenious adaptations, and the near-mythical aura surrounding its existence.

Discovery, Rarity, and Scientific Mystery

First described in 1981 after a lone specimen was collected in Changlang district’s Namdapha National Park near the Myanmar border, the Namdapha flying squirrel has not witnessed a confirmed sighting since, despite decades of concerted searches and field expeditions. This “ghost of the forest,” as naturalists often call it, epitomizes the challenges in detecting arboreal nocturnal mammals with inherently small populations and extreme habitat specialization. The initial discovery honored Indian zoologist Biswamoy Biswas and defined a new genus, Biswamoyopterus, which now includes two other rare flying squirrel species identified in Laos and China. Taxonomic uncertainties persist, with some experts suggesting all three might be variations of a single species, but detailed evolutionary studies remain limited.

"Gliding through the misty canopies of Namdapha, the elusive Flying Squirrel turns the forest into a magical wonderland."

Distinctive Features and Ingenious Adaptations

Medium-sized among Asian flying squirrels, the Namdapha flying squirrel displays grizzled reddish-brown fur, a striking white underbelly, and an unmistakable ear tuft — traits that separate it from more common red giant flying squirrels nearby. Its head-body length nears 40 cm, complemented by a slightly longer bushy tail. Most distinct is its patagium, a skin membrane stretching from neck to tail, which forms an advanced gliding apparatus capable of spanning up to 150 meters across dense forest canopies. As a strictly nocturnal and arboreal resident, the squirrel has large eyes optimized for night vision, aiding its navigation and foraging in the treetop dark.

Ecological Context: Habitat and Lifestyle

The Namdapha flying squirrel is strictly endemic to the Namdapha Tiger Reserve—an expanse spanning ~1,900 square kilometers of tropical wet evergreen forests, montane woods, and alpine meadows, forming one of India’s most biodiverse landscapes. Within this haven, the species favors tall Mesua ferrea jungles on hill slopes near the Dihing River’s catchment in the Patkai range. Its daily rhythm revolves around sleeping inside hollow tree cavities by day and emerging at night to forage on a diet rich in fruits, nuts, seeds, fungi, flowers, and tree sap.

Conservation Status: Critical Endangerment and Data Deficiency

Rated Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, Biswamoyopterus biswasi faces near-immediate risk of extinction. Its very survival is threatened by rampant habitat loss—illegal logging, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and forest fragmentation all encroach upon the contiguous canopy essential for its gliding behavior. While Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Amendment Act (2022) affords the highest legal safeguards, practical enforcement remains sporadic and challenging. Conservation is further complicated by a lack of data; with only one confirmed specimen and mostly anecdotal reports since, researchers have little information about population size, reproductive biology, or precise ecological needs. Global initiatives such as the Search for Lost Species have spotlighted the Namdapha flying squirrel, placing it among the world’s most wanted lost species—a vivid symbol of both fragility and resilience.

Recent Developments and Hope

In the wake of more than 40 years without a confirmed sighting, recent unverified photographs and anecdotal sightings from Namdapha National Park have sparked renewed optimism. Ongoing DNA studies and intensified fieldwork aim to confirm the species’ presence and guide future conservation action. Efforts are underway to integrate local community involvement, scientific research, and ecosystem restoration, recognizing that protecting the Namdapha flying squirrel means safeguarding one of India’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

Global Significance and Conservation Imperatives

The Namdapha flying squirrel’s plight highlights the broader dilemma of “data-deficient species” in conservation biology-species so rare and evasive that scientists cannot reliably determine trends or needs, calling for holistic protection of entire ecosystems. As Northeast India faces mounting development pressures, the survival of creatures like Biswamoyopterus biswasi serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for habitat preservation, scientific study, and global commitment to conserving Earth’s rarest mammals.

For Arunachal Pradesh and the world, the Namdapha flying squirrel remains a silent glider-its presence both a symbol of nature’s mysteries and a clarion call for conservation action in the 21st century