THE INFORMATION

Getting there

Mechukha, headquarters (at 6,000ft) of Mechukha Sub-Disvison, is a picturesque valley overlooking the high Himalaya 35km from the Indo-Tibetan border in West Siang district. Mechukha is now being pushed by the tourism authorities as the next big destination in the Northeast.

 Ø  Via Dibrugarh airport or railway station: Hire a car or take a shared taxi from Dibrugarh to Aalo (432km), district headquarters of West Siang. This is an all-day journey and will involve loading the vehicle on a ferry across the Brahmaputra. After an overnight halt at Aalo, hire a car/take a shared taxi to Mechukha (182km).

 Ø  Via Guwahati airport or railway station: Take the Pawan Hans chopper to Itanagar (Naharlagun). Then hire a car/take a shared taxi from Itanagar to Aalo (321km), and thence to Mechukha.

Where to stay:

Homestays and smalls hotels are available besides govt run tourist lodge and circuit house.

Homestays:

Gayboo’s Traditional Lodge

(9402996667). 

Almost Heritage 

(9436672849).

Tariffs range from Rs 800-2,000 for doubles.

What to see & do:

Trekking, River Rafting, Angling and visit to the 400 years old monastery perched on a hillock. Day hikes to Dorjeeling and other nearby villages and 2-day hike thro ugh pine forests and river banks leads to the Pasang Sonam Tso Lake.

More information is available from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Aalo (03783-222221), the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mechukha (9436421544), the Circle Officer at Mechukha (9436258555), and arunachaltourism.org.