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Ziro is a picturesque town, which is located 115 km from Itanagar, the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh. The beauty of this town has attracted the attention of many, due to which it has been shortlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Perched at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level, Ziro has hills that are beautifully covered with bamboo and pine trees, surrounded with paddy fields. The town is home to a very friendly tribal group known as the Apatani tribe.
A unique fact about the Apatani tribe is that, women of this tribe used to practice a custom of getting facial tattoos!! This was done since they believed that women of the Apatani tribe were so beautiful that they had to tattoo their faces in order to not let men from other tribes steal them away!
Best Time To Visit Ziro
The clement climate of Ziro during summer makes it a favoured destination for vacation. Apart from the summer months of April to June, Ziro is relatively pleasant throughout the year.
However, September is the month to travel if you wish to attend the Ziro Music Festival that takes place every year.
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The Ziro Music Festival
The love for music in this town is boundless, which is what gave birth to the famous Ziro Music Festival, back in 2012. It is one of the best outdoor music festivals of India that celebrates music and people, which is especially a delight for the music lovers!
Set up in the most serene location of the country, this festival attracts visitors from all over the world. The festival goes on for 4 consecutive days in the month of September, with performances taking place all day and night.
PC: Tauno Tõhk
The Ziro Music Festival
The genres of music played here are usually indie, alternative, fusion, funk, rock and, at times, some heavy metal acts. With Northeast Indian bands in majority, the festival welcomes other national and international bands as well.
Some of the well-known artists/bands that have performed in Ziro are Shaa'ir and func, Steve Shelley, Menwhopause, Skrat, to name a few.
The music festival not only serves as a platform to showcase the talent of Northeastern musicians, but also promotes tourism of the Northeast states.
Here are some of the things to do and the places to visit while in Ziro.
PC: Sonara Arnav
Camping At Ziro
As you already know, Ziro is a breathtaking town filled with greenery on all the parts. The town has stretches of lush green grasslands everywhere, especially in the hillock called the Ziro Puto. Therefore, you may camp on these grasslands and just revel in its idyllic nature.
You can either opt to camp through the official Ziro campsite or you may bring your own tent. There are local camping services available, which offer tents of different sizes and various other facilites. The fresh grasslands coupled with its cool and pleasant weather will enhance your experience at Ziro.
PC: MIKI Yoshihito
Food That You Must Try!
If you're one of those people who loves trying new kinds of food from different places, then you must try the silkworms and rats prepared by the locals of Ziro! If bizarre food is a big no-no to you, the place still has a lot to offer.
Bamboo chicken is a local dish that must be tried. While you're at it, you may also try their rice beer, which is a specialty of the place.
PC: Seungbeom Kim
How To Reach Ziro
Getting to Ziro is quite an adventure in itself. There are no direct buses, trains or flights that reach Ziro.
By Air: The closest airport is the Guwahati International Airport, which connects to almost all major cities of India such as Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, etc.
By Train: From the airport, you can take the train to Naharlagun Railway Station, which is the closest to Ziro. Alternatively, you could also take a train till Kathal Pukhri, which is just a few kilometres away from Naharlagun.
By Road: From either of the train stations, you have to take a bus till Ziro, which is about 6-8 hours journey. You could also hire a taxi from Guwahati, since the road conditions are good, with the NH 27 and NH 15 connecting them.
PC: Ashwani Kumar
Places To Visit In Ziro
The rich biodiversity of Ziro itself should be a reason enough to visit the town. However, the places that you can visit around Ziro are the Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Hapoli, which is the centre of all the town's activities, Ziro Puto and Dolo Mando hillocks, and Meghna Cave Temple.
A fascinating place in Ziro is the Siddheshwarnath Temple, which houses a natural shivalinga that was discovered a decade ago.
PC: Krish9
