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Kamlang Tiger Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary

Kamlang Tiger Reserve & Wildlife sanctuary situated in South-eastern part of Lohit District and spread over a part of Anjaw district in Arunachal Pradesh was declared as a tiger reserve in 2017. The total area of KTR is 783 sq km, which includes a core area of 696 sq km and a buffer area of 87 sq km. Perennial rivers like Lang, Lathi, Kamlang, Sinabarai, Tawa, and Lai flow from the reserve. Glaw Lake which is one of the perennial and among the most picturesque lakes which can be trekked down to reach in 7 – 8 hrs, is situated at an altitude of 1,168 m. The major indigenous communities inhabiting this region are the Kaman - Mishmi and Taraon - Mishmi. Kamlang tiger reserve represents one of the biodiversity hotspots of India, Himalaya, which supports many elusive and rarely sighted mammals, birds, and other taxa.

Geographic Features

The reserve has rugged terrain with an altitudinal gradient of 500 m to 4500 m from msl. Kaul and Haridasan 1987 have classified forests of Arunachal Pradesh into six categories viz; tropical, subtropical, temperate, alpine, subalpine and secondary forest out of which KTR contain Tropical wet evergreen forests, Tropical semi-evergreen forests, Sub Tropical semi evergreen forests, Moist Bamboo forests, Himalayan Moist Temperate forests, Moist Alpine Scrub forest.

The vegetation type varies from tropical wet evergreen forests to Alpine forests in the upper regions of DaphaBum Peak which borders Namdapha Tiger Reserve. The reserve majorly falls within the sub-tropical zone and enjoys a sub-tropical climate. There are about 150 tree species common in this area. Such floral diversity in this Tiger reserve gives a large variety of faunal species. Dhuna (Canarium resiniferum), Hilika (Terminalia chebula), Amari (Amoora wallichii) etc. Bamboo, Grasses, and shrubs are good fodder for wild animals.

The area has mostly steep mountainous terrain, with few gentle slopes crisscrossed by numerous rivers (Lai, Lati, Lang and Kamlang), rivulets and perennial streams. Kamlang Tiger Reserve lacks systematic scientific surveys mainly due to extremely complex terrain and hence is very less known for its biodiversity.It is surrounded by the Kamlang Reserve Forest to the west and north, un-classed state forest (USF) to the east and Namdapha Tiger Reserve to the south. It is one of the twelve protected areas in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Planning For Visit / How to Approach

The Tiger Reserve is located at a distance of 4 km from Wakro Township which is the headquarter of the Tiger Reserve. The nearest railway station from the headquarter is Tinsukia Railway Junction at 138.4 km while the nearest airport Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) is 176 km from the headquarter. Two APST (Arunachal Pradesh State Transport) buses are available from 07:00 AM (Tinsukia to Wakro) and 05:30 AM (Wakro to Tinsukia). Public and rental vehicles can be hired from Tinsukia to reach the headquarters at Wakro town.

Where to Stay

Forest Rest House, Home Stays and Circuit Houses are available at the closed compound of forest colony and also nearby township Wakro. Booking can be done through the department representatives officially.

Homestays and Guesthouses NearBy

Glaw Lake - An Untold Story

Since time immemorial, the Mishmi community adores and reveres the important water bodies and mountains. They consider these natural features as the sacred abode of spirits, Gods and Goddesses on earth. Likewise Glaw Lake is one of the highly regarded holy abodes of the underwater Gods and spirits called Baruws (Water Deity). Very interestingly, Glaw Lake has a brother known as Tha’whai (Mehao Lake, in Roing).

The mountains are similarly important to the Mishmis; For the Mishmi community, every lake and mountain peak is sacred. They also observe a number of rituals which involve the worship of these natural elements. Hence, the Mishmis living between Kamlang valley and Dapha (Daphabum peak), worship and propitiate the mountain peaks during Taka and Namtshang rituals, namely Tummai, Bangmai-Banghai, Rong-Kandam, Süi-Kaw and most importantly the mighty Sül-Watawng (Dapha Peak). This not only acquaints us with the names and positions of the mountains and its ranges but also signifies the geographical limitations of the Mishmis.

According to popular prevalent local traditions among the Mishmis, long before the occurrence of the lake, Glaw was occupied by aboriginal settlers known as Nin Sa-Kənzin Sa, who were like Demigods. It is being said in the days of yore, a Godly entity named Mauk Sa-Ləngkhyong Sa came from the far east of Lohit valley with a mission to destroy (to establish their homeland) in the plains of Po’-Tərung (a massive plain landmass in Wakro circle) now called as Topo Reserve Forest and Turung Reserve Forest. In fact, it is being said they were carrying celestial water collected from different spiritual realms in eight nodes of Muilam Byup (bamboo barrel) and eight nodes of Tanglom (Horsetail Reed) to establish their homeland at the said destination. Inside the tube it contained fishes, snakes, crabs and other species of water body. Throughout their route wherever they had rested, it sprang streams and rivulets, lakes and ponds. Though with the passage of time, some lakes and ponds turned into seasonal appearance and some dried forever.

In this regard, however, there are few testimonies which can be noticed, like Həwəi and Phəlo’ Tshəws (lakes) which originate during monsoon season in Hawai, Anjaw District. Mauk Sa-Ləngkhyong Sa, further, traveled through Longling, Paho’ and Blong villages where they left some physical imprints but faded away. From there they traveled further towards southeast mountain ranges, again descended down and continued their journey via Lam Valley to mountain peaks such as Kamdi-Yamai, Kamphu, Rong-Kəndam to Tum-mai (Lakes) and finally reached Glaw. However, their journey was jeopardized by the intervention of Nin Sa -Kənzin Sa at Glaw.

As mentioned earlier, Nin Sa-Kənzin-sa were Demigods and aboriginal settlers of Glaw. They were in dire need of water, so when Mauk Sa-Ləngkhyong Sa had arrived at Glaw, they had fervently pleaded to spare some water for them from the eight nodes of bamboo tube and eight nodes of Horsetail Reed (Equisetum hyemale) for the villagers. To this, Mauk Sa-Ləngkhyong Sa replied that they had brought water for some other important purpose and cannot share, and even if they intend to share the said water, Glaw wouldn’t be able to accommodate. However, Nin Sa-Kənzin Sa insisted and on the eight day the Mauk Sa-Ləngkhyong Sa consequently poured all the eight nodes of containers, resulting in the creation of the Glaw Lake.

Upon this all the bees, hornets and other insects flew down to the lake and tried to withdraw the water back and put it back to its origins but Mauk Sa-Lənkhyong Sa persuaded them to dissuade the act. Hence, Glaw Lake remained intact.

There is a saying that the deluge was so sudden and massive that people around couldn’t respond for their safety. However, people who held Khlo’ (traditional water fetching bamboo barrels), Gləng (wooden rice pounder stick) and Glong (wooden mortar) floated on the lake and survived. The tradition says this very incident inspired the Mishmis to invent the raft. But those who held Phlãng (a flat stone mortar) and Tənam (round shaped stone pestle) got drowned therein and they became Bəruw (Spirits of water body). Hence, they became the guardians of the lake and the villagers thereafter started propitiating them for their wellbeing, security and prosperity by offering specific sacred materials and fowls through the medium of a Kətəwat (priest). Therefore, the lake is considered to be the holy abode of Bəruws and any kind of pollution inside and surrounding the water body is strictly forbidden.

Several small forest runoff streams also got connected with the lake with the passage of time forming a total of 15 inlets and one outlet to control the volume of the water body. The inlets were named as Siro, Glut, Rangman, Dagnum, Tichong Nallah, Lambyong Kong, Saa Nallah, Chahoi Nallah, Tihap, Muku, Chicham Nallah (Outlet), Rangmang Nallah and Muto( inlet near Forest IB).

Many years later, post formation of Glaw Lake, one fine day, eight young boys and girls furnished themselves with flowers in a very jolly mood sang the song ‘Kəmbramai-braləmai sherunmai...’ (a folk song) ,danced all through, reached the lake, boarded the raft and started sailing, but when they reached in the middle of the lake, the raft suddenly subsided and unfortunately all had drowned. The Mishmis consider that this incident was not an accident but rather an invitation made by the Bəruws of the lake. The interesting fact of the matter is that Mishmis lived in there, fished and cultivated across the lake, propelled the raft to and fro every day for years but no instance of loss of life was witnessed.

It is also believed that not even a single drop of water can be taken out of its natural body. As the place is believed to be very holy and is worshiped, the water should remain undisturbed and pure without any kind of pollution. It is also believed that the water might bring destruction if it is polluted or taken away to other places for other needs.

Did you know?

Fish Species found in the Glaw Lake are Common Snowtrout (Schizothorax richardsonii), Rohu (Labeo rohita) Chiri.