Ziro is located in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. The geographical coordinates of Ziro are 27°33′59″N and 93°49′53″E. It is at an elevation of 1,688 meters (5,538 feet). The town being located on a hilly area it has beautiful peaks.
About Ziro :
Ziro is a quaint old town in Arunachal Pradesh, home to the Apa Tani tribe and famous for its pine hills and rice fields. The Apa Tani tribe is a unique Arunachal tribe and one of the rare ones that are not nomadic in nature. They cultivate wet lands and were famous for their facial tattoos; practice of the latter is stopped recently.
The best time to visit Ziro is in January in order to experience the ‘Murung rituals’ of the Apa Tani tribe or in the month of March for their ‘Myoko rituals’. There is a ‘Dree Festival’ from 4th to 7th July each year where the Apa Tanis sacrifice animals to the God with the belief that the Gods will be pleased and the region does not experience famine. The agriculture season from February to October are considered unique and are known internationally. There is a famous Shiva Lingam at a few kilometres from Ziro town which attracts a huge number of devotees every day.
During the agriculture season, tourists can witness the paddy (rice) cum fish culture which is the practice of rearing fish in the rice fields. The Ziro Putu is a hillock from where one can see the entire Ziro valley. The airstrip in Ziro is also visible from here and makes it a scenic view point.
Tourists keen on trekking can explore the Talle Valley, an area full of biodiversity and located approximately 30km north east of Ziro. The flora and fauna here range from sub-tropical forests to silver fir trees, as well as a variety of ferns, bamboo, orchids and rhododendrons.
Attractions Of Ziro In Arunachal Pradesh :
For the tourists of Arunachal Pradesh, Ziro is a prime attraction for its tribal heritage. The tribal culture of Ziro is the greatest attraction of this land. These tribal communities have their own folk culture and rejoice in their own festivals and occasions. The tribal folks of this place speak in more or less 60 dialects but none of them are having any written form. The tribes of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh are well introduced with all modern methods of cultivation.
The wildlife of Ziro of Arunachal Pradesh is also a major attraction for the tourists. The forests of Ziro boosts with a riot of colors during the rainy seasons. The Namdapha National Park has been regarded as one of the few national parks for its gibbon reservation strategies. Some of the rare species like gibbon, leopard, snow leopard and tiger are being preserved in the Namdapha National Park. A wide variety of orchids could be seen in the Tipi Orchid Research Center which is located on the way to Bomdila.
Some of the Aborigine communities are still nesting in Arunachal Pradesh. The whole credit goes to the indian army who has found them out in the Chetak Pass who are surprisingly still unfamiliar with fire. A visit to that place could also be conducted from Ziro at Arunachal Pradesh.
Where to Stay :
Inspection Bungalow, Circuit House.
Reservation Authority Deputy Commissioner, Lower Subansiri District, Ziro. Phone: (037892) 255
What to see:
Tarin Fish Farm (a high altitude fish farm), Pine and Bamboo graves, villages, indigenous method of rice cultivation, craft centre.
Festivals: Nyokum on February 26. Dree on July 5. Ideal for Trekking and Hiking. Clothing Woollens in winter and Cottons in summer.
Location :
Ziro hills are located about 150 kilometers away from Itanagar, capital city of Arunachal Pradesh. This place is also well-known as Apatani Plateau. Local people of this place are called as Apatani tribal. It is a small town which is surrounded with valleys from all sides. It is a beautiful hill station covered with Pine and bamboo groves. This place is famous for rice cultivation in India.
How to Reach:
Nearest airport is Tezpur and Ulabari by Indian Airlines and NEPC Airlines.
Nearest railhead is North Lakhimpur by Arunachal Express from New Bongaigaon.
Direct buses are available from Itanagar and North Lakhimpur.