TRAVEL STORY #1 : JEBILION TRAVELS TO TIPI, LAND OF ORCHIDS.
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| View from Tipi orchid Garden |
Arunachal Pradesh, the land of sunrise. One of the 29 states
of India. Arunachal Pradesh means Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains in Sanskrit. Or it is also known as orchid
state of India or the paradise of Botanist. And this is the reason I got a
chance to visit the enormously beautiful place embraced by the nature. Being a botanist myself it was obvious for me
to give this place a visit. I and My
team were after few specimens, which were rarely found. So the only way to get the
specimens was to trip, Paradise of Botanist.
Tipi, famous for
its flora and fauna. And also for orchids.
There are thousands
or so species in India and Tipi is home to 500 of them. These orchids bloom in brilliant
aspects of colour and come in spectacular shapes and sizes. Tipi has its own Orchid
Research and Development Centre developed by Arunachal Forest Department in
West Kameng district for propagation and conservation of these species.
Starting by Bus at 6 am in morning from Darrang College
Tezpur.We travelled with our seniors, dancing and singing on the way. The place
was so vast and enlightened with the blessings of nature. Green was the colour
everywhere. The road was wide but covered with green mountains. The nature
cheered for us, the spectacle was so heavenly. The bit of air in the atmosphere
was pouring the tone of limpidness. Mind clinched tranquillity and serene vista.
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| Banner outside the Orchid house |
Traveling for few hours we were stopped at a check post. Few
formalities were too made on the check post but that was none of our business
because that was all taken care by our seniors. Every formality was taken cared
off. And then we reached our destination.
Our bus stopped by a riverside, a big river indeed. The
sight was so lovely that I had a feeling for an instant never to leave this place.
Now moving to the orchid garden, we cross the threshold of
the orchid research centre. Well there I saw the heaven on earth. Everything so
green and fresh.
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| A view inside a house of orchid house |
There are about four species houses endowed with with netlon
shade and evergreen climber shade within the campus. About 10,000 orchid plants
of fit in to various genera and species are under husbandry in these houses
ensuring ex-situ conservation. These orchids
include new species like Biermannia jainiana,
Cheirostylis gunnarii, Eria connata, Cleisostoma tricallosum, Sarcoglyphis
arunachalensis, Oberonia kamlangensis etc.; Rare and endangered
orchids like Vanda ceorulea, Renanthera imschootiana,
Dendrobium densiflorum, Vanda bicolor, Paphiopedilum venustum,
Paphiopedilumfairienum, Acanthephippium sylhettense etc. ; new
distributional record like Oberonia
anthrophophora,Collabium chinesis, Miscobulbon wryanum, Eria tomentosa,
etc.
We traveled around the orchid house and left
for the mountains where we collected many plant species including algae,
dendrobium, etc. The mountains had its own beautiful mania. The mountains were covered with the striking creation of deity. Birds chirping as we collect the specimens. There was calmness’ in the atmosphere.
Finishing
our work we came back straight to our picnic spot. Where we started doing our
thing which we're good at, clicking pictures. Clicking numerous of pictures it
was the time for lunch. Well the joy of eating the food was over whelming. Not
because of the taste but because we were having in by the river side with a
lovely view in our sight. We returned back by 4 pm.I'll never forget those moments, those were the moments with the most wonderful friends I encountered and I hope to see them back soon.
