Dirang

Dirang is a gentle valley on the Dirang Chu river at around 1,500 m, surrounded by forested hills and apple and kiwi orchards. Lower and warmer than Bomdila or Tawang, it is the ideal overnight stop for acclimatising before crossing Sela Pass. The old village around Dirang Dzong, a stone fortress-settlement of traditional Monpa houses, is one of the most atmospheric places in western Arunachal.

Just outside town are natural hot springs where locals and visitors bathe in sulphurous pools believed to have healing properties. Up the valley, the National Research Centre on Yak at Nyukmadung studies the region's high-altitude livestock, and nearby Sangti Valley is a wintering ground for the rare black-necked crane between November and March.

Dirang also has a long-established sheep breeding farm, small monasteries, and riverside homestays where you can sample local apple wine and fresh trout. It is a great place to slow down for a day on a Tawang circuit.