Also known as the “Land of the Apatani Tribe,” Ziro Valley is a beautiful destination dotted with bamboo and pine trees. Nestled at 1500 m above sea level in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, the Valley is covered by lush green paddy fields. The hallmark of Ziro Valley is the utilisation of their limited land area. The relatively flat land is used for wet-rice cultivation where fish is also reared in the paddy field. Due to their unique approach in cultivation, the Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley has attracted the attention of many tourists and has shortlisted as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Hiking from the heart of Ziro to Sidheshwar Nath Mandir is an experience in itself. You start off from Hapoli, exploring the noted Apatani tribe and on to the Tarin Fish Farm where you can see how the breeding of high-altitude fishes are done. Your path will also be weaved through the plantation of some rare orchids and other flowers like rhododendron arboretum. A point comes where the path is filled with clusters of bamboo, and the bamboo there is different to what we see in other parts of India. These are thin long strips of bamboos. These bamboos make the trail even more unique and fascinating. The destination, however, is quite mystic and spiritual in nature. You will be blessed with the tallest naturally formed Shivalinga in the world at Shri Sidheshwar Nath Mandir.

Statue of Lord Shiva and Parvati at Sidheshwar Nath Temple

This Shivling Story is an offbeat one. Lord Shiva is believed to be residing here with his entire family in the form of a 20+ feet high self-manifested idol. The smell of burning incense, a cold wind coming from the surrounding mountains, and the absolute silence will fill your soul with immense peace.

A little further is a farm where kiwis are grown. To be precise, it’s the only place in India where kiwi fruits are grown. So make sure to pack some homegrown kiwis on your way back.

Arunachal Pradesh Tour Packages