Pasighat, founded in 1911, is the oldest town in Arunachal Pradesh and the headquarters of East Siang, at about 155 m where the Siang river leaves the hills. It is about 150 km and 4 to 4.5 hours from Dibrugarh via the Bogibeel Bridge. Indians need an eILP, foreigners a PAP. It is the gateway to Aalo and Mechuka.
Pasighat sits exactly where the Siang, the river that begins as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, comes out of the mountains and spreads into braided channels across the plain. Founded by the British in 1911 as the headquarters of the Abor Hills, it is the oldest town in Arunachal, and it remains the centre of Adi life and culture.
The town itself is flat, green and easygoing, with a big market, colleges and government offices. Around it are Adi villages with bamboo longhouses and rice fields, the Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary on river islands downstream, and the long Siang bridge with views up the valley.
We use Pasighat as a comfortable first night on the way to Aalo and Mechuka, but it rewards a full day on its own, especially in early September during Solung, the Adi agricultural festival.
What makes it worth the trip
The Siang river
Watching the river leave the gorge at Pasighat, with sandbanks and boats below the bridge.
Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary
About 190 sq km of grassland and river islands downstream, good for winter birds, reached by boat.
Adi villages
Bamboo stilt houses, granaries and rice fields in villages around the town.
Solung festival
The main Adi festival, held in early September, with ponung dances and community feasts.
Komsing and Kekar Monying
Sites along the Siang linked to the 1911 killing of Noel Williamson and the Anglo-Abor war that followed.
Anu007bora · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
ঈশান জ্যোতি বৰা · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bhavikji · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Things to do
- Walk or drive onto the Siang bridge for the view up the valley
- Take a boat trip to Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary for winter migratory birds
- Visit an Adi village with a local guide
- Time a visit for Solung in early September or Aran in March
- Try Adi food: apong rice beer, smoked fish and bamboo shoot dishes
- Arrange a day of river rafting on the lower Siang with a licensed operator in season
- Continue to Aalo, about 100 km upriver, on the way to Mechuka
Getting there
From Dibrugarh, cross the Bogibeel Bridge over the Brahmaputra and drive via Silapathar to Pasighat, about 150 km and 4 to 4.5 hours; the eILP is checked at the Arunachal border gate. Dibrugarh has the nearest major airport and railway station. Pasighat Airport has had limited regional flights, mostly to Guwahati and Itanagar, and schedules change often. Shared Sumos and state buses run from Dibrugarh, North Lakhimpur and Itanagar. Onward, Aalo is about 100 km and Mechuka about 290 km. Check current status before you travel.
Where to stay
Pasighat has a mix of mid-range hotels, government guesthouses and homestays in and around town. Hotels near the main market and the bus stand are convenient for early starts to Aalo; homestays in Adi villages on the edge of town give a better feel for local life and food. Rooms are simple and fans matter more than heaters for most of the year. For Solung in early September, book well ahead, as visiting families and officials fill the rooms.
Local tips
- Summers are hot and humid; October to March is far more comfortable
- Carry cash from Dibrugarh or withdraw in Pasighat before heading to Aalo and Mechuka
- Jio, Airtel and BSNL all work in town
- The Siang is powerful and cold; swim only where locals say it is safe
- Rafting is seasonal and needs licensed operators; check current status before you travel
- Ask before photographing people and houses in villages
Rain and weather
Source: IMD normals
October to March for dry weather and river trips; early September for the Solung festival if you can handle the heat.
