Tucked away in the forbidding mountain-scape of Arunachal Pradesh, Ziro Valley is an entrancing holiday destination in North East India which magnetizes everyone with its hypnotic natural charm peppered with sprawling rice fields, quaint villages and rolling green hills veiled under thick layers of vibrant flora.
While the tranquility of this charming little town makes it a soul seekers paradise, its epitomic scenic beauty also entices innumerable nature lovers and photographers who specially travel here from far and wide to soak their souls in the place’s ethereal natural splendor. The place is great for adventure seekers too; whether one is looking forward to a soul-captivating trekking experience, a jungle camping fun or wildlife exploration, Ziro is not going to leave anyone disappointed.
Points of interest
Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary: Sprawling over an area of 337 sq. km, Talley Valley is a prominent wildlife reserve of Arunachal Pradesh. It is located at quite an elevation passed by the rivers like Pange, Sipu, Karing and Subansiri. It has a stunning spectrum of subtropical and alpine forests like silver fir trees, ferns, orchids, bamboo, and rhododendron. Pleioblastus Simone, one of its kind of bamboo, can be found only in Talley Valley. If lucky, you will get an opportunity to see clouded leopards. Also the place is just the perfect to take part in trekking.
Meghna Cave Temple: Meghna Cave Temple is a beautiful place to visit for worship. Dedicated to Lord Lakulisha who was the 28th embodiment of lord Shiva and you will find some detailed carvings of Sanskrit scriptures with magnificent and great architecture. This temple is a must visit attraction located in a beautiful valley in Arunachal Pradesh Ziro.
This tourist spot is an ancient cave temple that dates back to 5000 years and the cave temple was discovered during the year 1962. Ever since, this place sees people coming from all direction for a pilgrimage tour. This popular tourist attraction Meghna Cave Temple sits at an altitude of 300 feet which gives a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, dense evergreen forests and swiftly flowing rivers.
This is undoubtedly the best destination to visit in Arunachal Pradesh that gives the onlookers lush greenery giving you the most wonderful experience. In fact if you wish to experience a grand festival then you can visit Meghna Cave Temple during Maha Shivratri that happens during the month of February.
Kile Pakho: Situated in the Ziro Valley, Kile Pakho is a ridge from where one can witness spectacular views of the contrasting landscapes. On one side, there is the majestic Ziro Plateau and on the other side are lofty snow capped Himalayan Mountains. The ridge is situated 7 kms away from Old Ziro and is an important tourist attraction in the valley.
Midey: Predominantly known for its looming blue pine trees and stunning sights, Middey is a wonderful place to be on a visit to the Ziro Valley. Here you can see the biggest and tallest tree in the Apatani valley measuring about 7 (seven) meter at GBH (girth at breast height). Eloped in dense bamboo groves, it is amongst the favored spots to enjoy hiking and trekking.
Ziro Puto: Ziro Puto is a popular tourist destination in Arunachal Pradesh and it is one of the first managerial institutions in India. Ziro Puto is a hillock and it was here where India’s first administrative centre was established. This must visit destination is also known as an army cantonment which was established during the 60s and it holds a historical importance in the history of India. Being a popular tourist hot spot, from Ziro Puto you can glance at a spectacular view of the Apatani plateau as well as you can trek to the top to view the entire Ziro town.
This famous tourist’s destination is located in the lower Subansiri district and it offers a calm, slow and peaceful environment all around. If you seek a solitary time far from the tensions and stress of the fast moving world, Ziro Puto provides all that you need. And perhaps, a lot of visitors consider this one of the best destinations to venture during your Arunachal tour.
Dolo Mando: Dolo Mando is a hillock that is situated on the western side of Ziro on the Daporijo Road. The place is ideal for trekking with the rewards of spectacular views. One has to trek to this place to get the amazing view of the town of Hapoli and parts of Old Ziro.
Hapoli: Hapoli is the headquarter of Lower Subansiri District Administration that can captivate you with its stunning beauty. If you’re mesmerized by the beauty of Hapoli then you can also stay at the circuit house that is right at the top of the hill and offers the stunning view of the city.
Best time to visit:
Summer: In summer time, which is between April and June, Ziro becomes quite warm. The average temperature ranges between 6 and 20 Degree Celsius making it a great time to be visited by the tourists.
Monsoon: The monsoon period is pleasant also which average temperature between 2 and 19 Degree Celsius. However, reaching Ziro via Assam can get little difficult because of the flood-like condition in this neighboring state.
Winter: Winter period between October and March is quite appropriate to plan a holiday in Ziro. Where on the one side the temperature dips till -13 Degree Celsius (sometimes), the day time can be as warm as 14 Degree Celsius. Carry a lot of heavy woolens and you will be able to enjoy winters in Ziro as well.
How to reach
Ziro Valley is well connected with all major means of transportation with the other parts of India. However, the most convenient way to reach here would be to take a train to either North Lakhimpur or Naharalagun and from there hire a taxi to Ziro.
By air: The nearest airport from Ziro is at Jorhat, Assam which is 98 kms away. Another airport is at Lilabari, which is at a distance of 123 kms from Ziro. The nearest international airport of Ziro is at Guwahati at a distance of about 449 kms.
By rail: The railway stations from Ziro are at Naharalagun (100 kms) and North Lakhimpur (117 kms). Regular Intercity train from Guwahati and once a week one train from New Delhi ply to Naharalagun.
By road: There is a night bus from Guwahati to Ziro. The bus, operated by the Arunachal Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation runs four days a week. Alternatively, one can travel to North Lakhimpur or Itanagar and take a shared taxi to Ziro from there.
