Description

Do you know which is the easternmost part of India? Is it possible to catch a glimpse of the first rays of Sun that falls on India? Zikation gives you an awesome opportunity to know the answers to these questions. Join us as we take you to The Land of Raising Sun, Arunachal Pradesh. A place that is very less known, and hence is void of the regular tourist crowd. A perfect time to visit before Dong Valley gets fully commercialised.

Itinerary of Dong Valley

Day 1: Dibrugarh – Namsai (120 km 3-4 hours)

We kickstart our lovely trip with a visit to the Buddhist town of Namsai. Reach Namsai by afternoon, and have lunch by the riverside. The town has few Buddhist monasteries, and Golden Pagoda Temple is the biggest and most popular of them all. Unlike the other Buddhist monasteries in India, the monasteries here are a bit different. These monasteries are not built in the Tibetan style, but they resemble more of Myanmar or Thai style. Check-in to a hotel and relax.

Day 2: Namsai – Parashuram Kund – Hayuliang (180 km 6-7 hours)

Today we start early to visit Parashuram Kund. This picturesque small town has huge religious significance, but is also stunningly beautiful. The Turquoise blue water of Lohit River surrounded by high mountains on all sides is a sight to remember! And don’t forget to catch the panoramic view of Lohit River while on the way to Hayuliang. This is perhaps the most scenic route you will cover in your amazing trip. Reach Hayuliang by evening. Check in to a homestay and relax.

Day 3: Hayuliang – Walong / Namti (110 km 5-6 hours)

Drive next to Lohit River, all the way up to Dong, well almost. While we stay at one side of the river, the village of Dong is actually located on the other side. We spend the evening exploring Namti plains (the last point until where the Chinese Army had entered during the 1961 war). Have early dinner today and retire early for the day, as we have to start the trek as early as 2 am (even earlier during summers).

Day 4: Trek to witness the first rays of sun in India: Dong Valley

A hectic day today. We start our 2-2.5 hour trek from Dong at 2 am, and reach the peak by 4 am. This steep trekking trail can become tiring, take your time but reach the peak before the sunrise. Once you are on the top, set up a bonfire to keep yourself warm until you wait for those first rays of sun. While the peak is surrounded by higher mountains on all sides, you can view the first rays of sun on Indian soil, falling on a mountain exactly opposite of you. If you visit during winters, you can see the snow capped mountains shining in golden colour. As the sun raises slowly, you can trek further to neighbouring hills. Trek back to homestay for heavy breakfast.

Freshen up, and we now go to Kibithu and Kaho, which are the last/first two villages of India on either side of River Lohit. You can get a glimpse of China from here. You can also see some of the Chinese military camps from these villages. After an exciting beginning to the day, we now drive back to Hayuliang and check-in to a homestay.

Day 5: Hayuliang – Dibrugarh (280 km – 8 hours)

Drive back to Dibrugarh as our awesome trip comes to an end. Get ready to share your story of visiting a unique place with your friends and family as we drop you at Dibrugarh (hotel/airport/railway station).

Dong Valley

Dong Valley is the last village in India where civilians can witness the first rays of Sun. In this trip, you pass through several breathtaking views of Lohit River, and its blue and fresh water. For most part of this trip, you will be cut away from the rest of the world, as there is no mobile signal or internet. While Arunachal Pradesh has identified this as a tourist circuit, this place is rarely visited, and hence it is void of any crowd. This is a perfect place to go to if you want to spend quality time with nature.