You must have heard about India’s biodiversity hotspots. There are 36 hotspots worldwide, of which four are in India. But there is another category of measuring the biodiversity of a region, for a region is more diverse than the hotspot. Yes, there is a category called “Biodiversity Hottest Spot,” and only eight places in the world have been recognized so far. Surprisingly, India has two: the Western Ghats and the Indo-Burma region of north-east India.
If you want to explore a place that is a part of this incredible diversity in the northeast of India, then you should consider going to the Namdapha National Park. Situated in the northeast of India, Namdapha National Park is a tiger reserve, a national park, an important birding area, and a tentative World Heritage site. Namdapha also got the distinction of being the world’s northernmost tropical rainforest with the highest species richness among the Indian protected areas.
In this blog, I will share detailed information about the biodiversity of the national park and the information relevant to tourists.
Etymology of the name
The name “Namdapha” originates from two Singpho language words: “nam” (meaning “water”) and “dapha” (meaning “origin” or “source”). It refers to the Namdapha River, which originates from the nearby Dapha Bum glaciers in the eastern Himalayas.
History
Namdapha was originally declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1972, later in March 1983 it was declared as the 15th tiger reserve of India with a core zone of 1,807 sq km and buffer zone of 255 sq km, making it 2,052 sq km conservation unit. In the same year in month of June, the core area of the tiger reserve was declared as a national park. It is now proposed as a biosphere reserve and is in a tentative list of UNESCO world heritage site.
Location & Topography
Namdapha National Park is situated at the southeastern part of Arunachal Pradesh. The forests of Namdapha and its adjoining areas are surrounded by the Patkai hills from the south and south-east and by the Eastern Himalaya in the north. The reserve lies close to the Indo-Myanmar-China trijunction.
This is a large forest area connected across international boundary of Myanmar. The protected area of Myanmar is very well connected with Namdapha including the huge Hukawng Valley Tiger reserve. This connectivity ensures the free movement of animals between two countries and two different protected areas.
The area of Namdapha is mostly mountainous and includes the catchment area of Noa-Dihing river, a tributary of River Brahmputra. Several streams originate in the forests drain into the Noa-Dihing river. The salt licks and forest pools are abundant in the park. The park has a wide range of altitudes, 200 mts. to 4750 mts. at Dapha Bum, which is the highest peak in the park.
Most of the terrain of the park is steep and inaccessible and only few areas are fully explored. The remaining area is either unexplored or only explored by the people from local community. The core area of tiger reserve is 1,807 sq km and buffer zone is 255 sq km in which 105 sq km is reserve forest and rest is multi-use area.
Land use and Land Cover
53.32 percent of the total area of Namdapha is covered with dense forests, 24 percent is open forests, 15.92 percent are scrub forests, 3.47 percent of grassland, 1.36 percent riverbed, 1.11 percent snow cover and 0.82 percent is river.
Biodiversity of Namdapha
As mentioned earlier Namdapha is having the richest biodiversity among all the protected areas of India, and this diversity is represented in its flora and fauna.
Vegetation & Flora
Namdapha is a protected area with a variety of floral species and vegetation. It has tropical, subtropical, temperate, and alpine formations (near Daphabum). There are tropical wet evergreen forests in the lower parts and alpine vegetation in the higher parts. The lowland tropical evergreen forest is one of the biggest Dipterocarpus forests in the area.
Dipterocarpus macrocarpus (hollong) is the most common tree in well-drained areas, while Shorea assamica (mekai), a native and endangered species, is the most common tree in dry, gravelly soil in Namdapha. So far, about 73 species of lichens, 59 species of bryophytes, 112 species of pteridophytes, 5 species of gymnosperms, and 870 species of angiosperms found in the protected area. There are many endangered, wild relatives of cultivated plants and rare and interesting plants found in the area, such as Camellia caudata (wild tea), Coffea benghalensis (wild coffee), and Mangifera sylvativa (wild mango).
Gnetum ula and Pentasacme wallichi are two very rare species that have been found in this protected area. The rare primitive plant Psilotum nudum has also been seen in the park’s 40-mile area. The reserve is also known for the diversity of some rare species of root parasites, such as Sapria himalayana and Balanophora spp.
Fauna
Namdapha also has a great diversity of fauna. There are 96 species of mammals listed from the reserve so far. Namdapha is the only place in the world where you can find four species of big cats: Panthera pardus (leopard), P. tigris (tiger), P. uncia (snow leopard), and Neofelis nebulosa (clouded leopard). Hylobates hoolock, or Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape of India found in Northeast of India, finds safety in the park.
A new type of deer has been seen in this area recently. There are also a number of other endangered mammals, such as the dhole (Cuon alpinus), the red panda (Ailurus fulgens), the Asian golden cat (Felis temmincki), the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), the gaur (Bos gaurus), and the wild Asiatic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). There were reports of more than 505 species of birds, 76 species of fish (Danio horae, Barilius jayarami, Garra tirapensis, Aborichthys tikadari, and Kryptoterus indicus were new), 25 species of amphibians (Rhacophorus namdaphaensis, Philautus namdaphaensis, and P. shyamprupus were new), and 28 species of reptiles (Cyclemys mouhati, Elaphe mandarina, and Trimeresurus macrosquamatus were considered rare).
There are 188 species of beetles, 102 butterflies, 35 moths, 24 Hemiptera, and 115 Mantodea11 invertebrates. The Botanical and Zoological Surveys of India have recorded the diversity of plants and animals, but more in-depth research on how to measure biodiversity is needed to better manage the park.
Status of Tigers
According to the census in 1918 there were 18 tigers reported from the reserve but the space utilization by them was not clear. Extrapolation of the tiger density by using scat analysis and camera trap suggested 29 tigers within the Dibang-Kamlang-Namdapha block.
In 2022 another census was conducted on all India level with overall increase in tiger numbers. But in Namdapha no tiger was captured in the camera trap, suggesting a potential decline in numbers. Although the reserve is very well connected with the other tiger bearing forests but the terrain of Namdapha does not support a good tiger number or there is a possibility that because most of the forested areas are still inaccessible the tiger counting exercise has not covered the good tiger areas.
How to Get to Namdapha National Park
Namdapha is one of the most remote and untouched national parks in India. It is located in the easternmost part of the country. Getting there is an adventure in itself, as it involves a mix of flying, taking the train, and driving.
By Plane (Closest Airport)
Dibrugarh Airport (Mohanbari) is the closest airport.
- About 160 to 180 km away from Namdapha
- Get a taxi or share a car from the airport to Miao, the town that leads to the park.
- Time to travel: 5 to 7 hours (depending on how bad the roads are)
By Train (Closest Train Station)
Tinsukia Railway Station is the closest big station.
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- About 140 km from Miao
- You can get to Miao from Tinsukia by taxi or public transportation.
- Time to travel: 4 to 6 hours Margherita Railway Station is another smaller option that is closer but not as well connected.
By Road
Miao is easy to get to by road from towns in eastern Assam:
- Dibrugarh to Miao (about 160 km)
- Tinsukia to Miao (about 140 km) You have to go further from Miao to get to Deban, which is the park’s main entrance.
- About 25 km away
- Condition of the road: forest track (may need a strong vehicle)
Permit required:
Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Arunachal Pradesh
Foreigners need a Protected Area Permit (PAP)
Best Time to Visit
The best time to go is from October to April, during monsoon it is difficult to get there.
Connectivity:
The mobile network is weak and the infrastructure is basic, so plan ahead.
Tip for Travelers
Namdapha isn’t a quick trip for the weekend; it’s an adventure into one of India’s last great wild areas. Plan for extra time, bring the things you need, and enjoy the trip as much as the destination.
If you liked our blog, we recommend giving a read to our other exciting blogs like Five Best Safari Experiences in South India and Beyond the Tiger: Discover the Many Wonders of Corbett
Mr. Vibhav Srivastava is a seasoned wildlife biologist and ecotourism professional with over 20 years of experience across wildlife research, forest management, conservation education, and sustainable tourism in India.
Currently at Nature Safari India, he curates immersive wildlife experiences, leads conservation communication, and designs educational outreach programs. His expertise spans both in-situ and ex-situ conservation, with extensive field work in all major wildlife landscapes of Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern India. Notable contributions include all-India tiger monitoring with the Wildlife Institute of India, community-based conservation initiatives, and training forest staff and nature guides.
He has held key roles with RARE India, National Zoological Park (New Delhi), Le Passage to India, Tiger Protection Group, and served as Chief Naturalist at Kanha National Park, deepening his expertise in biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife interactions.
An accomplished educator and communicator, Mr. Srivastava has delivered over 30 lectures at prestigious institutions including Delhi University, BHU, Amity University, and IITTM. He is a published author and researcher, with co-authored books, scientific publications, and paper presentations at national seminars. His work consistently bridges conservation science, community engagement, and responsible tourism.
He holds a Master’s degree in Botany, has received professional training from the Wildlife Institute of India, and was nominated among the top five naturalists in India for the TOFT Best Naturalist Award.
