Haflong, Oct. 31: The only government tourist lodge in Haflong, the district headquarters of Dima Hasao in south Assam, was freed of army occupation today, after 21 years.
The eight-room tourist lodge, the only one in the district, which was established in the early eighties by Assam Tourism Development Corporation, was meant for tourists visiting the district where lodging was and still is limited.
Situated at a distance of around 330km from state capital Guwahati, Haflong, the only hill station in Assam, is endowed with beautiful hills, valleys and lakes and is quite popular among trekkers and nature lovers. Some of the places to be frequented here are the Orchid Garden, Borail range, Maibong and Jatinga.
The handing-over ceremony was held this morning at the tourist lodge where Kulendra Daulagapu, executive member, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, (tourism in-charge), was handed the key to the lodge by Brig. Parimal Panth, deputy inspector-general, 22 sector Assam Rifles. The function was also attended by Samuel Changsan, executive member of the council, Gagan Pandey, commanding officer, 43 Assam Rifles, school students and several distinguished guests.
The army had occupied the lodge on May 2, 1995, after insurgents wreaked havoc on the district, especially the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), the Dima Halam Daogah and many small militant groups. The lodge was occupied by the armed forces from time to time and was also used as the headquarters of the 44 Mountain Brigade.
Daulagapu told The Telegraph: "Today is a great day for the people of Dima Hasao as our tourist lodge has been set free after more than two decades. The handing over of the building by the armed forces also indicates that peace is prevailing. Now it is up to us to maintain peace so that more and more tourists visit our district and we can achieve the tag of a tourist destination and not a terrorist place."
Daulagapu said tourists visiting Haflong had to stay at hotels at a high cost but from now on they can stay at the tourist lodge. Very soon the lodge will be opened to tourists and a tourist information centre will come up in the complex. Sources in the council's tourist department said each of the rooms used to cost Rs 750 before the army moved in. "The tariff will be revised but will still be affordable. We plan to open within a few days," a source said.
They also spoke of the tourist attractions nearby. Jatinga, 9km from Haflong, is famous for migratory birds that are killed between August and November by local people with the use of bright lights and spears. Maibang, 53km from Haflong, is popular as the capital of the Kachari kingdom in Dimasa with its temples and historical ruins. Umrangso, 112km from Haflong, has the Neepco-developed hydel power plant on the river Kopili, besides a hot water spring.
The other tourist attractions are Panimoor (120km), famous for its waterfall, Thuruk (149km), the only place which experiences snowfall and is a favourite trekking destination and Hajong (75km), famous for its hilly terrain and the Hajong lake with its rare species of tortoise.
