Travel style · Arunachal
Photography in Arunachal
Light, height and the right hour
Trips built around light: first sun on Khangchendzonga from Pelling, star skies over Chandratal and Hanle, prayer halls at dawn, apricot blossom in April. With notes on where photography is not allowed.
Photo: KISHORETRIBALS · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsMountain light changes fast. The best of it is the first and last hour, which means early starts and evenings without a long drive.
Arunachal is India's far eastern Himalaya: Monpa Buddhist country around Tawang and Dirang in the west, Apatani rice valleys at Ziro, Adi villages along the Siang, and the rainforest of Namdapha in the east. Indians need an Inner Line Permit, foreigners a Protected Area Permit. October to April is the best window.
Trips
Photography trips in Arunachal
Photo: Bhavikji · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
The Siang valley and Mechuka
Private SUV with driver
Photo: KISHORETRIBALS · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Tawang and Dirang by private car
Private SUV with driver
Photo: Arunachal2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
Ziro Apatani homestay on a budget
Shared Sumos, with a shared taxi day in the valley
Photo: Itrajib · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Tawang and Dirang in comfort
Private SUV with driver and private guide
7 places
Where to go
Photo: KISHORETRIBALS · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Bhalukpong
The Kameng river gate into western Arunachal
Photo: Chaduvari · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Bomdila
West Kameng's hill town of gompas, orchards and birds
Photo: Quentin Talon & Mario Geiger · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Mechuka
A wide Memba valley on the Siyom, far up the Siang
Photo: Rohit Naniwadekar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Namdapha
Lowland rainforest on the Noa-Dihing, beyond Miao
Photo: Dhrubazaanphotography · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Sela Pass
A 4,170 m pass, a sacred lake and the new tunnel below
Photo: Kthatapalli · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tawang
India's largest monastery above a Monpa valley town
Photo: Arunachal2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Ziro
The Apatani valley of rice, fish and pine
Experiences
Days that fit the style
Photo: Harpreet 712 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Arunachal's orchids at the Tipi centre
A short stop on the Bomdila road to see Arunachal's orchids in the glasshouses and beds of the state's orchid research …
Photo: Harpreet 712 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Evening on the Kameng riverbank
Walk down to the wide, stony bed of the Kameng as the light drops, watch fishermen and river birds, and in the dry seas…
Photo: SaniyaChaplod · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Hornbills of Pakke Tiger Reserve
Cross to the east side of the Kameng to look for great, wreathed and Oriental pied hornbills in Pakke, where Nyishi vil…
Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Evening prayers at Bomdila's upper gompa
Climb above the market to Bomdila's large Tibetan-style monastery as the light softens, listen to evening chanting and …
Photo: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
A birding day in Eaglenest
Drive into the mossy oak and rhododendron forests of Eaglenest at dawn with a local birding guide. Expect laughingthrus…
Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Monpa crafts and the Bomdila market
Browse Bomdila's market and craft outlets for Monpa-style carpets, carved masks and wooden bowls, and learn how to tell…
Photo: Quentin Talon & Mario Geiger · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Morning at Samten Yongcha monastery
Walk or drive up to the old Memba monastery above Mechuka for morning prayers, butter lamps and a wide view over the Si…
Photo: Quentin Talon & Mario Geiger · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
A day walking the Siyom valley
Follow the Siyom across Mechuka's wide grassland, over wooden bridges and past grazing ponies and prayer flags, to vill…
Where to sleep
Stays in these places
Photo: Anand Explore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Budget
Apatani homestays, Ziro valley
Family homestays in the Apatani villages of Hong, Hari, Hija and Siiro are the best way to stay in Ziro: wooden ro…
Photo: Quentin Talon & Mario Geiger · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Budget
Memba homestays, Mechuka
Memba family homestays are the main places to stay in Mechuka: timber houses near the Siyom with warm kitchens, ho…
Photo: Aparajita Datta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Budget
Deban Forest Rest House, Namdapha
The forest department's rest house at Deban stands above the Noa-Dihing at the entrance to Namdapha National Park.…
Photo: Kthatapalli · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Mid
Hotel Gakyi Khang Zhang, Tawang
One of Tawang's longest-established hotels, Gakyi Khang Zhang sits in town with views towards the monastery and th…
Photo: Chaduvari · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Mid
Hotel Siphiyang Phong, Bomdila
An established hotel above Bomdila's main market on the highway, with valley views, heated rooms and a restaurant.…
Photo: Arunachal2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Mid
Siiro Resort, Ziro
A pine-wood resort in Siiro village on the edge of the Ziro valley, with private rooms, attached bathrooms and vie…