A giant rubber tree over 100 years old in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh is emerging as a tourist attraction after being declared by the Forest Department as the largest tree in the state.
Locally known as “Atang Ane”, the rubber tree (Ficus Elestica) with a girth of 59.3 metres is located near the remote Kallek Village in East Siang district’s Kebang circle under Yingkiong Forest Division.
The tree is situated in the sub-tropical forest range at 28 degrees north latitude and 95 degrees east longitude. Its elevation is measured up to 648 metres.
The identification of the largest tree in the state was made under a plan, mooted by State Governor J J Singh, to add to the tourism potential of the Himalayan state.
According to State Forest Research Institute scientist R K Taj, “Such trees are traditionally important for religious purpose also. The plant is also important in decorating avenues and lawns.”
Situated in the northern side of Kallek Village, one can visit the tree after a three-hour trek from the nearest motorable road.
“The tree was planted in the early part of the 20th century, much before the Anglo-Abor War of 1911, by villager Sibeng Tamuk,” Kallek head gaon burah (village elder) Tamang Tamuk said.
“Though he is no more with us, his effort to conserve forest paid dividends with the state government giving due recognition,” Tamuk said.
The tree was planted to obtain rubber from it during the time of practicing jhum cultivation in the area and it is believed that the sapling of the tree might have been brought from nearby Myanmar by him.
The tree may grow still larger in the coming days as it grows vertically, Tagom Darang, an elder of the village, said.
“If proper care is taken and the state government constructs a porter track from Kallek to the spot where the tree is located, the site will become one of the hotspots for tourists in the state,” said Tajir Tamuk of Kallek village, who serves as an orthopaedic surgeon at Dibrugarh-based Aditya Diagnostics & Hospital.
Tamuk also stated that an ancient bat cave is situated just nearby the giant tree and if it is explored, it too would become a favourite tourist destination.
The Governor had last month awarded Rs 15,000 to Takom Tamuk, a resident of the village, and Rs 10,000 to Rai Yayer, another villager, for locating the second largest tree — a banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) with a girth of 17 metres at Kankar Nallah near Nirjuli under Banderdewa forest division in Papum Pare district.