Motorcycle Tour
Arunachal Pradesh
An expedition into the “Hidden Land” of India
This 10 day adventure tour in the Himalayas of mystical North-East India covers the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh literally means “The Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains” and in thickly populated India, Arunachal has the least population per square mile. Very little was known about this part of India and hence it was also referred to as “The Hidden Land”. Geographically too, Arunachal has the most diverse landscape that India has to offer. From the mighty Himalayas to miles-wide flat river basins, thick jungles to barren sandy plains, nature forms an immaculate orgy in over 50,000 square miles of Arunachal.
Due to the overwhelming forces of nature, Arunachal has a meagre road network and that’s what makes this tour One Crazy Ride. The tour will test your riding skills to the max. Slush, sand, rain, jungle dirt tracks, rocky river beds, boat rides and camping makes this ride a religious experience for the ultimate adventure seeker. And the high drama within all this is the rickety wooden bridge you have to ride over. But apart from adventure, Arunachal has various indigenous tribes and their lifestyle and culture change drastically every 60 miles. This intoxicating mix of culture and adventure guarantees that every second of this tour will make you feel alive.
Tour Dates
Tour Price
Rider : USD 3,490
Rider & Pillion : USD 5,490
Tour price covers
Arrive in Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh, in the state of Assam, is a bustling town on the banks of the Brahmaputra. It’s a scenic 4-hour flight away from New Delhi, on which one is awarded stunning views of some of the highest Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest. The Ride of My Life team will pick you up from Dibrugarh airport and take you to your hotel in Dibrugarh. After reaching the hotel, the Road Captain briefs you on the entire ride flow of the tour and the day-wise schedule. You also take your Himalayan motorcycle for a short spin so that you get used to it.
Dibrugarh to Ranaghat
You kickstart One Crazy Ride by riding east along some of the oldest tea plantations in the world to reach Bogibeel near Dibrugarh. Since Arunachal Pradesh has little road connectivity, you take a one-hour ferry ride to cross the Brahmaputra over into Arunachal Pradesh from Assam. Your initial ride today is on smooth highways and tricky elephant corridors, but soon you will find yourself on lesser used dirt tracks, thick sandy patches, and dry riverbeds.
Ranaghat to Jenging
Today, you start the ride that you will remember for the rest of your life. Words cannot explain the experiences the mystical land of Arunachal Pradesh has in store for you. From now on, nature in its purest form will be your companion for the rest of the ride. As you ride northwards, the plains give way to open Himalayan mountain vistas and the mighty Siang river (which becomes the Brahmaputra river in Assam) rushing past on your right. The roads also get better and the ride much smoother. The road zig-zags on the hills along the river offering some breathtaking views of the turquoise blue waters of the river. You ride along the Siang river and pass along many tribal villages.
Jenging to Mariyang
After riding a motorcycle in India for 4 days, you will have a wide grin on your face as you look at the narrow suspension bridge made out of wood and bamboo. What will set your heart racing is the fact that you will be riding your motorcycle across this bridge. The perfect experience for an adventure motorcyclist. The bridge is motorable by all means and you will be surprised at how fast locals ride across this 500 feet long bridge. But for you, it will be a totally new experience to ride across while the bridge swings and sways. If you ever have to define adventure, try and sum up the feelings you have before you start riding on the bridge, while on the bridge and the release you get once you cross the bridge.
Mariyang to Ranaghat
Probably the bumpiest ride in the whole tour, this day you ride through narrow dirt tracks connecting far away villages of Central Arunachal Pradesh. You can’t escape the thought that you are riding through nowhere-land. The only thing that will make you feel that you are not the only one on this planet is the occasional village you pass through; otherwise, it is just you, the narrow track and the nature around you.
Ranaghat to Roing
After riding in the mountains for over a week, Arunachal Pradesh will reveal a dramatically new landscape to you. Out go the Himalayan mountains, dense jungles and curvy roads and in come mighty plains, never ending river beds and stream crossings. You negotiate sandy patches along dry river beds and ride through unbelievably narrow paths through nowhere to cross the dry river bed of the Sisri river. You ride across one of the most majestic dry river beds in Arunachal Pradesh, the 12 odd miles (20 kms) of the Dibang river. Riding through the riverbed can be best described as “landscape riding”. No road, no directions; one is at the mercy of their instincts to ride ahead on a terrain that is completely submerged under water in the monsoons. You also have several water crossings this day – some you ride across and some you cross in a small boat after loading your motorcycle on it. Crossing the Dibang and other river beds is no doubt an adventure, but most importantly it is a spiritual experience in the never ending landscape amidst pristine nature.
Roing to Mayodia pass and back
Today you ride to Mayodia pass which lies at an altitude of 8710 feet. The ride is a non-stop climb up to the mountain pass with gorgeous views of the vast Dibang river bed. And if you’re lucky, different species of birds that are found only in this high-altitude region. The second half of the day is for much deserved rest.
Roing to Medo
This would be the most fascinating day of your ride. This day, you ride across dry river beds, jungles and smooth curvy mountain roads. In just one day, Arunachal exposes you to a wide variety of landscapes and elements of nature. Apart from nature, what makes this day’s ride special is the several villages you pass through, home to the Mishmi tribe.
Medo to Tinsukia
From Medo, you ride south towards Assam. The mountains give way to the mighty jungles and plains of Assam. This day, you ride amidst thick jungles, centuries old tea plantations and mustard fields. You also visit a few Buddhist monasteries enroute Tinsukia, where you end the ride of a lifetime.
Dibrugarh to Delhi
You bid goodbye to Arunachal and the adventure and take a flight out of Dibrugarh, which is 30 minutes away from Tinsukia.
The largest state in the North-East region of India, Arunachal Pradesh is also the abode of the mighty Himalayas. Literally, the name means “land of the dawn-lit mountains” and indeed, the first rays of the rising sun hit the Himalayan peaks in Arunachal Pradesh before any other part of the country. The 1,500 mile (2,400 km) long Himalayan mountain range ends in the Brahmaputra valley in eastern Arunachal. Entry into the state till the recent past was restricted and some regions could not be visited at all by outsiders. But now, tourists can visit the region after obtaining restricted area permits from the government.
People
Many people in Arunachal Pradesh still follow their ancient tribal culture and customs, even down to their attire comprising of bamboo hats with hornbill beaks, necklaces with claws of wild cats and the ‘Dao’, a kind of machete. There are 66 major and sub-tribes spread out across the state and there are at least 30 different languages spoken in the state, not to mention the different dialects. Some of the tribes practice the Donyi-Polo faith where the Sun and Moon are considered as Gods, while others practice Hinduism and even Buddhism. All tribes form their own unique institutes and also select leaders according to their age for distinct social functions. The experienced leaders of the tribal groups are revered for their position in the community. The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh have an excellent heritage of artistic craftsmanship. Their aesthetic essence of tribal art can be seen in their pottery, wood carving, basket making. Weaving, Wood and bamboo crafting are some major professions of these tribes.
Terrain
If there is one thing that will be an ever-lasting memory for you, it will be the ever-changing raw beauty of the state. The north is dominated by the Himalayas and the south by the mighty plains home to several rivers. Most of Arunachal Pradesh is thickly forested, and surging rivers merge with each other to become part of the 1,800 mile (2,900 km) long Brahmaputra, one of the biggest rivers in the world. River crossings, jungle tracks, mountain roads and rocky river beds will be encountered in abundance during the tour.
Weather
The Himalayas also contribute to the heavy rainfall in the state. North- east India, of which Arunachal is a part of, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the world. Monsoon is between the months of May and September. November and December are usually devoid of any rainfall. Temperatures range between 5 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius in the months of November and December across the route we are covering on the tour. But most of the time, the weather should be sunny and pleasant.
Flora & Fauna
Hunting being one of the traditional practices of the indigenous people, wildlife is not easily sighted outside of the National Parks. Even then, the state has the highest diversity of mammals in the country. The forest cover is quite thick in places and orchids grow abundantly all over the trees (November & December are outside the flowering season, though). The state animal, the Mithun, is easily spotted on our route but the state bird, the hornbill will be a rare sight.
For more detailed information on Arunachal Pradesh, visit the official website or the Wikipedia page.