Sotal Xil Waterfall, Bonda, Assam

Sotal Xil Waterfall, Bonda, Assam

Sotal Xil Waterfall is a wildlife sanctuary located in Bonda, a locality of Guwahati City in Kamrup Metropolitan District in the Indian State of Assam. It is situated on the eastern fringe of Guwahati City inside the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. The waterfall can be reached after a short trek. The trekking path is full of slippery rocks and should avoid during monsoons.

The wildlife sanctuary is located at about 3 Kms from Narengi Railway Station, 12 Kms from Guwahati Railway Station, 21 Kms from Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminal, 32 Kms from Sonapur and 34 Kms from Guwahati Airport. The waterfall is situated at about 12 Kms to the east of Guwahati Railway Station. The road from Narengi through Bonda Forest office is the easiest route to reach this waterfall.

Location

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located on the eastern fringe of Guwahati City in Kamrup Metropolitan District in the Indian State of Assam. The name Amchang is originated from the name of Arleng village named Amcheng (now Amsing) located in the heart of the wildlife sanctuary.

History

The Amchang reserved forest, South Amchang reserved forest and Khanapara reserved forest combined together in 2004 and established as Amchang wildlife sanctuary. It falls under East Kamrup Forest division.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary spreads over an area of about 78.64 square kilometres. The sanctuary comprises of Amchang reserve forest (5,318 ha), South Amchang reserve forest (1,550 ha) and Khanapara reserve forest (996 ha), and a wetland called Khamranga Bheel. The area consists of low hills, which are part of a plateau. The lowest parts are about 50 m, near Khamranga Bheel, while the highest point is 569 m (Parahopa Peak). The best time to visit this wildlife sanctuary is between the months of October to April.

Flora:

The sanctuary is dominated by tropical moist deciduous forest with semi-evergreen forest in depressions and river-valleys. Grass lands are also seen in some areas. Grasses like Giant Reed (Arundo donax) and Neyraudia reynaudiana (Burma Reed) and herbs like Alpinia allughas occur mostly in the depressions. Most of the teak found in the forest are planted by the forest department.

Fauna:

The sanctuary is home to more than 44 species of mammals. The mammals found in the sanctuary are Tiger, Chinese Pangolin, Slow Loris, Flying Fox, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Pig-tailed Macaque, Stump-tailed Macaque, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Leopard, Asian Elephant, Wild Pig, Sambar, Barking Deer, Gaur, Red Serow, Crestless Himalayan Porcupine, Malayan Giant Squirrel, and Civet Cat. The sanctuary is known for its isolated population of Asian elephants and Gaur.

The reptiles found in the sanctuary are Python, Indian cobra, and Monitor Lizard. The sanctuary is home to more than 200 species of birds. The birds found in the sanctuary are Lesser Adjutant stork, Greater Adjutant Stork, White-backed Vulture, Slender Billed Vulture, White-cheeked Hill Partridge, Grey peacock Pheasant, Khaleej Pheasant, Spot-billed Pelican, Green Imperial Pigeon, Lessar Pied Hornbill, Parakeet, Great Pied hornbill, Oriental Pied hornbill, and many others. The Khamranga Bheel is visited by 20,000 migratory waterfowls during the winter.

Connectivity

The wildlife sanctuary is located at about 3 Kms from Narengi Railway Station, 12 Kms from Guwahati Railway Station, 21 Kms from Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminal, 32 Kms from Sonapur and 34 Kms from Guwahati Airport. The wildlife sanctuary is situated at about 12 Kms to the east of Guwahati Railway Station. Tourists can enter from Sonapur side also. The road from Narengi through Bonda Forest office is the easiest route to reach this sanctuary.

Location

Chumathang Hot Water Spring, Leh – Connectivity

Chumathang Hot Water Spring, Leh – Connectivity

The hot water spring is located at about 43 Kms from Nyoma, 69 Kms from Tso Kar, 83 Kms from Tso Moriri, 95 Kms from Chushul, 138 Kms from Leh, 140 Kms from Leh Airport, 286 Kms from Pangong Tso, 385 Kms from Manali. The hot water spring is situated on the Leh to Nyoma route. Leh is the nearest town situated close to this lake. Leh is located at about 215 Kms from Kargil, 419 Kms from Kashmir, 426 Kms from Manali and 661 Kms from Jammu. Leh Airport has flights to and from Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, and Chandigarh. Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo & Vistara operate Delhi to Leh daily with multiple flights at peak times. There are no railway stations at Leh currently.

Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads, both of which are subject to landslides and impassable in winter due to snows. The National Highway 1 from Srinagar via Kargil is generally open longer. National Highway 1 typically remains open for traffic from April / May to October / November. The most dramatic part of this journey is the ascent up the 3,505-metre-high (11,499 ft) Zoji-la, a tortuous pass in the Great Himalayan Wall. The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

The Leh-Manali Highway (National Highway 3) can be troublesome due to very high passes and plateaus. This highway has served as the second land approach to Ladakh. It is open from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho, whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m (12,010 ft) to 4,570 m (14,990 ft). There are a number of high passes en route among which the highest one, known as Tanglang La, is sometimes incorrectly claimed to be the world's second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of 5,325 metres (17,470 ft).

Chumathang Hot Water Spring, Leh, Ladakh

Chumathang Hot Water Spring, Leh, Ladakh

Chumathang Hot Water Spring is a hot water spring located in Chumathang Village in Leh District of the Union Territory of Ladakh, India. It is situated on the northern banks of Indus River. It is situated on the way to the renowned Tso Moriri Lake.

The Hot Water Spring

It is a hot sulphur spring situated on the northern bank of Indus River. It is situated at an elevation of 3,300 meters above sea level. It is known for its mineral-rich water with therapeutic properties. The water is believed to alleviate skin allergies and soothe sore joints and muscles. Tourists can take bath in the small bathrooms that are made near these hot waters. Tourists used to buy eggs from the nearby shops and boil them in the spring water. This offers a unique flavour to the boiled eggs. Chumathang is situated significantly lower than the Tso Moriri lake. Thus, this village serves as a good stop for people suffering from altitude sickness while returning from Tso Moriri.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/07/chumathang-hot-water-spring-leh-connectivity.html

Location

Chumathang Gompa, Leh – Connectivity

Chumathang Gompa, Leh – Connectivity

The gompa is located at about 43 Kms from Nyoma, 69 Kms from Tso Kar, 83 Kms from Tso Moriri, 95 Kms from Chushul, 138 Kms from Leh, 140 Kms from Leh Airport, 286 Kms from Pangong Tso, 385 Kms from Manali. The gompa is situated on the Leh to Nyoma route. Leh is the nearest town situated close to this lake. Leh is located at about 215 Kms from Kargil, 419 Kms from Kashmir, 426 Kms from Manali and 661 Kms from Jammu. Leh Airport has flights to and from Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, and Chandigarh. Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo & Vistara operate Delhi to Leh daily with multiple flights at peak times. There are no railway stations at Leh currently.

Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads, both of which are subject to landslides and impassable in winter due to snows. The National Highway 1 from Srinagar via Kargil is generally open longer. National Highway 1 typically remains open for traffic from April / May to October / November. The most dramatic part of this journey is the ascent up the 3,505-metre-high (11,499 ft) Zoji-la, a tortuous pass in the Great Himalayan Wall. The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

The Leh-Manali Highway (National Highway 3) can be troublesome due to very high passes and plateaus. This highway has served as the second land approach to Ladakh. It is open from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho, whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m (12,010 ft) to 4,570 m (14,990 ft). There are a number of high passes en route among which the highest one, known as Tanglang La, is sometimes incorrectly claimed to be the world's second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of 5,325 metres (17,470 ft).

Chumathang Gompa, Leh, Ladakh

Chumathang Gompa, Leh, Ladakh

Chumathang Gompa is a Buddhist monastery located in Chumathang Village in Leh District of the Union Territory of Ladakh, India. This gompa is situated on the northern banks of Indus River. This gompa is around 400 years old and is considered as one among the oldest monasteries of Ladakh. This gompa is situated close to Chumathang Hot Water Spring.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/07/chumathang-gompa-leh-connectivity.html

Location

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Leh – Connectivity

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Leh – Connectivity

Leh is the nearest town situated close to this sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated to the south east of Leh. Leh is located at about 2.5 Kms from Leh Airport, 7 Kms from Ladakh, 215 Kms from Kargil, 419 Kms from Kashmir, 426 Kms from Manali and 661 Kms from Jammu. Leh Airport has flights to and from Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, and Chandigarh. Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo & Vistara operate Delhi to Leh daily with multiple flights at peak times. There are no railway stations at Leh currently. Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads, both of which are subject to landslides and impassable in winter due to snows.

The National Highway 1 from Srinagar via Kargil is generally open longer. National Highway 1 typically remains open for traffic from April / May to October / November. The most dramatic part of this journey is the ascent up the 3,505-metre-high (11,499 ft) Zoji-la, a tortuous pass in the Great Himalayan Wall. The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

The Leh-Manali Highway (National Highway 3) can be troublesome due to very high passes and plateaus. This highway has served as the second land approach to Ladakh. It is open from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho, whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m (12,010 ft) to 4,570 m (14,990 ft). There are a number of high passes en route among which the highest one, known as Tanglang La, is sometimes incorrectly claimed to be the world's second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of 5,325 metres (17,470 ft).