Adventure Team in Arunachal Pradesh Visit Kallek Village for Tourism Promotion

Guwahati: A Team of adventure enthusiast of Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday embarked on a journey to Kallek Village in Siang district to promote ‘Atang Ane’, the largest tree of the State under the theme -‘Expedition Atang Ane’.

About 30 adventurers from across the state participated in the expedition organized jointly by Kallek villagers and Itanagar based tour agency Ane Siang Tours and Expeditions.

Apart from trekking down to Atang Ane from Kallek village, the expedition team also participated in bird watching and visited Hiirep Waterfall near the village.

Informing about the expeditions, Dr. Tamuk, who is a native of Kallek village said, “The basic idea of organizing the expedition was to highlight and promote the tourism potential of Kallek Village". He further informed that the village if properly promoted, has many things to offer to visitors such as adventure tourism, wildlife tourism, culture etc.

Earlier in 2012, the 59.8 meters tree (in circumference) was located by one Takom Tamuk of Kallek Village and he received a cash award of Rs 15,000 from then Governor of State, General (Retd) J J Singh.

The brainchild of General (Retd) Singh, the aim of initiative in locating the largest tree was to add another feather to the tourism potential of the state.

Locally known as 'Atang Ane' (rubber tree), the Ficus Elestica (Indian rubber bush) located near remote Kallek Village of Yingkiong Forest Division under Kebang circle of East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh stands as the largest tree of the state under multi-trunk tree category so far. The giant tree (Atang Ane) is situated in a sub-tropical forest range of 280 05'51.7' north latitude and 950 09' 28.1' east longitudes.

Its elevation is measured upto 648 meter (AMSL). Situated in the northern side of Kallek Village, one can visit the tree after having three hours foot march from motorable road. During the visit to the tree recently, Kallek head gaon burah (village head) Tamang Tamuk informed that the giant tree was planted by one Sibeng Tamuk during early part of 20th century.

'The 'Atang Ane' was planted by late Sibeng Tamuk to obtain rubber from it during the time of practicing jhum cultivation in the area and it is believed that the sapling of the tree might have brought from nearby Burma (now Myanmar) by him'

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