Flights of Fancy!

Catching up with the Winged Fairies in Namdapha. All you lovers of these winged beauties, Namdapha is the spot for you!

- SHILADITYA MUKHOPADHYAY

SOMEONE asked me to name the only place in India where four big cats coexist in the wild. Back then, I had no answers. Half a decade later, today, standing right in the middle of the pristine Namdapha National Park, my face wears a look of pure contentment and the long-due answer. However, this time, the lure of butterflies brings me to India’s easternmost national park.

Sourabh Biswas, my partner in exploration, gestures to me hurriedly at that very moment. Both of us took a liking to the flying jewels from our salad days. It seems my friend has begun the day with a prized catch. I rush to find out.

Nestled in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Myanmar, Namdapha teems with biodiversity. Owing to its diverse habitats, it is also home to a plethora of butterfly species. The Orange Oakleaf, that Sourabh chances upon near the forest rest house at Deban, is one of the many sought-after species found here. After the wonderful sighting, we savoured a heavy breakfast and set off for Haldibari camp.