8 Reasons You Should Visit the Ziro Festival in 2017

It is that time of the year again when the serene Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh comes alive with beats of music reverberating through the air. Yes, the Ziro Festival of Music is here—well, almost. If you haven’t clued yourself in, now’s the time. Read on!

What is the Ziro Festival?

Started by musicians Bobby Hano and Anup Kutty in 2012, the Ziro Festival is an annual outdoor musical extravaganza currently in its fifth edition. It is a one-of-its-kind celebration of the amazingly eclectic independent music scene in India. What had initially started as a platform to promote regional musicians, now draws participation from various national and international bands.

Though the unique mix of soulful music and pristine mountains is reason enough to pack your bags and head for Ziro this September, we give you 8 more, just in case!

Detach from the World

If you often find yourself wishing for a few moments of peace and solace, this is it. This valley is as far away as you can possibly get from the maddening humdrum of city life, making it the perfect place to connect with yourself.

No Crazy Crowds

The idea of a music concert or festival almost immediately springs up the image of milling crowds, loud chants and a lot of unwanted physical contact with other humans. At Ziro, you can enjoy harmonious music as you take in the view of vast paddy feels without constantly feeling pushed over the edge.

A Road Trip of a Lifetime

Just imagine stretches of lush green mountains enveloped in clouds, and gushing rivers flowing by, as you traverse through unnervingly narrow roads. The Ziro festival is the perfect excuse to explore the breathtakingly beautiful locales of the northeast by road.

Read more: A Guide to North-East India 

Unwind on a Budget

Craving a holiday but put off by those elephantine package prices? Enter the Ziro Festival of Music—a place where you can have a wholesome holiday without burning a hole in your pocket. In fact, you can pull off the entire trip (minus air tickets, of course) in under INR 15,000.

Enjoy the Local Hospitality

People from the hills are known to be extremely warm and cordial, and you’ll get to experience this first-hand at Ziro. The festival is a community affair, where the residents open their homes and hearts to the participants and attendees.

Get Acquainted with the Apatani Tribe

How often do you get a chance to interact and mingle with people from a distinct tribe, who seem to be living in a different era altogether? While in Ziro, meet people from the Apatani tribe, who are known for their unique nose piercings and facials tattoos. If you get invited for a meal, don’t decline the offer because their traditional preparation of meat is out of this world.

Read more: Festivals and Fairs in Rajasthan in 2017-18 

Dig into a Spread of Northeastern Delicacies

Speaking of meals and traditional foods, the festival gives you a window of opportunity to explore a completely new line-up of delicacies. Fried frogs and roasted rats might be only for the more daring amongst foodies, but hey, their pork and chicken preparations are unmissable too.

The Beer. Oh, the Beer!

Give those glass mugs and premium beers a skip because, at Ziro, it is all about the local brews served in bamboo glasses. Each one of these has a distinct, strong flavour that may take some getting used but you’ll get there halfway through the festival.

Planning to go? Here is some information you can use:

When: September 28-October 1, 2017

Getting There: Tezpur is the nearest airport but the one in Gangtok is better connected. You can also take a train up to Guwahati. Private buses and taxis are available for your onward journey.

Stay at Ziro: There are campsite accommodations as well as tents in and around the festival venue. Alternatively, you can pick from the numerous hotels and homestays at Ziro. Siiro Resort at INR 840/night is a good option.

The Inner Line Permit: Even Indian travellers need a permit to travel to Arunachal. The Inner Line Permit can be obtained from Resident Tourism Office, Guwahati International Airport, Assam Paryatan Building in Guwahati, Arunachal Bhawan at Delhi, Arunachal Bhawan at Kolkata, or Naharlagun Railway Station for a fee of  200. You’ll also need to submit 2 photographs and furnish a proof of identity.

International Permit: International travellers need the Protected Area Permit. The organizers of the festival help you arrange these for a fee of $70.

Book Your Flight to Tezpur (nearest airport)