Notes on Mouling National Park

The district of Upper Siang, as well as parts of East Siang and West Siang, are home to the Mouling National Park in Arunachal Pradesh. In 1972, this national park was the second to be established in Arunachal Pradesh, after Namdapha National Park. This park has a total land area of about 483 square kilometres, and is located west of the Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve. Mouling Peak, the park’s highest peak, is 3064 metres above sea level, making this an undulating area. Rivers such as the Siyom run through the park’s western border.

The park is administered by the Divisional Forest Office at Jengging, which is 130 kilometres from the park and 185 kilometres from Pasighat, the two nearest towns. It is difficult to reach there by road due to the park’s remote location and lack of communication amenities. Moreover, having a nearby airstrip is a plus. Since the forest department has difficulty managing the park because of the lack of communication, the majority of its division, beat, and range offices are located outside the park’s boundaries. 

Many natural and artificial boundaries define the park’’s boundaries, including the Siyom River as its western boundary, but land surveys are yet to be completed. The Jengging range is located near Lissing Village, whereas the Ramsing range is located near Bomdo village. Many conserved animals are found in the Mouling park.

History

The park’s name is derived from its highest peak, Mouling Peak, which means ‘red blood’ or ‘red poison’ due to the crimson latex from a tree species that is unique to the area. The Mouling park is home to numerous deadly snakes, presumably due to the paucity of excursions in the area. The state’s most bio-diverse region is situated in the area surrounding the national park, which includes various habitats. Due to the numerous elevations in the region (400 m to around 3000 m), tropical forest dominates the lower elevations, whereas temperate forest dominates the elevations above 2800 m.

As the Mouling park is difficult to access by road and numerous folklore traditions are linked with it, it is less unexplored by humans. The southern and northern portions of the park have historically been home to Jhum agriculture.

Connectivity to other places

Many villages are at least 10 to 50 kilometres away from the national park boundaries, and there is no threat from outside development. Travelling by helicopter above the national park is a wonderful experience that can be remembered as one of life’s happiest memories. One can take a flight to Arunachal Pradesh, and drive to the park. The closest airport is in Dibrugarh, and the closest train station is in Murkongselek.

Weather

The Mouling national park area is humid and receives an average of 2343 mm of rainfall every year. There is probably no dry season. Near sea level, temperatures range from 15 to 38 degrees Celsius, but at elevations greater than 2200 metres, temperatures drop to 17 degrees Celsius or below, with occasional snowfall.

Geography

About 483 km2 of the Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve is protected by the national park. On-the-ground designation of some areas of the park boundary has not yet been completed, depending on artificial and natural limits such as the Siyom River in the west. Ranging from Bomdo village to Lissing village are two separate sections of parkland that can be accessed by hiking or horseback riding. Gentle to extremely steep and severe mountainous terrain characterise the park. Evergreen and semi-evergreen vegetation covers the rocky slopes of these mountains.

Nearby Accommodations

Nearby, Mouling National Park contains a handful of guesthouses, most of which offer reasonable services as well as a friendly welcome. It is possible to stay in Pasighat, which is located about 100 miles away from the park. The road to Mouling National Park can be a little rough, but it is well connected.

Things to Do

As the park is located in a distant area with no means of communication, the area around the national park cannot be developed for tourism. Jengging is planning to construct a small museum and an educational centre. Mouling peak’s surrounding valley is a natural wonderland. I find the flora and mountainous places mesmerising. The tranquillity provided by the mountains’ projected greenery adds to the sceneries’ grandiosity. The Mouling national park is a great location for trekking and other outdoor sports, while the Siang River provides fishing opportunities.

Conclusion

The Mouling National Park in Arunachal Pradesh is awe-inspiring due to its abundance of wildlife and plants. Mouling National Park has been successful in retaining its attractiveness away from the congested people within its limits. Bengal tiger, barking deer, Indian leopard, and red panda may all be found in this must-see national park.

Due to its unique flora and fauna, Mouling National Park is one of the most fascinating parks. It has been designated as one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots. The park’s elevations range from 750 to 3064 m. Mouling National Park offers the sight of various conserved animals including different types of mammals and birds.