Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary
The Mehao wildlife sanctuary was declared with an aim to conserve the biodiversity around the Mehao Lake. The sanctuary is gifted with virgin natural lush green forest and lakes. The sanctuary harbours some rare varieties of orchids. The altitude of the sanctuary varies from 9…
Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, tucked away in the foothills of the East Siang district, is a grudgingly rewarding sprint for the patient naturalist rather than a leisurely wildlife circuit, and you should approach it with a permit in hand, a sturdy pair of trekkers and the willingness to forego the comforts of a five‑star lodge for the modest guesthouse at Mishmi Hills Resort near Tezu. The sanctuary’s 281 km² of virgin forest span 900‑to‑3 500 m altitude, so dress in layers: mornings at 12 °C in winter, afternoons can melt into a surprisingly oppressive 36 °C in summer, and the monsoon (June‑August) turns the trails into slip‑n‑slide mud‑fields, so October to March is the only sensible window. The highlight is the meandering Mehao Lake, where you can spot the shy Mishmi takin and, if luck allows, a hornbill theatre of Blyth’s and great pied species; the surrounding meadows hide a startling array of orchids – Dendrobium and Coelogyne varieties that bloom bright after the first chill. A day‑long trek from the lake to the ridge of Sora‑Lohra (≈1 500 m gain) offers panoramic views of the Himalayan foothills, but be prepared for basic sanitation and no Wi‑Fi. Skip the overcrowded tiger‑spotting tours of central India – Mehao’s charm lies in its quiet, untrammeled biodiversity and the occasional glimpse of a red‑gorgeous mahseer cutting the lake’s surface at dawn. Two days is honest: one to settle, acclimatise and soak the lake, another to trek and chase orchids; three lets you linger for an early‑morning birdwatch at the lake’s edge before the sanctuary closes at dusk.
Source · Wikipedia · Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary · CC-BY-SA
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