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Arunachal Pradesh tucked away in the Northeast region of India is one beautiful treasure house of nature, which tempts travelers to visit the place and relax in its picturesque hills and valleys. This beautiful state in the Eastern side of the country is encircled on three sides by Bhutan, China, and Myanmar. People from all around the world come to Arunachal Pradesh to relive in nature in full splendor and enjoy the mild comfortable atmosphere with hospitable people. Arunachal Pradesh has so much to offer and is blessed with mesmerizing natural beauty. Many famous monasteries, beautiful lakes, mild weather, unexplored passes all come together to form the prettiest mountainous spots attracting tourists from everywhere. Arunachal Pradesh is not only famous for its natural beauty but also for its rich culture and tribal heritage. This state has around 26 tribal groups with unique identities and cultures. One of the popular and interesting groups of these tribes is the Apatani tribe.
A glimpse of the beautiful Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh
The Apatanis are one of the interesting ethnic groups of Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas. They have a distinct civilization and reside in the beautiful valleys of Ziro. Ziro is a famous tourist spot in Arunachal Pradesh, which is surrounded by pretty rolling hills with lush bamboos and rice fields spread across large areas. Ziro is topographically cut off from the populated regions of Arunachal Pradesh and visitors are able to experience the countryside lifestyle here. The population in Ziro is very less compared to other places in the state and the population is formed by the Apatani tribal group in Ziro. Visitors in Arunachal Pradesh visit Ziro not just to witness the beauty of the place and to see the co-existence of man and nature in perfect balance, but also because the Apatanis drive people curious about their tribe.
The culture and appearance of the tribe residing in the hills of Ziro are quite interesting. The stunning valleys of Ziro inhabited by this group of people lie tucked in lower ranges of the majestic Himalayas comprising a large amount of land perfect for cultivation. The Apatani tribe has rich traditional ecological knowledge of natural resources management and conservation acquired over the centuries. These people not only make the valleys of Ziro rich with rice cultivation but also celebrate many colorful festivals and are skilled in designing intricate handlooms and make handicrafts out of cane and bamboos. Apatanis are also known for their vibrant and colorful festivals, you should visit Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh when the tribal group spread colors of joy in the whole Ziro during these festivals.
Rice fields of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh
The villages in Ziro where Apatanis reside are also considered as one of the oldest villages in Arunachal Pradesh. Hidden in between the dense beautiful forests of Arunachal Pradesh, the village in Ziro is home to the interesting tribe, Apatanis magnetizing tourists towards them and the valleys of Ziro. Unlike many other tribes, this tribe is non-nomadic and is permanently settled in Ziro. These people practice wetland cultivation in the terrain by slicing hills whereas other tribes in this state practice cultivation in dry land by cutting down forests. The Apatanis in Ziro do not use any farm animals or machines for cultivation; however, they are popular for extremely high productivity and unique traditional ways of preserving ecology which led UNESCO to propose the Apatanis in Ziro valley for including as a World Heritage Site.
Representation of farming and cultivation of rice in Ziro by Apatanis
One of the main reasons tourists find Apatanis in Ziro engrossing is their unique appearance. The women mostly older women, of this tribe residing in Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh wear facial tattoos most of them covering their forehead, nose, and chin areas. These women also put large nose rings on both sides of the nose. However, the tradition of putting tattoos and large nose rings are nonexistent now. The girls and the women of the Apatani tribe living in Ziro do not practice this tradition anymore; but back in the olden days, the Apatani women were considered as the most beautiful women of all tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore the men belonging to other tribes would often steal Apatani women from Ziro. To avoid such incidents, the Apatani men of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh started tattooing the faces of their women and made them wear massive nose plugs to make them less appealing which gradually became a part of their tradition.
Older Apatani woman of Ziro with traditional facial tattoos and nose plugs
When you are in Arunachal Pradesh, do not miss visiting Ziro and get your soul soaked in the bewitching landscape and greenery of the place, not to forget that you are visiting the oldest village that is the home to an amazing tribe Apatanis. It is recommended to visit Ziro either during the summer or the winter. The summer is between April and June and the winter ranges from October to March. To be able to experience the festivals and rituals of the Apatani tribe in Ziro, the best time to visit this place in Arunachal Pradesh during the Myoko festival from the end of March to the end of April, Murung rituals in January, or during the Dree festival in July. You can also take part in rice and fish cultivation during the farming season in Ziro and observe and learn how the fishes are reared in the rice fields.
Travelers seeking tranquility and curious to understand the lifestyle of the tribe may visit Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh and wander in this charming little town to be found in between the epitomic scenic beauty. You will be able to see a part of heaven in Ziro. The stunning beauty of these hills in Ziro dotted with terraced rice fields, picturesque trails lined with tall pretty pines, lush bamboo forests and the fascinating Apatani people make Ziro one of the most photogenic hills in Arunachal Pradesh and in India. The less populated tribe living peacefully perfectly balancing the ecosystem and protecting nature can be taken as a good example of a living cultural landscape where man and the environment harmoniously exist together in the beautiful mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh. This interdependence for a long time shows coexistence being nurtured by the traditional customs and spiritual belief system in Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh.
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