Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Himalayan foothills at West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. Tezpur (Assam) which is at 31 km from the sanctuary is the closest access to Eagle Nest. Eagle Nest was named after the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army which was posted in this area in the 1950s. Eagle Nest ranges from 500 meters (1,640 ft) to 3,250 meters (10,663 ft) above sea level and covers an area of 218 Sq.km. joining with Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve across the Kameng river to the east.
Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the largest contiguous closed-canopy forest tract of Arunachal Pradesh, administered by kameng protected area complex which also includes Pakke, Sessa, Nameri, and Sonai Rupai sanctuaries and associated reserved forest blocks. The complex covers 3500 km˛ in area and ranges from 100 metres (328 ft) to 3,300 meters (10,827 ft) in altitude.
The sanctuary is a shelter for various birds and animals. Eagle Nest is well known for the variety and number of birds that habitat here. Eagle nest is a prime birding site with more than 450 species of birds. Sanctuary is renowned for its variety of Herpetofauna which includes not less than 34 species of amphibians, 24 species of snakes and 7 species of lizards including 3 geckos, 3 agamids, 4 skinks and other rare species. Eagle nest is a home for at least 15 species of mammals which includes endangered Capped Langur, Bengal tiger, Asian Elephant, Red Panda and more. Eagle Nest also accounts for more than 165 species of butterflies.
Best time to visit Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary to spot birds is between November and May. In monsoons, between May and October is termed as best season to spot Butterflies.
Eagle Nest Wildlife sanctuary can be reached by the Tawang – Tezpur (Assam) Road. The unpaved road that starts from the base of Eagle nest wildlife sanctuary which runs through Eagle Nest pass at 2800 meters allows access to the entire altitudinal range. There is a regular bus/taxi service between Tawang/Tezpur. The nearest railway station to the sanctuary is at Bhalukpong from where a bus or taxi can be hired to reach the sanctuary. Tezpur is the nearest airport to the sanctuary which has biweekly Indian Airlines flight to Kolkata.
