Located in the West Kameng District, Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary is the perfect birdwatching spot. Spread in an area of 218 sq km, the sanctuary is home to 400 species of birds including 4 types of Hornbills, 3 types of Tragopan species; and 6 types of Parrotbill species. It is also a safe shelter for 15 species of mammals including tiger.
Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary has an elevation ranging between 500 - 3500 m. It is quite a picturesque wildlife sanctuary with lofty hills, scenic valleys and the sparkling river like Kameng adding to its charm. The sanctuary conjoins Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve to the east and makes an ideal birding destination with around 454 birds species, 34 species of amphibians, 24 species of snakes, 7 species of lizards, and 165 species of butterflies. The major birds here include Old World flycatchers, hornbills, warblers and thrushes. The mammal species of endangered capped langur, Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, red panda, Asiatic black bear and the vulnerable, Arunachal macaque and gaur can also be spotted with butterflies species like Bhutan glory, grey admiral, scarce red-forester, dusky labyrinth, tigerbrown, jungle-queen sp, white-edged bush-brown, and white owl.
Hotels Around
The ideal accommodation options near Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary can be found in Dirang, which is some 30 - 35 kms away. At Dirang, there are handful of accommodation options which are quite budget-friendly. Most the hotels offer a good view of the surroundings and tries to cater to all the basic needs of the guests. Apart from it, one can also stay in Tawang, which is 75 - 80 kms far but has variety of staying options. Bomdila is also a feasible option, as this place is some 50 kms away and has some limited yet good budget-friendly hotels.
How to Reach
In order to get to Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary, one has to first reach Dirang, which is around 30 kms away. The place is well- connected through Arunachal Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus services with Bhalukpong, Tezpur, Seppa, Nagaon, Itanagar, Guwahati and Shillong. Another way to reach is via Bomdila. One can find cabs on hire for reaching the sanctuary.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary is during the cooler months of November to February. One might also be able to spot migratory birds here during this period.
