Dirang’s one of the smaller but most beautiful tourist spots in the top places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh. Whether you go hiking at the Sangti Valley or head for the National Research Centre on Yak, rejuvenate your tired body, mind & spirit at the Hot Water Springs or enjoy panoramic sights of paddy fields, the fruit orchards and the untouched Sangti River, Dirang will make your visit worth every moment spent here. With the rising sun, take an intriguing glimpse of birds like the Tragopan, Sunbird or Redstart, or interact with the locals, go shopping at the Dirang Market and gorge on the local delicacies by the Monpa Tribe. Here’s a list of the tourist places you can check out in Dirang.

One of the largest among the three Buddhist Monasteries in Dirang, the LDL Buddhist Monastery is also known as Thubsung Dhargyeling Monastery. Its name holds its essence that implies, ‘a place that promotes Buddha’s Speech.’ The monastery is considered a centre for promoting Tibetan culture and Buddhist Learning for visitors as well as those ordained. This cloister is fairly new, built-in 2017 and is a beautiful & vibrant monastery with a fresh new vibe. The best time to visit here is at sunrise when the monks perform their daily prayers at 6 am.

An incredible architectural feat in the beautiful state of Arunachal Pradesh, Dirang Dzong also known as the Dirang Fort is a 17th-century citadel that was built to protect Bomdila from invasions. It was also used as a prison during the ill-famed Vietnam War and a refuge during the World War. Situated atop a hill, the fort includes 4-tiered armored stone slabs that are upheld by wooden logs, while the wooden gate at the entrance is adorned with beautiful & intricate designs that are visually appealing. The tribal belt has also given way to houses in a distinct style, built to protect the residents from harsh weather with an appreciative architecture.

A mountain pass located at a high altitude bordering between Tawang & the West Kawang Districts, the Sela Pass connects Tawang to Dirang. The Sela Pass supports rare vegetation and is usually snow-covered through the year to some extent. One of the 101 lakes in the area that are considered sacred in Tibet Buddhism, Sela Lake is also situated near the summit. According to popular folklore, an Indian Infantryman called Jaswant Singh fought the Chinese Soldiers here alone in 1962 during the Sino-Indian War and was looked after with food and water by a tribal woman called Sela. When he died, she was believed to have committed suicide.

Located in the West Kameng District, A.P. in Dirang, the National Research Centre on Yak is a popular tourist site and a premier research organization that’s dedicated to the overall development and efficiency of Yak Farming (Poephagus grunniens L) in India and was set in 1989 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Dirang. The centre is home to over 150 different varieties of Yak Collection.

A 500 years old monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, the Kalachakra Gompa is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Dirang, situated in a village by the same name. The monastery’s built with intricate mosaic art and has numerous Buddhist monks and devotees visiting the sacred site. The monastery’s preserved decades-old Buddhist heritage and serves as an excellent example of the commendable architectural marvel that houses some of the most incredible stucco sculpts, and murals that stand tall amidst the rugged and cold Dirang valley. To reach the village of Kalachakra you can take a cab and then walk through the way to the Gompa. One of the best times to visit the Kalachakra Gompa is November through February when the weather’s pleasant.

Situated 12km from the village and a 40-minute drive by car, the Sangti Valley’s a nature retreat into blissful silence. As soon as you arrive here, you’d see sheep herds flocking their stables or the lush greens to be fed, with pine trees all lined up overlooking the hills over the valley. The fields are all sprinkled with wildflowers and don’t be surprised if you get invited over by the locals-the Monpa Tribe for some tea! The Sangti Valley is encompassed with an incredible mountain range and beautiful weather with chances of light drizzle or snow fall. Dotted with meandering gushing rivers and pristine forests, the valley’s home to a distinctly traditional and local culture with a variety of exotic bird species and fruit orchards.

Visit the Natural Hot Water Springs en route to Tawang from Dirang for a rejuvenating & relaxing experience. The spring is rich in sulfur and renowned for its medicinal features that can help cure varied diseases and is one of the most significant reasons that there are scores of tourists from across the country visiting the springs. The best time to enjoy the hot spring in Dirang would be November through February, owing to pleasant weather conditions.

An ancient village which is believed to have been founded before the 1st century AD, the Thembang Heritage Village is one of the oldest hamlets in the regions and was initially called Yuchho-Pema-Chen, which meant a ‘lotus-like village.’ Situated about 20km from Dirang, the village is now a UNESCO world heritage site and is established nearly 7000 ft above the sea level, encompassed by lush greenery, snow-clad peaks and deep canyons. Devastated by war, the village was fortified with 2 robust stone structures with traditional architecture and designs of the Monpa Tribe.

A scenic farming village with rich green savannahs all around, the Namshu Village is home to the Namshu Monastery where not only can you spend some quiet time, pray or meditate but also experience the warm hospitality of the Monpa Tribe. With just a select few houses in the village, the monastery here is believed to be a historic cloister, where the huge Buddha Statue is the popular tourist attraction, spanning across two floors of the monastery. On the ground level, you can see the feet, while on the first floor you’ll see the face.