Jatinga Tourism And Travel Guide

Located about 80km from Silchar, the small village of Jatinga has earned its fame owing to the mysterious and unfortunate deaths of scores of birds, which get drawn to the village during late monsoon months of August and September each year and fall prey to the villagers’ superstitious beliefs of evil spirits lurking around to terrorize the village. This mysterious phenomenon draws visitors from all over the world, making it one of the most popular hill stations in Assam. This event’s not exclusive to a specific species but pertains to an assortment of birds that include Kingfishers, Indian Pitta, Tiger Bittern, Green Pigeons, Little Egrets, Black Bitterns, Emerald Doves, Black Drongo and more, mostly at young or infantile stages. Tourism in Jatinga may not only be high due to this one particular phenomenon, but it also has few other places of attraction that this travel guide can help you discover.

By Air:

Silchar is the nearest airport to Jatinga at 104km. The best way to reach the village is by flight and then make the onward journey by taxi in roughly 1 ½ hour. Since there are no direct flights to Silchar, it is best to explore popular travel routes like Kolkata- Silchar or try alternative options like flying to Guwahati.

By Train:

Jatinga’s connected rather well to major cities in the country with regular trains. With a train station in Jatinga Lumpur, you can explore the two most regular trains from Guwahati and Silchar called the GHY SCL passenger and SCL GHY passenger passing through Jatinga. The other railway stations neighboring Jatinga include Haflong Hill, New Haflong, New Harangajao and Phiding.

By Road:

The distance between Silchar and Jatinga is about 40km, which is best covered in an hour. Buses to Silchar do stop in Jatinga, with most visitors preferring to visit the village during a day’s trip from Haflong by three-wheelers/autorickshaws. Alternatively, you can drive down yourself through the NH-27.

Getting Around:

Jatinga’s accessible easily from most parts of the state and can be reached by trains, buses, cabs, taxis or rickshaws. You can also explore the popular tourist attractions in a day’s trip in a 3-wheeler from Haflong.

Summer (March-June):

With an average temperature of 24°C, the village of Jatinga experiences summers typically in the months of March through mid-June, with a warm and humid climate with sunny days. However, compared to winters, summers see more rainfall in Jatinga. The maximum temperature is known to be 30°C.

Monsoon (July-September):

The period of June end through September is usually monsoon time in Jatinga and also the time the town experiences the mysterious phenomenon of a large number of bird species called to their deaths in unclear weather conditions during the dark. With rains dominating most parts of a day, the skies are usually overcast, and August is one of the warmest months in the year.

Winter (October-February):

Winters are perfect in Jatinga to enjoy the scenic beauty and lush greenery all around you. With the temperature rarely dropping below a single digit, January’s one of the coldest times of the year at an average of 15°C with pleasant and cooler days. December is typically the least wet time of the year when rainfall received is at a bare minimum of 6mm.

Jatinga Bird Festival:

A lovely bird-watching center, 57 km from the city, amidst the hilly landscapes of District Dima Hasao, Jatinga’s renowned for an unexplainable nature’s mystery. The valley is marked by scores of migratory birds annually, especially during September through November when the winged species are observed to lose control and fly down towards fire poles and searchlights, hurting & dying. This happens only on a stretch of 1.5 km in the hours post-sunset between 6 pm and 10 pm. This mystery has been instrumental in getting tourists and bird watching enthusiasts from across the globe, giving way to the Jatinga Bird Festival, which not only serves as a promotional event for tourism but also is a cultural fest for various tribes to present their culture to visitors.

A day out at the Haflong Lake:

The Haflong Place is a beautiful scenic site for some peace and calm, in addition to enjoying a picnic with your loved ones in the heart of the city with an assortment of outdoor activities to indulge in. From exploring to fishing/angling to leisure sports and boating activities, to just some quiet reflection, the Haflong Lake is an incredible tourist spot with scenic views and captivating ambiance.

A trek to the Borail Mountain Range:

Witness a beautiful rising sun at the Hempeupet Summit, 6000 ft above the sea level, with the North Cachar Hills as an incredible scenic backdrop, go trekking in the Borail Mountain Range or experience a steam safari with a village tour that will introduce you to the local tribe’s culture, daily lifestyle and delectable cuisine.

Nature’s Delight at Haflong:

Being the only hill station at 2,300ft above the sea’s level, Haflong is not just a beautiful representation of lush green landscapes but also a popular tourist spot to explore adventurous and outdoor activities in the midst of misty blue hills, waterfalls and rivers. You can expect activities like para-gliding, trekking, gliding sports, boating, and witnessing over 2 lakh varieties of flowers and orchids.

Jatinga being a small place, the next best location to enjoy Assamese cuisine is in Haflong, where you can indulge in a variety of Chinese, North Indian, Assamese, Continental, Bengali and Tibetan fare, as well as bakery items. Some of the must-visits in the region include Café Haflong near the Landmark Hotels, Member Hostel Road, Dzi Restaurant in Haflong East, Delicacy at the Kalibari Bazar, Ethnic Kitchen & Restaurant at the Tourist Lodge Complex, Gdain Raj and the Tribal Kitchen in Ram Nagar, Haflong East.

For your shopping requirements, you can explore the markets of Haflong, 14 minutes from Jatinga. Haflong’s known for a variety of wooden handicrafts, primarily in cane and bamboo products as well as silk textiles. Visit Besheng Mart opposite the Police Complex, the Chengjapao Kuki Statue, a shopping mall at the Songpjiang Lamdukan Bypass Road, the Bagetar Main Market, the PiPi Shopping Point in Muolhoi, the Moniram Market and the Haflong Bazar.