Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains: A Passage Through Arunachal's Wild Heart (Part 1)
The scent of shiuli flowers and the distant rhythm of the dhak —for Soumitra and me, the arrival of Durga Puja signals more than just the triumph of good over evil. It is the cue for our annual pilgrimage to the mountains. This tradition, fiercely guarded over the years, is our essential escape from the festive city rush, a time to trade the pandal lights for the vast, silent majesty of the high peaks. This year, the call was different, leading us far east to a landscape that has long held a magnetic pull on our collective wanderlust: Arunachal Pradesh. Known reverently as the 'Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains', this remote frontier state is nestled at the edge of the Himalayas. For years, the allure of Arunachal Pradesh—its rumored raw beauty, profound tribal heritage, and daunting passes—kept it pinned to the top of our travel dreams. Finally, the dream was unfolding beneath our boots. Nameri – Where the Wild River Roars October 18, 2018: Our journey began with a flight from ...