Four reasons why Ziro is the hero of Arunachal Pradesh!
Ziro is nothing like it sounds. It’s one of the rare beauties in India that hasn’t been tainted by commercialisation and the ever-so-keen gaze of social media. It’s an undiscovered gem in the interiors of Arunachal Pradesh that has yet to receive its due recognition.
If it isn’t already, Ziro would become the most sough-after destinations of travelers who want to know about the India that hasn’t been mapped yet. Vincent Panangadon, Founder - Offbeat Roads India and an avid traveler traversed across the bylanes and paddy fields of Ziro and has rated it amongst some of the best tourist destinations in India. Ziro is unlike the quintessential tourist destination and listed below are the reasons why this North-Eastern beauty is unlike any other.
- The journey is as beautiful as the destination.
For those who believe in the real joy being in the journey, the journey to Ziro would surpass your expectations. It’s not a hop-skip-jump from the airport to the town. One has to land to Guwahati and begin the journey to Bhalukpong. It’s about a 6-hour ride, where halts are recommended so that you could enjoy the scenic beauty and refresh yourself from time to time. Bhalukpong is worth spending a day in for its dense forests and pristine rivers, where you could go fishing and cook a meal by the bank. The next morning, you could head to Itanagar, which is 7–8 hours drive, while exploring the lesser known spots en-route and from there you could head to Ziro. which would take another 5–7 hours. You’d reach Ziro and know that the journey was worth every second. A destination as beautiful as this should take its time to be discovered.
2. The musical town brings the world together.
Ziro Music Festival is held in the latter half of the year, when the weather is usually pleasant and hospitable for music-lovers across the world to revel in the festive ambiance. People book tents and live around each other in an open, vibrant and harmonious environment. Other than the spectacular performances that you get to witness, you could jam with like-minded people and create your own tunes. There are after-parties hosted by the localites who invite you over at their den and ensure that you have the time of your life there. There have been no instances of crime reported in the Ziro Music Festival, that’s how lovely the people there are!
3. You connect with people offline.
You would realise how warm and accommodative people can be when you live with the inhabitants of Ziro. They don’t have fancy, well-made, concrete houses, but they have welcoming hearts. They live in bamboo houses, mainly by the river banks. The houses are well-ventilated in that there are gaps between the bamboo sticks. While there’s great circulation of fresh air, there’s always the risk of your phone falling off from between the sticks. So, careful with the phones! The localites are more than happy to let you live with them, while they cook you delicious food and prepare beer out of rice. You get to intimately experience the place and not just have a superficial touristic visit there.
4. There’s no burning hole in your pocket.
Most places you visit at Ziro are naturally abundant, where you could spend as much time as you would like to, without spending a penny. There’s food available in plenty at really affordable rates. In fact, if you choose to live with the localites, they would cook you delicious meals and you’ll be well taken care of. If you’ve booked a car in advance, you could go around as many places as you like to. You’ll find several hotels for accommodation there, which are 1-star, 2-star hotels. These hotels are cheap, yet cute and clean. So, you could enjoy to your heart’s content, without worrying about your budget.
If the avid traveler in you has already pictured Ziro, you might as well book your tickets to Guwahati and then get on-board for an incredible journey. If you’d want to know more about how it would be like at Ziro, give this interview with Vincent a watch. His description of the place would lure you into making your reservations, right away.
“Let’s Get Lost” is Katapult’s endeavour to help you look at the travel destinations in a completely different light. Every place you go, becomes a part of your story and there’s something that the place picks up from you. We bring you narratives of places that the traveler in you will deeply connect with. Before you could get on a physical journey, we’ll take you to a literary one! Enjoy the journey and let us know how you like it by reaching out to us through the comments or connecting with us on our social media pages.
Watch him talk his heart out on the above video. If you’re a travel enthusiast and are seeking a fresh perspective on travel, check out his website Offbeat Roads India.
