Walong
Encyclopedia
Walong is a small canton
ment and administrative town in the Anjaw District
of the state of Arunachal Pradesh
in northeastern India
. Walong is also the easternmost town in India
Anjaw was carved out of Lohit District
in 2004. Walong's approximate position is 28 degrees 06 minutes North, 97 degrees East. It lies on the west bank of the Lohit River
(a tributary of the Brahmaputra), approximately 20 kilometres south of the Chinese
border. Just north of the border lies the Tibet
an trading town of Rima
. Walong is approximately 180 km. by road from the district headquarter town of Tezu
. It had an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) capable of taking Otters
and Caribous
planes, which has now been abandoned. There is an operational helipad. The town is connected to Tezu by a thrice-weekly bus.
In autumn of 1962 Walong was the scene of the Battle of Walong when the Indian Army 11th Infantry Brigade battled the Chinese advances. Even though Indians where forced to withdraw, this turned out to be one of the bloodiest battle of the war. The sikh, gorkha and kumaoni soldiers suffered heavy casualties but the Chinese suffered immense losses. As the battle ended the number of Chinese dead where five times that of the Indians. This was especially significant considering that the Chinese used heavy mortar fire while the Indians had no mortar support.
A canopied memorial to the Indian war dead of 1962 was erected long ago next to the airstrip with the following verses composed by a Walong veteran inscribed on it:
Next to this is a marker relating the history of Walong ALG, and nearby the wreck of a Caribou which crashed here. A new large memorial to the Walong war dead of 1962 has come up in 2002 on the road leading North to Kibithu.Two small temples have also come up on 'Helmet Top', a hill position some 18 kilometres away, which was so named because of helmets and other military gear found strewn there.
The forest around Walong is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, Red goral and Leaf muntjac occurs while among birds there is the rare Sclater's Monal. A flying squirrel, new to science, i.e., Mishmi Hills Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista mishmiensis also occurs in this district (site of a paratype).
Canton (subnational entity)
A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared to other administrative divisions such as counties, departments or provinces. Internationally the best-known cantons, and the most politically...
ment and administrative town in the Anjaw District
Anjaw district
Anjaw District is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. It is a newly created district, having been split from Lohit district on 16 February 2004 under The Arunachal Pradesh Re-organization of Districts Amendment Bill. The district borders China on the...
of the state of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
in northeastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Walong is also the easternmost town in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
Anjaw was carved out of Lohit District
Lohit district
Lohit is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The district headquarters are located at Tezu. As of 2011 it is the third most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh , after Papum Pare and Changlang.-Etymology:...
in 2004. Walong's approximate position is 28 degrees 06 minutes North, 97 degrees East. It lies on the west bank of the Lohit River
Lohit River
Lohit River is a river in Arunachal Pradesh in India. It is a tributary to the Brahmaputra River.The lohit river rises in eastern Tibet, in the Zayal Chu range and surges through Arunachal Pradesh for two hundred kilometers,before disgorging itself in the plains of Assam...
(a tributary of the Brahmaputra), approximately 20 kilometres south of the Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
border. Just north of the border lies the Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an trading town of Rima
Rima
Rima, also known as Rima the Jungle Girl, is the fictional heroine of W. H. Hudson's 1904 novel Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest. In 1974, she was adapted into a comic book character and featured in the short-lived monthly series Rima the Jungle Girl, published by DC Comics...
. Walong is approximately 180 km. by road from the district headquarter town of Tezu
Tezu
Tezu is a census town and the headquarters of Lohit district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.The ancient inhabitant of this land of valley and rivers are the Mishmi tribes. The Mishmi tribes have traditions and customs dating back to the times of Mahabharata. According to sacred Hindu...
. It had an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) capable of taking Otters
De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, but was overall a larger aircraft.-Design and...
and Caribous
De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou is a Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability...
planes, which has now been abandoned. There is an operational helipad. The town is connected to Tezu by a thrice-weekly bus.
In autumn of 1962 Walong was the scene of the Battle of Walong when the Indian Army 11th Infantry Brigade battled the Chinese advances. Even though Indians where forced to withdraw, this turned out to be one of the bloodiest battle of the war. The sikh, gorkha and kumaoni soldiers suffered heavy casualties but the Chinese suffered immense losses. As the battle ended the number of Chinese dead where five times that of the Indians. This was especially significant considering that the Chinese used heavy mortar fire while the Indians had no mortar support.
A canopied memorial to the Indian war dead of 1962 was erected long ago next to the airstrip with the following verses composed by a Walong veteran inscribed on it:
- The sentinel hills that round us stand
- bear witness that we loved our land.
- Amidst shattered rocks and flaming pine
- we fought and died on Namti Plain.
- O Lohit gently by us glide
- pale stars above us softly shine
- as we sleep here in sun and rain.
Next to this is a marker relating the history of Walong ALG, and nearby the wreck of a Caribou which crashed here. A new large memorial to the Walong war dead of 1962 has come up in 2002 on the road leading North to Kibithu.Two small temples have also come up on 'Helmet Top', a hill position some 18 kilometres away, which was so named because of helmets and other military gear found strewn there.
The forest around Walong is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, Red goral and Leaf muntjac occurs while among birds there is the rare Sclater's Monal. A flying squirrel, new to science, i.e., Mishmi Hills Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista mishmiensis also occurs in this district (site of a paratype).
See also
- 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish1987 Sino-Indian skirmishThe 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish was the third military conflict between the Chinese army and Indian army that occurred at Sumdorong Chu Valley, with the previous one taking place almost a quarter of a century earlier.-Events leading up the near war:...
- Events leading to the Sino-Indian WarEvents leading to the Sino-Indian WarA long series of events triggered the Sino-Indian War in 1962. According to John W. Garver, Chinese perceptions about the Indian designs for Tibet, and the failure to demarcate a common border between China and India were important in China's decision to fight a war with India.-Friendly...
- Kargil WarKargil WarThe Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
- Sino-Indian WarSino-Indian WarThe Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
- Sino-Indian relationsSino-Indian relationsSino-Indian relations, also called Indo-China relations, refers to the bilateral relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India. China and India are the world's most populous states and also fastest growing major economies...