Menchuka, the Shangri-La of Arunachal Pradesh, sitting close to the Indo-Tibetan border, at an altitude of 6000 feet is hidden way from the prying eyes of most travellers. Shrouded in pine trees and bushes, it is one of the lesser-explored valleys in the region, preserving its immaculate beauty with snow-capped peaks, a pristine lake, and the mighty Yargyap Chu, carving its way through the landscape. The name Menchukha can be split into three syllables, Men- meaning “medicinal”, chu- meaning “water” and kha- meaning “glacier” which makes this place a land blessed by the medicinal glacial streams. Mechuka valley is the home of Memba, Ramo, Bokar, Adi and Libo tribes. The languages spoken in Mechuka are Memba, Adi. Tagin, Hindi, and English. The enchanting hamlet of Menchuka offers a captivating blend of nature, culture, and adventure.
Day 1:
- We pick you up from Dibrugarh airport at 10 am
- Drive to Aalong via Likabali and Basar
- Visit Malini than in Likabali. Constructed from granite Malinithan is very different from all other hindu temples in North East India. Divine pictures, deity iconography, animal patterns and floral decorations, and carved columns with panels can be seen in the ruins. The granite sculptures uncovered are believed to belong to the 14th-15th century. These include Indra on Airavat (elephant), Surya (Sun God) on a chariot, Mayurasan (peacock-seat) with more than 100 gods and goddesses on it, dancing Yakshis, images of amorous twins on the arch, and a colossal Nandi bull. There is also a Shivalinga built of phallic stone here. Malinithan’s temple is devoted to Goddess Durga built in the classical tradition of Orissa.
- Dinner and overnight stay at Aalong
- Travel time : 7 hours approx with breaks and sight seeings in between
- Breakfast at Aalong.
- Drive towards Mechuka
- Stops at picturesque hanging bridges, tribal hamlets and the gorgeous Siko Dido waterfall.
- Lunch, on route.
- Road will be challenging after Kaying and Tato
- Reach Menchuka
- Walk around to feel the place
- Dinner and overnight stay in Menchuka
Day 3:
- After breakfast, we explore Mechuka. Visit the 400 years old Samten Yongcha Monastery, which is also one of the oldest monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh, even predating the well-known Tawang Monastery. Perched on a hilltop, the monastery offers breath taking panoramic views of the valley, the Siom (Yargyapchu) river, and the surrounding mountains. We also visit Dzogchen Samtan Choeling Gompa, which houses the colossal 10 feet statue of Guru Lhuhe Rigzin, Nanak Taposthan and Gurudwara . The popular legend says that Guru Nanak meditated on these spots on his way to Tibet. Two Gurudwaras were constructed in his honor and are maintained by the Indian Army. We are also visiting Hanuman Camp and the Yarlung Army Camp.
- Authentic local dinner and overnight stay at Menchuka.
Day 4:
- Post breakfast we visit Dorjeeling village. Explore short trek to Dorjeeling Hilltop or try mountain biking.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Dorjeeling.
Day 5:
- Post breakfast we leave Menchuka for Pasighat. This route makes one travel through the picturesque Siang Valley and runs parallel to the Siyom river for most part.
- Lunch on route
- Stops at scenic spots. The confluence of the Siang and Siyom rivers near Pangin is the key highlight on the trail close to Pasighat.
- Dinner and overnight stay at Pasighat.
- Travel time : 9 hours approx with stops and sight-seeings
- Overnight stay at Pasighat
Day 6:
- We have a late breakfast today after which we leave for Dibrugarh.
- Lunch on route
- Travel time : 3 hours approx
Please make sure that your clothes fit into your main luggage . You can take one main luggage and one additional small bag/backpack. The transports on this trail do not have carriers on top. So one main luggage and one small bag per person will be accepted.
- Take whatever clothes you are comfortable in.
- Heavy duty jacket ( there will be snow in Menchuka)
- Rainproof
- Undergarments - 1 for each day of travelling
- Sun cap or Biker Scarf for protection from sun- 1.
- Sturdy sneakers. No heels or open toed sandals please.
- Lightweight Slipper/Sandals/kitos - 1 pair. For using at the stays
- Sunscreen lotion, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, toilet roll, cold cream, soap paper strips, small quick dry towel.
- Aadhaar card
- Camera (optional).
- Personal medicine kit. Our tour operator carries a fully equipped first-aid kit.
- Dry fruits, energy bars.
- Batch strength: 4 and 8
- No. of days : 10 nights 11 days
- Minimum age of participant : 5 years
- Maximum age of participant : 70 years
- Networks available on the trail : Jio and Airtel
- 10% discount available on tour price for children aged 5 years or below (proof of age is required)
- Winter temperature during day is around 12 to 13 degree celsius and at night can dip to 3 to -3 degrees.
- During Spring, day temperatures can hover around 18 degrees and dip to 2 degree celsius at night.
- What will be your pick up time from Dibrugarh airport ? 10am.
- What time will you drop me/us at Dibrugarh at the end of the journey?
Within 2 pm.
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What will the temperatures be like ?12 degree celsius to -3 degree celsius in Anini and Menchuka during winter. 18 degree celsius to 2 degrees at night in spring. along and Pasighat are warmer.
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What kind of food will be provided on the trip?Both vegetarian food and non vegetarian food will be served during the program. Local food will be served too.
- What kind of accommodation are available? Accommodations are on double sharing basis. In Dorjeeling village the accommodations are on triple sharing basis. However, we can also customise the stay as per your need. Charges will be slightly higher. Washrooms are western with geysers.
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What are the cellular network connectivity for this trip ? Networks will be extremely poor to zero in Menchuka. Some portions of the route will not have poor to no connectivity. Connectivity of Vodafone is very poor though. Jio and Airtel works. BSNL works in Menchuka.
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What is the minimum and maximum age limit? The minimum age limit of children, if accompanied by parents is 5 years, without parents is 14 years.
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Which is the nearest railway station?Dibrugarh
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Which is the nearest airport for this program ?Dibrugarh
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Are there flights from Itanagar to Mechuka ?Helicopter services, operating twice a week under the UDAAN Scheme, connect Guwahati/Itanagar to Mechuka's Advanced Landing Ground. But the services are subject to weather conditions and availability. So it is an unpredictable route generally.
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Cancellation policy:
- Cancellations will be subject to cancellation charges.
- Cancellations will have to be intimated to Soma's Camps by email only. Email address is somascamps@gmail.com
- 30% of the total tour fee is not refundable on cancellation at any point of time. If you fail to pay your tour fees( in case of part payments) within the scheduled date and ignore repeated intimations, your registration maybe cancelled and the booking amount forfeited.
- Tours have to be booked at least 50 days prior to the date of journey.
- Cancellation between 50 to 31 days prior to departure : 70% of the tour fee will be refunded.
- Cancellations made between 30 to 22 days prior to the program date, 50% of the tour fee will be refunded
- Cancellation between 21 and 11 days prior to departure : 30% of the tour fee will be refunded.
- Cancellations made from 10 days to the day of departure or no showing up : no refund.
- Cancellation by Soma's Camps in the unforeseen eventualities of riots, political or industrial unrest like Railway operators strike, Airlines strike, it may be necessary to cancel the tour in the best interests of our clients. In such an eventuality our clients will be informed as soon as possible. The trek fee paid by the clients will be refunded in full OR we will provide you with an alternate set of program dates.
- Cancellation by Soma's Camps in the unforeseen eventualities of pandemic, epidemic, any other long term natural or biological disaster or man made disasters like war and others, it may be necessary to cancel the tour in the best interests of our clients. In such an eventuality our clients will be informed as soon as possible. 70 % of the trek fee paid by the clients will be refunded.
- Please understand when we say 'trip fee', we mean the full amount not partial payment.
- Payment: Payment for the trek can be done online through online payment options or net banking or NEFT or by account payee cheques.
- Non-liability: Soma's Camps is not responsible for any loss/damage of your gears/equipment or other belongings on the tour. Please do not request Soma's Camps instructors/ tour caretakers to retrieve/collect your lost/misplaced item, if any.
- Regarding proper disposal of non bio-degradable waste:At Soma's Camps, we to prefer to leave nothing other than footprints behind. Kindly help us to maintain that by taking care of your non bio-degradable wastes.
- Emergency during the trip: If for any reason you have to leave the trip midway, Soma's Camps can make arrangements for your return to the nearest rail head/airport. In such a case pay the trip facilitator the amount of the transport before you start for the railhead/airport.
- Program may get modified/cancelled in case of inclement weather.
- Cost escalation during the trip, due to change in itinerary owing to natural reasons or unforeseen conditions like Landslides , Road Blockage, Bad Weather, Social or Political Unrest, Strikes, sudden shut down of any govt office etc, will have to be borne by the participant.
- Soma's Camps do not owns the stays along the route. Maintenance of the stays are solely with the owners.
- Please note that the minimum batch strength is 4. If we fall short of the requisite number, the trip will be called off and your trip fees will be refunded in full without any cancellation charge deducted. However, if you still want to go ahead with the trip, it will be our pleasure to conduct it for you. In such a case your trip fees will be a little higher and the amount will be disclosed to you well before the journey.