Surrounded by the
Himalayas, Khonsa, 3,000 ft high, is the district headquarters of
Tirap District,
Arunachal Pradesh. Khonsa borders Myanmar in the east and
Assam in the south. It is a military area and a small outpost set up by the Koi-hai (militants) can be seen here.
Khonsa is blessed with numerous rare species of orchids. White gibbon monkeys swinging from branch to branch, musk deer, red panda and mithun are the specialties.
Places of interest include an emporium and a museum housing traditional artifacts. Khonsa is a perfect base for trekking. The festival celebrated here is accompanied by good food, bonfires, music and colorful dance. It generally falls during February-March.
A tour to nearby Kheti and Lajo villages, where Wanchoo tribes are the inhabitants, will be an enchanting experience. Borduria to the north-west, Longding to the south-west and Laju to the south-east are among the nearby cities and towns. Namdapha National Park is 131 km from Khonsa.
Tourist offices run by Arunachal Tourism cater to the tourists' needs. The best time to visit here is October-April.
Dibrugarh Airport, 100 km away, is the closest airport. Tinsukia Junction Railway Station, 70 km away, is the nearest railhead.
