Arunachal Pradesh is an ideal holiday destination in India for people who love to travel and discover natural treasures and man-made wonders. It is a state of tribal cultures, exquisite monasteries, high-altitude lakes and passes, and picturesque mountainside villages. Arunachal Pradesh is called the ‘Orchid Paradise of India’ because of the state’s maximum density of orchid varieties. Tourists to Arunachal Pradesh need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) that can be obtained from Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezpur, and New Delhi tourism offices.
Here are the top 4 places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Tawang
- Mechuka Valley
- Sangti Valley
- Ziro Valley
1) Tawang
Settled at the height of around 3048 m, Tawang is a place where natural beauty is blended with the ambience of devoutness. Tawang is popular for several basic and exquisite monasteries and is famously known as the birthplace of the Dalai Lama.
Crossing the Sela Pass at 4,176 metres on the way to Tawang town offers some spectacular views of high-altitude Sela Lake, waterfalls and rugged mountains.
Tawang Monastery/Gaden Namgyal Lhatse is the largest monastery in India and the second largest in the world. The three stories monastery is encircled by a 925 feet long compound wall. Within the complex, there are 65 household buildings. The library of the monastery has invaluable ancient documents of Buddhism, mainly Kangyur and Tengyur.
Tawang experiences snowfall each year in the month of January. Pankang Teng Tso Lake near Tawang offers a high-altitude slope that is ideal for skiing. It is the youngest skiing destination in India.
Sela Pass, Tawang
2) Mechuka Valley
Rested at a height of 6,000 feet above sea level and at a distance of 29 km from the Indi-China Border, Mechuka Valley is not only a pleasant hill station but also a very strategic place. It offers panoramic views of snow-clad mountains, rolling hills, expanded meadows, gentle glacier-fed rivers and lush green pine forests. Mechuka is called the Forbidden Valley of Arunachal.
Although Mechuka valley remains green for most time in the year, with the advent of autumn, it changes its colour from green to brown and ultimately to white in the winter months. The beauty of Mechuka Valley comes into the frame during the winter season when the rooftops of the rolling meadows get blanketed with snow and window panes adorned with a thin layer of frost.
For winter lovers, this place is no less than heaven. Once you have stepped onto the land of Mechuka Valley in winter, you will undoubtedly find yourself surrounded by its white beauty. Mechuka Valley is 100% worthy of being included in the list while planning a tour to Arunachal Pradesh.
3) Sangti Valley
Sangti is primarily a sub-glen of Dirang Valley that comes en route to Tawang. Sangti is a tributary river that meets Dirang Chu near Dirang Dzong. The whole valley is flecked with orchards of Orange, Kiwi, Apricot, Apple etc. The river banks with the green paddy fields are encircled by lush hills covered with dense coniferous forests.
The prime attractions of the Sangti Valley are its spectacular sceneries and the turquoise water of the glacier-fed river. Tourists also camp on the banks of the river to be drenched in the beauty of nature. One can Hike up the hills past the village to have better views and experience some fascinating flora and fauna. In winter months, migratory black-necked cranes flock here too.
4) Ziro Valley
Ziro is a quaint village in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh and is straddled at an elevation of 5500 ft. above sea level. The intriguing and picturesque landscape of this exotic hill hamlet is spotted with terraced paddy fields and the panoramic vistas of lush rolling hills covered with pine, fir, ferns, orchids, rhododendron and bamboo forests set in the backdrop of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks, makes it one of the most stunning valleys in India.
Ziro is also famous for its unique wildlife treasures; the ‘Talley Wildlife Sanctuary which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the town serves as home to the elusive clouded leopards and provides an enthralling time to all wildlife enthusiasts. The place is great for adventure lovers too; as Ziro offers fascinating trekking adventures, camping in the wilderness and wildlife quests.
Besides the unpaired scenic and wildlife majesty, the quiet village of Ziro is also popular for its special tribal lineage as it is the home of the “Apatani” tribe which is considered the oldest tribe of Arunachal Pradesh who have been populating the region for the past centuries and are recognised worldwide specifically for their females decorated with massive nose rings and huge dark facial tattoos that cover their forehead, nose and chin. Their celebrations, traditions and customs are also as unusual as the tribe.
One must include these places while planning the Arunachal Pradesh tour package.
