Travel Guide Ziro Valley

Nestled in an inhospitable Himalayan landscape, the Ziro valley is a destination dotted with vast rice fields, picturesque villages and verdant hills, which only the most adventurous travelers can discover... And suddenly, after hours of climbing and hundreds of potholes, at the turn of yet another hairpin bend, the view takes in a wide plateau criss-crossed by rice paddies and rivers, pine and bamboo forests and hamlets. The valley is entered via the small town of Hapoli, which has all the necessary administrative services. Cultivated land and villages follow one another across this long plateau hemmed in by mountain peaks. Altitudes range from 1,688 to 2,438 meters, guaranteeing the valley a pleasant climate in summer. In June, the hottest month of the year, the thermometer rarely exceeds 30°C. In winter, the days are cool and the nights cold, although it rarely freezes. The Ziro valley is home to the Apatani. The distinctive signs of their tribe are disappearing, under pressure from the government to encourage integration. Thus, only the older women still sport large nostril piercings and facial tattoos. The Apatani are renowned for their agricultural knowledge and respect for the environment. They achieve excellent results in rice cultivation, without the addition of inputs of any kind. Rice here is 100% organic! The forests are sustainably managed for both timber and bamboo, the use of which is ubiquitous in their culture. In fact, the Indian government has proposed that the Ziro Valley be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Christian missionaries found the Ziro Valley long before tourists (of whom there are still very few). Not a village is without its church or chapel. The Apatanis are mostly Protestant and Baptist. Tourism is making a timid foray into Ziro Valley. The valley is most visited in summer (April to late May). After that, the monsoon season arrives and torrential rains often cut the valley off from the rest of the world. The best time to visit is in autumn, in October, at harvest time. If you go in winter, bring warm clothes, a hat and gloves.