Tribal Tours in Arunachal Pradesh
Monasteries & Tribal Trial of Arunachal Pradesh
Duration : 11 Days / 10 Nights
Destination Covered : Guwahati-Nameri-Dirang-Tawang-Bomdila-Itanagar-Ziro-Daporijo-Along-Dibrugarh
Day 01
Delhi/Kolkata-Guwahati-Nameri: Assistance on arrival and drive to Nameri (220km 6hrs). Check into Eco camp, Nameri National Park. Evening nature walk in around campsite.
Day 02
Nameri-Dirang: Morning drive to Dirang (200km 7hrs). Enroute visit Tipi Orchidarium, a glass house with over 7500 Orchids. Lunch at Bomdila and later drive to Dirang. Overnight at Dirang.
Day 03
Dirang-Tawang (12000 feet): Morning visit typical Monpa village at Dirang. Monap live in cozy double-storied houses, constructed of stone with plank floors, often with carved doors and window frames. The Monapa are artistic by nature. Wood carving works, carpets and bomboo utensils made by them are exquisitely beautiful. They have earned a niche for
themselves in Thank painting and hand made papermaking. Agriculture is their main occupation. The other occupation
is trade and breeding of yaks and other cattle. Monpas are known for terraced cultivation and production of potatoes.
Later drive to Tawang (150 km 6hrs). Tawang, the major center of the Mahayana Buddhists which is standing on the
spur of a hill at an altitude of 12000 ft. above the sea level. On the way to Tawang lies the world's second highest pass -
the Sela Pass (14000 feet) which runs through a small ridge and along a placid Lake called the Paradise Lake. Overnight Tawang.
Day 04
Tawang: Full day explore Tawang Monastery, founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyaltso during 17th century A.D. a
contemporary of the fifth Dalai Lama. Before the establishment of the Monastery, Tawang was a center of Tantric religion.
The tribal mainly Monpa was divided into various religious sects and it was only after the monastery come up that the bulk
of population converted to Mahayana sect and Buddhism was develop in the area. It is the one of the largest lamaseries of Mahayana sect in Asia and second largest monastery in the world (after Lhasa), which has also a center for Buddhist
Cultural Studies where young monks are taught Arithmetic, English and Hindi besides traditional monastic education.
Later trek to Bramdungchung Ani Gomap and Gyawang Ani Gomap, which are the adobe of nuns. Unlike the monks, the
girls become nuns and join the nunnery on their own and there is no social pressure or tradition making the practice
compulsory. Brama durng chung ani gompa is the oldest Ani Gompa in the Tawang District. It is situated in the lap of a
far off mountain laced with natural scenery. This nunnery was constructed by a lama named Karchen Yeshi Gelek from
Tsang province of Tibet in the year 1595 A.D. Presently there are forty five nuns in this Monastery. And Gyawang Ani
Gompa another nunnery having about 50 nuns, located on top of a beautiful hillock founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyamtso
and was subsequently offered by him to his elder sister. Thus the Gyangong Ani Gompa came into existence. This Ani Gompa is under the administration of Tawang Monastery.
Urgelling Monastry
Evening visit, situated 5km to the south of Tawang township stands the Urgelling monastery. It was first of the three
monasteries built by Urgen Sangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pempalingpo, the famous Treasure-Revealer. It was built sometime before the year 1489. It was here in 1683 Tsangyang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama was born. Overnight at Tawang.
Day 05
Tawang-Bomdila: Morning drive to Bomdila (190 km 7hrs), evening visit Upper Gonpa, Locally known as Gonpatse
Gonpa, built by previous Rev. Gonpatse Rimpoche, and the new gonpa is built by the present Rev. Gonpatse Rimpoche,
the 15 recantation of Tsona Gonpatse Rimpoche of Tibet, Tsona is a place in Tibet. Later visit the Bazaar Gompa.
Overnight at Bomdila.
Day 06
Bomdila-Itanagar: Morning drive to Itanagar (320km 9hrs drive). Itanagar the capital city of Arunachal is a modern
settlement built in the vicinity of the ruin of the 14th century fort old capital. The archaeological remains of this med
review capital comprises of two brick wall ramparts. Itanagar has extremely interesting museum known as Jawaharlal
Nehru Museum, time spent here can really acquaint you with the culture and tradition of this region. All prototype of the
bamboo and cane architecture of dwelling of different tribes and apparel, design and functional tools and others handicrafts
are display here. Overnight at Itanagar.
Day 07
Itanagar-Ziro: Morning visit state museum and later drive to Ziro (150 km 6hrs) Enroute visit Nishi villages. Overnight at Ziro.
Day 08
Ziro: Full day explore Apatani tribal villages, like Hong-Dibbo-Hija-Bulla-Hari etc. The uniqueness of Apatani tribe is tooting
on women face and its nose plug. You may visit museum, emporium and local market. Apatani, like other tribes also believe
in sun and the moon as a god and have traditional altar in there home made up of Bamboo and Cane. Overnight at Ziro.
Day 09
Ziro-Daporijo: Morning drive to Daporijo (160 km 7hrs) Enroute visit Nishi and Hill Miri Tribal villages like Raga, Tamin and
mori etc. Evening free at local market. Overnight at Daporijo.
Day 10
Daporijo-Along: Drive to Along (160km 7hrs), Along the headquarter of west Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh located
at an altitude of 300m inhabitants of Adi (Gallong) tribes. Enroute visit tribal villages Tapi, Tribin and Bam, etc. Houses
in these villages are artistically built on the hill slop without using nails but only of bamboo and cane. Evening free at Darka Village, one of the largest Adi (Gallong) tribal village. Overnight at Along.
Day 11
Along-Dibrugarh: Early morning drive and cross the Brahmaputra river on a ferry to reach Dibrugarh (175 Km 9hrs).
Overnight at Dibrugarh.
Day 12
Dibrugarh-Delhi/Calcutta: Morning drive to airport to connect flight to Delhi/Calcutta.
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