A visit to Namdapha, globally famous for its tropical rainforests and high floral and faunal diversity, is an experience of a lifetime. The park is open throughout the year to tourists, and only the western part of Namdapha's nearly 2,000 km² is the tourism zone. Apart from Namdapha itself, there are also interesting places to see to east of the park, near India’s border with Myanmar. October to March is the best time for visiting because rains during the rest of the year, especially during the monsoon months, can make access difficult because of heavy rains, landslides and swollen, uncrossable rivers.

A view of the Dapha Bum ridge from Firmbase, one of the many camping sites within Namdapha National Park.

Tourists from other parts of India (and all non-tribals living in Arunachal) travelling anywhere in Arunachal require an Inner Line Permit (a Restricted Area Permit is required in the case of foreigners) to enter the state. A tourist permit issued by the Namdapha Field Director’s office (in Miao) is required to enter and stay in the park. Within the park itself, accommodation is available only in Deban, the range headquarters of the park, although the more adventurous can camp in tents at designated campsites in the tourism (buffer) zone. However, this requires prior permission from the forest department, and such camping is usually organised and supervised by tour operators. There are several trekking routes and hiking trails, and Namdapha is one of the few parks in India where visitors can walk through the forest instead of being confined to a vehicle. There are also several places of historical and cultural interest to the east of Namdapha near the Myanmar border.

Deban, on the banks of the Noa-dihing, is a great place to see gibbons, flying squirrels, hornbills and other wildlife. Haldibari and Hornbill camps are set in the midst of tall evergreen forests and are phenomenal for bird watching. Ranijheel is a natural bheel or forest lake where one can occasionally find the endangered White-winged Wood Duck. Firmbase (a former camp of the Assam Rifles) is a wonderful campsite on the banks of the Namdapha River with the Dapha Bum peak as a backdrop, where if one is lucky, one can see wild dogs, sambar or even a hog deer and various waterbirds and raptors. In the evenings, large flocks of Wreathed Hornbills can be seen flying overhead. A five-day walk from Deban (about 112 km) through the heart of Namdapha's forests leads to Gandhigram, the largest Lisu village. Another four hours (about 18 km) away is the town of Vijaynagar with its surrounding forests and mountain peaks that merge with those of Myanmar in the north, south and east.

Although a fair bit of planning is required to visit Namdapha, most aspects of travel, accommodation and obtaining permits can be done through the internet or phone. It will also soon be possible to apply for Inner Line Permits online. This page provides detailed information on how to get to Namdapha, where to stay, how to arrange for permits and the places and trekking routes that one can visit when in Namdapha. On these pages, we provide detailed information on existing facilities and other tips for travellers.

Disclaimer: It must be noted that the information provided here, e.g. tariffs and timings, is subject to change, and that the agencies/travel companies listed here are in no way connected with either the Nature Conservation Foundation or the Rufford Foundation and the information provided on existing facilities is not an endorsement.

Overview

• Nearest airport: Mohanbari (Dibrugarh), Assam (160 km)
• Nearest railway station: Tinsukia, Assam
• By road: Dibrugarh – Tinsukia – Digboi - Margherita – Ledo – Jagun – Namchik – Kharsang – Miao (about 6 hours)
• Inner Line Permit issuing centres: Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Itanagar, Miao
• Administrative headquarters: Miao (Office of the Field Director, Namdapha National Park)
• Accommodation: Deban (Forest rest house, tourist lodge, tourist huts & a dormitory)
• Main tourist campsites (designated by Forest Department): Gibbon’s Land (10th mile), Haldibari, Hornbill, Rani Jheel, Firmbase