Straddling the lush environs of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam is the nearby Nameri Sanctuary. Famous for its golden Mahseer -an angler's passion, you can take an elephant ride and find out more about the endangered clouded leopard and white winged wood duck, which have made these forests their home. The Patasali Eco-camp here, run by forest department, can arrange river rafting, fishing expeditions, except during the monsoons. The Orang Wildlife Sanctuary 65 km away replicates Assam's Kaziranga landscape in miniature and amongst its resident are the one horned rhino, Asiatic buffalo, Hoolock gibbon and the Bengali florican.

Nearby Dirang is famous for its gompas and colourful Kalchakra celebrations. If your visit doesn't fit in with its timing do visit the yak breeding centre- it can be quite enlightening. Enjoy a dip in the enervating waters of the local hot spring in verdant surroundings. Famous for its apples, it has also started kiwi cultivation. In the winter, you'll spy the black-neck crane of Ladakh here. As you climb to the higher reaches of mountain road to Tawang, the forest thins out and air becomes increasingly colder.

There's a strong Tibetan presence in Tawang. Prayer flags flutter in the breeze. Monks in their soft robes slip silently through the market square attending their daily chores. There are 500 of them attached to the great monastery on its dramatic perch on the spur, a short distance from the main town. It is supposed to be the biggest monastery after Lhasa's Potala .The current Dalai Lama is said to have passed through the township on his escape from Tibet. The Urgelling monastery here is also associated with the birth of the 6th Dalai Lama. It features his preserved footprints and fingerprints, which are much revered by Buddhist devotees.

The great Tawang Monastery, with its dramatic background is eye-catching. A stunning 8 mt high gilded statue of Buddha dominates the sanctum. The great rotating prayer wheels…… priceless tangkhas……the drone of the monks in prayer…sputtering butter-lamps are an evocative vision. Its assembly hall is massive - rising 3 stories high. Attached to the monastery is a library with priceless manuscripts, scriptures and literature; there's a school, huts for the monks and a great community kitchen. Its museum has rare and beautiful tangkhas and ritual vessels amongst other important artifacts, including some personal possessions of the 6th Dalai Lama.

The craft centre in Tawang sells beautiful masks, hand-woven carpets, thangkas. jewllery in silver, turquoise, coral and amber, chubas the local dress and delightfully affordable mementos.

The Taktsang monastery, 45km from Tawang, is also known as the Tiger's Den. Guru Padmasmabhava is supposed to have visited this ancient monastery in the 8th century. Some of the other important monasteries are the Rigyalling monastery in the deep cover of lush forest. One of the oldest Ani Gompa (nunneries) is the Brama dung- chung Ani Gompa, located 12 km from Tawang. Commissioned by Karchen Yeshi Gelek in 1595 is houses about 45 nuns. The Gyangong Ani Gompa is about 5 km from town and has about 50 nuns living here. Built by Gonpaste Rimpoche, the Singsur Ani Gompa, home to 45 nuns, is 28 km from Tawang. The 12th century Gorsam Chorten at Zemithang, the largest in the area, is 92 km from Tawang.

A visit to an Apatani tribal home is a must. The Apatanis are one of most advanced and intriguing of Arunachal's tribal people. Both men and women tattoo themselves and the women are distinctive with their great nose plugs (dat) made of bamboo and face tatoos. This strange practice was initiated to disfigure them as a protective measure against the marauding Nishi who found them very beautiful. It has now been banned. The Apatanis also grow rice by terrace farming, unlike the Nishis and Miri tribe who still practice jhum (slash and burn cultivation technique); they also have created an indigenous irrigation system which is unique amongst the Arunachal tribals.

The Apatani village comprises of long rows of houses with a fertility totem in front of each one. In their cooking they use an indigenous herbal salt that's rich in iodine. Living in perfect harmony with nature, for every tree they fell, five fresh saplings are planted. The weaving skills of their women are legendary as can be seen from the wonderful Jikhe pattern, woven jackets and intricately patterned Jilang shawls. The men are skilled in metallurgy and bamboo craft.

Driving down to picturesque Along (the district headquarters of West Siang) and on to Pasighat, on the road that hugs the Subansiri river is pure delight.

This sleepy hollow on the Arunachal - Assam border, becomes a hive of activity during the Makar Sakranti festival. Located 20 km from Tezu, the Lohit district is home to the Mishmi, Singhpos and Khampti tribes. Roing (district headquarters of the Dibang valley) is 56km away whose original inhabitants are the Idu Mishmi tribe. Spending time at a tribal home is the highpoint of a visit here. Close to Roing is also the home of Rukmini, Lord Krishna's wife at the archaeological remains at Vismaknagar.