BRAVING DECEMBER IN ARUNACHAL - 3

Day3 : Conquering Sela (28th Dec)

The next morning was cold, but by then we had acclimatized a bit. Dressing up in our heavy woolens, we got out to stroll by the city as our pick-up would be coming from Tezpur & would be taking quite a bit of time. We utilized the time clicking photos around the city & our off-roader came by noon.

It was already late & we have to pass the ‘World’s 2ndHighest Motorable Pass’ – Sela Pass, which would be extremely difficult after the sundown, so we started immediately. We whizzed pass the comparatively smoother terrain, stopping just once for lunch. But the roads were starting now very thin & not at all in a good shape. Just a few months back (in September actually) there have been a flood which has washed away bridges & damaged roads greatly. Every now & than we could see roads & bridges under construction & scarred mountains & damaged houses & cars as the sign of the recent disaster (of course adding to our fears).

But soon these ill-omens ave way to sublime beauty as we crossed the snow-line. We were now nearing Sela Top and the green was quickly becoming Snow-white. The hide-n-seek between clouds & the almighty Sun, the Rhododendrons or maybe just the height (Sela Top is at 15,000 ft) was having a mesmerizing effect on us & till today I just don’t have enough words to describe how I felt.

The place was picturesque but we couldn’t afford to click pictures as the place was an ammunition depot for regular army & also as we were running late (it was already evening). Just crossing Sela top, we witnessed majesty of nature, Sela Lake.

The lake was completely frozen at this time of the year. This was the very place where the 1962 Sino-Indian war was fought & we could still spot the barren bunkers as the living proofs of the bravery of our soldiers.

The name Sela was actually the name of the loved one of the legendary war hero, MahaVirChakra recipient Jaswant Singh. When Jaswant Singh was left alone in the Seno firing killing all his fellow army men, Sela supplied him with ammo & Jaswant Singh continued firing from one bunker to another, alone for several days. Now we can only anticipate, how beautiful must be the lady, from whom this awesome terrain has got its name. Crossing Sela, in daze we entered the district of Tawang. It was still freezing cold as the mist on our windshield has frozen, making it blurry & dangerously difficult to see. The sun was already down & in the foggy headlights of our truck we just realized that it was snowing. Now I have had my share of experiences in hills (that includes Kashmir & Sikkim) but strangely I had never experienced snowfall before. We urged the driver to just stop for a few seconds, just to experience the snowflakes on our bare face & the lust to click a few snaps!

/3.16-18/ Soon as we started to the downhill, the snowfall heavied. It started making sound on our car’s rooftop & our vision blurred. The road was dark, slippery & lonely occasioned by some lonesome army checkposts. Anyhow we managed to brave it all, & finally entered the town of Tawang (by now we have climbed down the snowline). It was already 9pm by then & we had to avail a costly hotel as we couldn’t find a cheaper hotel at that point of time. We had our supper & went to bed, just making sure the heater was on full, as we were dead-exhausted by the treacherous & yet heavenly journey to the hidden paradise.


Contd. In Later Parts ……

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