ZIRO

One of the most beautiful hill station of Arunachal Pradesh, located at about 1500 metres above mean sea level in the midst of the pine clad mountains, a Hidden land by Ursula G. Bowler, Ziro is the headquarter of Lower Subansiri District inhabited by more than have 50,000 friendly Apatani’s people. The land of Apatani’s is a valley, uneven and dotted with a number of hillocks beneath the lust paddy field. On the east, a high ridge, which demarcates the plateau from the wooded hills of the lower region. The ridge is having some important peaks. The Salin peak is on the old Apatani trade route to North Lakhimpur. Often these ranges remain with thick clouds. A small river, the Kele, drains the plain of the Apatani valley. It flows to the south for some 40 km before it meets the Panior River near Yazali.

Major Attractions: Ziro Putu- It is a hillock used by the army in the sixties to set up their cantonment. Sometime called ARMY PUTU is a Hillock at old Ziro where first administrative centre was set up after India’s independence and ARMY cantonment was located in sixties. From this hillock one can have bird’s eye view of Apatani plateau. The Airport is also located beneath this hillock in the midst of the scenic paddy field.

Tarin Fish farm- A high altitude fish farm located amidst beautiful surroundings where high altitude fish breeding is done. About 3.5 km from Hapoli Town, one can see beautiful high altitude fish farm where breeding of high altitude fishes is done. The fingerlings are sold during paddy cultivation season.

Tapyo Salt- The Apatani tribe prepares a special herbal salt that is unique in the sense that it makes their food habits distinct in comparison to that of the other tribes. Tapyo salt is also said to contain a kind of iodine that safeguards the Apatani people from many ailments.

Talley Valley- It is a wildlife sanctuary as well as a bio-diversity hotspot. Most beautiful and virgin forests having diverse flora and fauna ranging from sub-tropical to alpine forests. It is covered with impenetrable vegetations marked by giant silver fir trees, a variety of rhodendron, orchids, ferns and varieties of bamboo. One should not leave Ziro without visiting this biodiversity hot spot of this plateau, which is away nearly 32 KM north east of ZIRO.

Paddy cum Fish Culture- A famous innovative cultivation practices followed in Apatani plateau, now a day, where fishes are rear alongwith paddy cultivation. After transplanting of paddy from the nursery in wet rice cultivation field (W.R.C.), the fish fingerlings are put in MUGO (channels in paddy field for drainage of water) at knee-deep height that are kept for 2-3 months before harvesting of fish.

Shiva Lingam at Kardo Forest-  A miraculous discovery of Shiva Lingam of Sidheswar Nath Temple took place in the 1-forthnight of July'2004. According to the Hindu Calendar, it is the month of Shravana, a sacred month to worship Lord Shiva. A Nepalese, Mr Prem Subha was cutting tree standing at the right of the Lingam. The tree was expected to fell just over it, fortunately, nothing harmed it and the tree landed a few meters away from the Lingam. He felt surprised over it and looked at the rising stone. Suddenly something struck in his mind and realized that it was not a mere stone. It stood clearly visible which appealed him to believe it as Shiva Lingam. Being fully inspired with his beliefs, he started telling the people all about what he had seen and what had happened. 

The mystery of this Lingam in Ziro has obviously mentioned in the SHIVAPURANA in 17th chapter of the ninth section (Nava Khand ke Satrahwa Adhyaya) edition 1893 that the tallest Shiva Lingam will appear at a place which will be called Lingalaya and the later the whole will be known as Arunachal.

Now it makes everyone belief about the reality of its appearance. There one can see not only the Lingam but also the image of Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha with trunk turning leftward. It is also said that the goddess of water, the Ganga lives with Lord Shiva. Therefore, the constant flow of water from the base of the Lingam can be clearly seen.

Bamboo Groove- A groove where one can witness a unique expertise of farm forestry. One stem monopodial Bamboo, (Phyllotachys bamboosoides) grown with blue clad pine, is one of expert practices of farm forestry followed in this part of the world. One will appreciate their expertise when one venture inside in this groove in conjunction with hiking and picnic.

Pine Groove- Locatedat a distance of 3 kms from old Ziro, this groove is full of pine trees and its scenic grandeur attracts lots of visitors. Pine clad area about 3 km. from old Ziro. GREF (Border Road organization) established in December 1961 is located around this scenic grandeur.

Dolo Mando- Located 2 kms away from Hapoli on the west of Ziro. A hillock of legendary love affairs between DOLO & MANDO. It is located at 2 KM from Hapoli towards Old Ziro on the western side of ZIRO – Daporijo Road. One can trek to the top to see the Hapoli Town in one side and old Ziro on other side.

Kile Pakho- It is a ridge that is located 7 kms from old Ziro. In a fine morning, one can have clear bird’s views of Ziro plateau on one side and snow range of Himalayas called “NYIME PEMBU” in the other.

Midey- A place famous for gigantic SAT-NII PIISHA and SAMENII, a Blue pine tree (Pinus wallichina) being biggest and tallest tree in the Apatani valley measuring about 7 (seven) metre at GBH ( girth at breast height). One can trek through bamboo groove beneath the paddy field to this see this gigantic blue pine trees which is 2 Km from old Ziro.

Dilopolyang Maniipolyang- A twin hillock on the way to Talley Valley after crossing Siiro village is a scenic grassland land beneath the natural forests catches the spectacle of eye. One has to cross the Siiro village on the way to Talley valley to get to this place. Further, the area is part of extension of Hapoli Township.

Orchids & Flowers- Ziro is famous for rare orchids and other flowers like Rhododendron arboreum (SANJI APU), Hedychium ellipticum (PAPPI APU), Hedychium densiflorum, etc. The climate of the area is congenial for cultivation of orchids and varieties of flowers. At present one local entrepreneur has developed an orchid farm in which large variety of rare and exotic orchids are cultivated for sale and research pupose. The farm, M/s Nanakoo Orchid Farm, half a kilometre from Hapoli on Hapoli-Talley Valley road is a place worth visiting to.