Haflong
A Breathtaking Scenic Beauty
While Shillong Hill is out of the state of Assam, a new hill emerges,
at 680m high, Upper Haflong. The main language spoken over here
is Dimashi. In Dimashi, Haflong means "White Ants Hillock".
Haflong is a land of pleasing blue orchards and pera, pineapple
and oranges. The nature of Haflong is a great attraction in itself.
Add to it the picturesque beauty of Haflong Lake situated within
the heart of this hill town.
The scenic hill resort of Haflong, 84-km north of Silchar, is the
seat of the North Cachar Hills autonomous district council, where
members of several ethnic groups including Dimasas, Hmars, Nagas
and Mizos, belonging to different religious denominations - Christian,
Hindu and Buddhist - live together in apparent harmony.
Haflong is spread along Main Road, which winds up from Silchar.
The market, off Main Road in the centre of town is at its most bustling
and colourful on Saturday, when it expands into an enclosure further
down Main Road, and overflows with fresh betel nut, banana flowers
and Dju Vie (rice beer) for space. For the best views, head out
towards the ASTC bus stand.
Excursion
Jatinga
9-km south of Haflong on the Silchar road and covered with Blue
Vandas Orchids, Jatinga is famed in local folklore as the place
where birds commit mass suicide. The more brutal truth is that on
certain foggy, moonless nights in autumn, local migrant birds can
become disorientated while flying up the valley over the saddle
of the hill and are attracted with lights by local people, who clobber
them to death with bamboo poles and eat them.
There is a bird watching centre in Jatinga, where one may be able
to stay if one can get permission from the district forestry office
in Haflong. Buses to Silchar pass through, but it may be easier
to make a day-trip from Haflong by auto-rickshaw.
Maibong
47-km away from Haflong, on the banks of river Mahur, lie the ruins
of the once flourishing capital of the Dimasa Kachari Kingdom. A
stone house and temple of Kachari kings can be seen at Maibong.
Umrangshu or Umrongso
112-km away from Haflong by road, the biggest Hydel plant under
North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has come up with
dams across the river Kopili, a tributary of the Brahmaputra. Near
Umrangshu, there is a hot water spring Garampani, which is believed
to possess medicinal properties. Boating on the lake, hot water
spring - Garampani and the exquisite scenery from the top of the
hill are enough to captivate a tourist's attention.
Getting There
By Rail
Lower Haflong is having a railway station, 3-km from town, with
departures to Lumding - a slow but scenic ride, Silchar, and Dharmanagar.
By Road
Private buses pull in on Main Road, 100m above the market by the
Hamringdi cinema, with departures early morning and midday for Silchar,
plus one.
General Information
Location : 84-km North Of Silchar,
Assam
Significance : Seat Of North Cachar
Hills Autonomous District Council
Main Attraction : Jatinga.
Best Time To Visit : August To November
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General Information & Accomdation info on Haflong city of Assam - India
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