"Yaar kuchh dinon ke liye pahadon mein chalte hain!"
Someone suggests, and the first thing that comes in your mind is a trip to Himachal. Yeah, it is definitely easy to plan a trip to Himachal from Delhi or the northern states because you can just book a bus ticket instantly and be in the hills next morning. But the same ease also results into a large chunk of tourists flocking to same popular destinations and crowding them.
The charm of these destinations is lost when you see the same people you see in your own cities there- eating the same things they ate there, and interacting with exactly the same people they interacted with in their cities, and lastly, listening to the same music they were listening to at there home, gym, car and everywhere.
So, how is it even a break? You find yourself in a loop, repeating the same things with just a changed background with snow clad peaks.
It is time that we unleash ourselves from the ordinary rituals of travel and open our hearts to something new.
What to do?
Explore the North-Eastern states of India.
While I suggest you this, I also keep in mind the backlash of the nature-loving community who are concerned about too many people traveling to a place and leaching it off its pristine state in a few years. But that won't happen in the North-East, thanks to the restriction on movement of people in states like Arunachal, Nagaland and Mizoram. Anybody moving in and out of the state for tourism or any other purpose is accounted for, and the residents pay due diligence towards maintaining ecological balance and cultural heritage. And one such place where you can witness the beauty of North-East India is Anini.
Anini is one of the farthest town in Arunachal Pradesh close to Dibang Wldlife Sanctuary on the Eastern edge of India. Located in the Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, Anini town has an average elevation of 1900 metres, similar to that of Manali. The rivers Dri and Mathun flow through the edges of the town and mount Kahaii Kala with an altitude of 5000metres above sea level dots the picturesque valley. With a population of less than 6 thousand people, Anini ensures that everyone has a lot of space to themselves in this bounty of nature.
What to expect in Anini?
If you love nature, Anini will steal your heart with its exotic fauna that includes mishmi takin, red goral, musk deer, red panda and asiatic black bear, vegetation ranging from moist deciduous to alpine and virgin landscapes untouched by commercialisation. The locals are people from the Mishmi tribe who speak the Midu dialect of Idu Mishmi language. With the influence of English and promotion of Hindi by the government of India, the language is one a verge of extinction and steps are being taken by the local government to preserve it.
When should you visit Anini?
The best time to visit Anini is between November to March when it is not raining here. However, the temperature goes below zero during peak winters but remains cool during the days.
How to reach Anini?
By Air: The nearest airport to Anini is the recently inaugurated Tezu Airport at a distance of 285kms. However flights are erratic and the more reliable airport should be Dibrugarh which is 370kms away.
There are helicopter services also made available by the government of Arunachal and can be an easier way to reach Anini. Services are available between Roing and Anini. For more information see here: http://www.arunachalpradesh.gov.in/civil-aviation/
By Rail: The nearest railhead is Tinsukia in Assam 330kms away.
By Road: You can get a bus from Tinsukia to Roing and a shared cab/ private vehicle from Roing to Anini.
Inner Line Permit
Inner Line Permit is mandatory for entering Arunachal Pradesh. You can obtain it online here: http://arunachalilp.com/index.jsp
You can obtain the ILP offline in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, North Lakhimpur and Jorhat. For more information, check this out: http://www.arunachaltourism.com/inner.php
Where to stay?
You can stay at any of these places:
1. Circuit House Anini
2. Government Guest House
3. Tourist Lodge, Dambeun
4. Tourist Lodge, Ranli
A vacation in the less-visited state of Arunachal will open your receptors to the diverse culture our country possesses and give your holiday a true meaning and the real taste of travel.
Have you been to Arunachal Pradesh? Share your journey with the Tripoto community.
