INTO THE UNKNOWN

On a 10-day road trip across eastern and central Arunachal Pradesh, RUTH DSOUZA PRABHU finds fresh perspective and a world that abounds in pristine beauty.

- RUTH DSOUZA PRABHU

I AM A CITY GIRL who loves her occasional getaway to the mountains and beaches. I enjoy everything, from bare-bones camping to whiskies in infinity pools. But I always return to the chaotic, fast-paced life of the city. This changed when I found myself on a 10-day road trip through eastern and central Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Trans-Arunachal Drive 2021. For motoring and off-roading enthusiasts, the Trans-Arunachal Highway (NH13), currently under construction, is a dream stretch. It covers 2,407 kilometers and is proposed to connect Tawang in the west to Kanubari in the east.

The Trans-Arunachal route takes you through regions untouched by commercial tourism, from crystal-clear gurgling rivers to forests too dense for the sunlight to penetrate. It makes for an experience of a lifetime.

LAND OF PAGODAS

Our journey began in Namsai in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, a 120-kilometer drive from Dibrugarh Airport in neighboring Assam (Arunachal Pradesh doesn’t have operational airports). Home to the Tai Khamti and Singpho tribes, Namsai is located close to Noa Dihing River. Relaxing at Arun Jivitta Hotel, we indulged in some delicious dishes of Khamti cuisine —shutki maach (a Bengal-inspired dried fish dish), shredded koi boyle (banana stem), and black rice kheer (milk and jaggery pudding). At the hotel’s bar, we tried ZumZin Peach Wine, a product of Bhutan. Tart, yet pleasant on the palate.