Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh sits at 1,500 metres above sea level. Located 15 kilometres from Itanagar, it is ornate with dense foliage of pine and bamboo trees. The hills in the valley are studded with around 300 bird and 170 butterfly species. Ziro Valley is famous for its paddy fields, pine forests, bamboo groves, Apatani tribes, and fish farms. The valley is also famous for hosting the Ziro Music Festival, an outdoor music festival that sees more than 40 bands performing.
How To Reach
By Air
Lilabari, Assam is the nearest airport. It is 123 kms from Ziro. The second nearest airport is at Jorhat, 195 kms away. You can also reach Ziro from Tezpur airport, which is around 272 kms from Ziro.
By Road
You can take a bus from Guwahati to Ziro. Guwahati is situated 470 kms away, and takes about seven hours to reach. There are direct buses from Itanagar organised by the state government of Arunachal Pradesh. These buses are affordable, but might not be very comfortable, so you can also opt to hire a taxi.
By Rail
The nearest railway stations from Ziro are Naharalagun, 100 kms away, and North Lakhimpur that is 117 kms away .You can also take trains to Naharlagun and Kathal Pukhuri from Guwahati. You can hire a taxi to reach Ziro from all these stations.
Special permissions
Indian nationals need to take special permission, the Inner Line Permit (ILP) issued by the Arunachal Pradesh government, to enter the state. This permit is accessible online and available at airports at Kolkata, Guwahati or Tezpur.
Apart from the visa, foreigners are required to have a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit Arunachal Pradesh. The PAP is issued for 10 days and you can extend it for another seven days.
Things to do
The beautiful landscape of Ziro Valley makes for amazing trekking experiences. The most popular spots are the Dolo Mando hillocks. Midey is also famous for its blue pine trees. Talley Valley is a centre for biodiversity and also has a wildlife sanctuary with diverse flora namely bamboo, fir trees, rhododendron, and ferns. Situated 32 kilometres east of Hapoli, Talley Valley also has rare butterflies, Bhutan glory, Kaiser-i-Hind, and brown gorgon. The valley also provides a good camping experience. If you are looking for more adventure and thrill, be sure to trek the Kile Pakho Ridge that has stunning views of mountains and the beautiful Ziro Plateau. Ziro Valley is also famous for its biking and walking trails.
The original inhabitants of Ziro Valley, the Apatani continue to live here. The major villages where the tribe live are Hong, Bamin and Hija. The women still follow authentic customs of face tattoos and putting cane plugs on the sides of their nose. Cultivating paddy is one of the major occupations in Ziro Valley. You can visit these lush plantations that are surrounded by pine and bamboo trees. Different fish are farmed in the paddy fields.
Best time to visit
Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh has a pleasant climate during summer that fills the place with tourists. The best time to visit Ziro Valley is between April and June.
The Ziro Music Festival is an important attraction that pulls in huge crowds to Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. The Ziro Music Festival is a four-day event that takes place in September every year. Invited bands play a variety of music ranging from alternative, pop-funk, post-rock, to jazz, hip hop and electronic. The Ziro Music Festival also has local cultural events and cuisine that celebrate the region. The festival has a day and a night stage. The day stage or Daynii or Apatani for Sun has a lot of acoustic songs and folk music that create a melodious and warm atmosphere. The night stage or Pillo Apatani for Moon comes alive with the beats of heavy metal, electronica, alternative rock, and more.
Dos And Don’ts
Ziro Valley In Arunachal Pradesh is home to around 26 indigenous tribes. When you visit them make sure to treat them with respect and follow their code of conduct.
When you visit a religious site make sure to not enter the place with any footwear. Dress appropriately.
Take special care of nature as the area’s biodiversity is to be protected. Do not litter or harm the environment.
Stay away from unauthorised travel agents and exchange your currency from government approved vendors only.
Local Experience
Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh is also known for its delicious food. A must-try delicacy is bamboo chicken. Arunachal Pradesh is also known to eat distinctive food like rats and silkworms, so if you feel adventurous or experimental, do try. You must also try the local rice beer that adds to the unique flavours of Ziro Valley.
Source: Travel.earth