A popular hill station located in A.P’s West Kameng District, Dirang is nature’s delight, the majority of which is laden with the glorious Himalayas. This quaint hilly town has its own scenic beauty and the simplicity & warmth of its people can melt your heart. From reveling in an abundance of natural marvels to exploring the tricky peaks and mountains of Dirang, your spirit will want more in showing off your adventurous streak through the numerous treks. Dirang’s also renowned for its sheep breeding farms and fruit orchards. Its culture is captivating and alluring, which intends to help you become familiar with its traditions and rituals. Here’s a travel guide of Dirang to help you find your way to one of the most incredible tourism destinations in Arunachal Pradesh.

By Air:

Since Dirang doesn’t have a direct airport, the closest to town is the Guwahati Airport which is roughly 351km from Dirang. The airport is well connected to most parts of the country with Indigo Airlines, Spicejet, Air India operating flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and most major cities.

By Train:

Dirang’s nearest train station is in Majbat, roughly 124km from town and alternatively at Guwahati Railway Station or Dhekiajili Road Station. The train journey between Guwahati and Majbat is about 3 hours or so and there are 2 direct trains on this route, in addition to another from Tezpur with 6 trains operating regularly.

By Road:

If you prefer driving by road to Dirang, then the best route would be from Bomdila which is roughly 41km. Bus connectivity for Dirang from Shillong, Guwahati, Itanagar, Tawang and Bomdila is accessible and efficient with a number of local and state-run buses.

Getting Around:

Dirang’s well-connected and operational thanks to its bus network. Other means of transportation include hiring a cab to move in and around town, taxis or jeeps for your sightseeing trips and popular tourist spots.

Given its location in a mountain region, but at a relatively low altitude, Dirang’s most pleasant and comfortable through most parts of the year, with summers commencing in April, monsoons in June and winters in November.

Summer (March-June): 

Dirang’s quite hot in summer, with temperatures ranging between 40°C to 20°C. March through June also witnesses the annual Myoko Festival, which is celebrated by three local tribes and observed for 10 days in March. The festival is symbolic of fertility, friendship and prosperity.

Monsoon (July-October):

July through October experiences the monsoon season in Dirang which transforms the town into nature’s paradise and making the weather beautiful and pleasant to explore outdoor activities in town since monsoons are typically moderate during this time. July is also the time when Dirang celebrates the Behdeinkhlam Festival for 3 days.

Winter (November-February):

November through February is winter season in Dirang, during which the average temperature oscillates between 12°C-5° C making it a beautiful time to be in town, which not only accentuates Dirang’s beauty but also brings to light and forefront the architectural genus of all of its tourist attractions and scenic locales.

Nature’s Retreat:

Dirang’s picturesque glory and panoramic sights also present a variety of ancient monuments with distinct designs, prayer wheels, Wildlife, bridges adorned with colorful flags and surprises at every turn. Brimming with the sights, sounds and smells of mountain life, local tribes and fruit orchards, there’s so much in Dirang to explore. And once you’ve had your fill of sight-seeing, go and soak your fit in the freezing water by the River Dirang Chu. A beautiful and well-known picnic spot, you can allow yourself to sit back and revel in nature’s glory on the wooden benches placed for visitors’ comfort or the rocks near and in the river. With clear waters, the river attracts numerous birds and is quite a delight for the bird watchers.

Cultural Events & Festivals:

Dirang’s got an interesting cultural legacy which is not only vibrant and alluring but quite creative as well. With the craft of weaving, carpet making and wooden carving adding feathers to its glory, a local tribe called the Monpas are known for their craftsmanship and skills in the realm of wooden bowls and weaved products. amongst its numerous festival, the Behdeinkhlam Festival is a popular event in town which is celebrated with great pomp and show, during which its Laho Dance is performed by men and women together, connected in arms to each other. Then, there’s the Chad Sukra that’s celebrated in April/May every year, which signifies the beginning of the sowing seeds in the fields and protection of crops against any natural calamity. These festivals are observed more with the intent to promote feelings of well-being and joyfulness strengthening communal harmony, unity and brotherhood.

Outdoor Activities:

Dirang’s abundant with exciting and adventurous water sports and recreational games that involve competitive and fun activities like paragliding, kayaking, white water rafting, boat rides, and windsurfing, etc. Another popular and most awaited annual event in Dirang is an automobile rally, which is a big hit in town owing to its location at 4,900ft above the sea’s level. With its assorted open meadows, dry river beds and rough terrains, the sight is ideal for car rallying.

When it comes to popular dishes in this part of the world, the choice of food varies from region to region. While the local tribes prefer dry fish, pork with bamboo shoots, pork pickle, chicken with sticky rice and mithun meat, other delicacies include items like Apong, Chura Sabji, Marua, Lukter, Pehak and more. Some of the noteworthy eateries in and around Dirang include the Tenzing Restaurant for its non-vegetarian fares with yak meat as its specialty. Since Dirang’s a small town, the local eateries are best to explore the local cuisine.

The market in Dirang’s ideal for souvenir shopping. Alternatively, you can explore the Bomdila market which is comparatively bigger than other nearby towns with a 3-tiered shopping plaza. You can shop for local produce like fruits and vegetables, Yaak Churpi, Yak Cheese, and River Weed here. The local market brims with handicrafts like masks, paintings and carpets, clothes, etc.