The Dehing is one of the large southern feeders of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The river originates from the junction of the Patkai and Kumaon Bum ranges at Chaukam Pass in the east at an altitude of approximately 2432 meters with snow fall having peaks nearby. The river flows down through the dense forests and hence the water is cold especially in the upper course with rocks and boulders at the bottom.
The Patkai is mountain range that forms a major part of the Indo-Myanmar border. The lowest point in the height of the mountain range is approximately 1229 meters at the Pangsao Pass. The highest point is approximately 2780 meters at the center and the mountain range has about a dozen passes.
The whole belt of the Dehing and Patkai provides a suitable geographical and environmental setting with valuable forests, rare species of animals and birds, mineral resources like oil and coal, etc., and heavy rainfall and fertile arable land suitable for agriculture. It is one of the centuries old most favoured and widely used route during migration by the various ethnic tribes and the Mighty Rulers of Assam – the Ahoms. The historically famous Stilwell Road of World War II also passes through it via the Pangsau Pass. In the area of Dehing Patkai, live a large number of ethnic tribal socio-culturally and physically akin to South East Asia besides non-tribal from different parts of the Country. Among the tribal, the important ones are the Singphos, Tangsas, Noctes, Wanchos, Khamtis, Tai Phakes, Kacharis, Sema Nagas and other non-tribal communities like the Ahoms, Mattacks, Nepalis and so on.
The name Patkai is an abbreviated form of ‘Pat-kai-chang-kan’. It was a typical religious ceremony symbolic to a war dating back to 1401 AD. The ceremony was performed at the edge of the waters of the ‘Nangayang (‘Nang’ for lake and ‘Nyang’ for exists)’ at the foot of the southern slope of the mountain, in token of a treaty of surrender and peace ensuing a war. The War was waged by the Nara King Surupha of Mogaung (in the Shan of Myanmar and now on the Stilwell Road) against the Ahom King Sudangpha alias Bamuni Konwar (1397-1407) of Tipam which was the first capital of the first Ahom King Sukapha (1228-1268). The actual meaning of ‘Pat-kai-chang-kan’ is ‘Pat’ – to cut, ‘Kai’ – Fowl, ‘Cheng’ – oath, ‘Kan’ – taken, that is an oath was taken by cutting or sacrificing a fowl at that place. Earlier to the event the mountain was called ‘Daikaorang’ which means ‘Dai’ – mountain, ‘Kao’ – nine, ‘Rang’ – meeting together, that is a composition of nine mountains. After the war, the Naras couldn’t hold the ground and hence accepted defeat and retreated. The ‘Borgohain’ of the Nara King informed the Assam ‘Borgohain’ that they had come to Assam on wrong information that there was no King ruling the Kingdom of Assam. They, therefore, wanted to enter into a treaty of peace and friendship with the King of Assam. On receipt of orders from the respective Kings, both the parties, washed off their hands in the waters of the Nangnyang (the Lake) and then performed the ‘Pat-kai-chang-kan’.Two effigies of both the ‘Borgohains’ were also cut on a rock nearby and placed there as a symbol. The ‘Daikaorang’ was made to be the permanent boundary between the two kingdoms. This was the history how the treaty was made and ‘Daikaorang’ came to be known as PATKAI since after.
In this context it may be said that the ‘Naugnyang (the Lake)’ lies inside Myanmar just at the southern foot of the Patkai and down below the southern foot of the Patkai and down below the southern slope of the Stilwell Road at a distance of about two kilometres from the Pangsao Pass. No one appears to have attempted to visit the lake and find out the rock of historical importance since then, probably having lost sight of it, till Mr. S.E. Peal then assistant commissioner, Jaipur (beyond Naharkatia in Assam) decided to retrieve it. Mr Peal along with his team of Assamese labourers reached the location following the upstream of the River Dehing on a boat and then the Namchik River on foot. They however couldn’t locate the rock as it must have rolled down and fell deep down into the very deep swampy mud around the lake water. It was again forgotten until the adventurous American Soldiers visited it during the World War II for reconnaissance and a few of the party met with an accidental death at the Lake thus naming it as the LAKE OF NO RETURN!
Jungleideas welcomes you to India’s North East to witness the History of the ‘Dehing Patkai’ and the Lake of No Return, the State of Assam and the Indo-Burma Border, Incredible India!
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Memoirs of World War II
