Dibang Valley has the best picturesque and scenic spots of in Arunachal Pradesh. The snow capped mountains, lofty ranges, lush-green forests, evergreen pine and bamboo, various flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species in its fold; breathtaking waterfalls; ice chilled gurgling rivers meandering all the way from the great Himalaya ranges and finally becomes tributaries of mighty Brahmaputra in Assam; the numerous high altitude lakes of varying sizes; district Dibang Valley stands out in its best natural form. Special mention of headquarter Anini, Dambuen in Dri Valley, Mipi Circle Mathu Valley, Maliney in Talon Valley and Anelih in Ahi Valley are paramount for tourist attraction in the district.
Pathway to Dibang Valley district starts from the entry point of Shantipur, which is the demarcation boundary of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and it lies 25 km away from Roing, the district headquarter of Lower Dibang Valley. The Road from Roing to Anini is 240km. There is also helicopter service available for Anini and is connected via Roing from Dibrugarh and Itanagar.
Athu Popu: Athu-Popu, the most sacred place for the Idu Mishimi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is situated at Kayala Pass, Indo-China Border with an altitude of 3500 m above sea level and is approximately 120 km from Maliney. Maliney is the last motor-able village of Dibang Valley which is 200 km from Roing. There are lots of tales, mythological beliefs associated with the hills and places on the way to Athu-Popu, which enthrall anyone. The Idu Mishimi tribe believes in life after death. According to their mythology, after death the soul of a person makes a journey guided by their Priest to attain the new life and Athu-Popu is one of the holy places where the departed souls take rest on their journey towards the eternity. At this sacred place a big mass of Stone stands alone, and it is believed that the priest Sinewru once cried on this scared stone on getting the news of his mother’s death. The stone still bears the impression of the priest’s palms and his tears, as believed. There is also a wild paddy field near Athu-Popu, believed to be cultivated by the departed souls on their onward journey.
Best Season:
The best season is from November to March. The area is generally inaccessible between May and September/October. Temperatures range from below zero in winter to 36o C in summer.
Places of Tourist Interest
Getting to Anini
By Road: Roing to Anini 225 kms ( 6 – 7 hours)
By Rail: Tinsukia Railway Station to Roing 102 kms (1 hour 30 mins)
Drive: Roing to Anini 225 kms ( 6 – 7 hours)
By Air: Dibrugarh Airport to Roing 142 kms (3 hours)
Drive: Roing to Anini 225 kms ( 6 – 7 hours)
Things to do in and around Anini
Culture & Heritage
Idu Mishmi Tribe: Dibang Valley is home to Idu Mishmi tribe.
Idu-Mishmi tribe is the lone inhabitant tribe of Dibang Valley district. They are of mongoloid race and have distinctive dialect of Tibeto-Burma language. Idu-Mishmi tribe can be distinctively identified among other tribal groups of Arunachal Pradesh by their typical hairstyle, distinctive customs and artistic pattern embedded on their clothes. This tribe still maintains deep rooted aesthetic values in their day to day life with great pride and honour.
Traditionally, Idu-Mishmis believe in animism. They worship Maselo-Zinu and Nani Intaya as creators of mankind and universe as a whole. Idu priest (Shaman) locally known as Igu holds a place of pride in the society. Mythological characters like Sineru, the first Idu Priest still holds high place and reverence in the minds of the people. The prints of his palm on the huge rock at Athu-Popu near Keyala Pass in Dibang Valley districts in China border, is supreme and holy shrine.
Idu- Mishmi men and women are highly artistic and have aesthetic sense. Men folk in the Idu-Mishmi society are well momentous in making beautiful basketry items of bamboo and cane and women in particular are very good weavers. Their great aesthetic sense is well reflected in the delicate design created on the clothes produced on handlooms.
Idu-Mishmi practice both terrace and wet rice cultivation. Rice, Maize and Millet are the staple food of this tribe. Sweet Potato and different kinds of Arum and vegetables are the usual crops. The home brewed rice beer is quite popular.
- REH Festival (1st – 3rd February)
Reh is an ethnic festival celebrated by the Idu Mishmi community, the sole dweller of the Dibang Valley District. The festival is celebrated on 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of February every year. The festival celebrates ‘eco-spirituality based on the community’s age old living in harmony with nature through its faith and belief.
The festival also celebrates the existence of “IGU (Shamans) who are the medium of conversation and interactions between the humankind and nature. There are various folktales and practices to even this day that proves the high reverence the community gives to the nature and IGU. The festival being the medium for the very same.
An Idu Mishmi’s feelings for nature is instinctive: as a result of symbiotic relationship with forests since ages. The tribe consider the nature as its caretaker.