Kameng River


The Kameng River in the eastern Himalayan mountains, originates in Tawang district from the glacial lake below snow-capped Gori Chen mountain, elevation, on the India-Tibet border and flows through Bhalukpong circle of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh and Sonitpur District of Assam, India. It becomes a braided river in its lower reaches and is one of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, joining it at Tezpur, just east of the Kolia Bhomora Setu bridge.
The Kameng forms the boundary between the East Kameng and West Kameng districts and is also the boundary between the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary to its west and the Pakke Tiger Reserve to the east. The Dafla Hills are east and the Aka Hills are west of the Kameng River. The entire stretch of forest along the Bhalukpong-Bomdila highway on the west bank of the river in West Kameng has vanished in the last few years though the forest across the river continues to be in a healthy state.
The Kameng River is about long with a drainage basin of about.

History

The Kameng river had an important historical significance. During the medieval period i.e. between 13th to early 16th century, it marked the borders between the Chutiya kingdom and the Kamata kingdom. Later, in the 16th century, after the annexation of the Chutiya kingdom by the Ahoms and the downfall of Kamata kingdom, it acted as the border between the Ahom kingdom and Baro-Bhuyan rule.

Tributaries

The eastern half of Eaglenest-Sessa Wildlife sanctuaries is drained by the Tippi Naala which joins Kameng River at the village of Tippi on the Bhalukpong-Bomdila Highway. The other major rivers flowing through West Kameng District, the Tenga, Bichom and Dirang Chu, are tributaries of the Kameng.

Maps