Arunachal Pradesh

Administrative capital area (Itanagar-Naharlagun), not a standard district.

• HeritageIta Fort14th-15th century brick fort that gave Itanagar its name.
• SpiritualGompa Buddhist TempleGolden-roofed Tibetan-style temple.
• CultureJawaharlal Nehru State MuseumOffbeatTribal arts and artefact gallery.
• NatureGanga LakeOffbeatLake in forest, 20 km from the city.

Plains district around Itanagar and Doimukh.

• NaturePappu FallsOffbeatHillside waterfalls in forest.
• CultureDoimukhOffbeatRural craft village life near the capital.

Newly formed hill district carved out of Lower Subansiri.

• OffbeatRagaOffbeatLesser-known Nyishi hill town.
• NatureKamle forest trailsOffbeatBamboo and subtropical forest walks.

Home of the Apatani valley and its music festival.

• Must-seeZiro ValleyOpen rice-fields, bamboo houses and tattoo-free Apatani culture.
• WildlifeTalley Valley Wildlife SanctuaryMossy cloud forest on a ridge near Ziro.
• CultureHapoliOffbeatMarket centre with bamboo craft shops.
• CultureTarin Fish FarmOffbeatWhere paddy-cum-fish farming is practised.

New district, carved out of Lower Subansiri.

• OffbeatYachuliOffbeatHill hamlet and wildlife sanctuary access.

Remote Nyishi district north of Papum Pare.

• OffbeatJaminOffbeatRural hill town, local hospitality.
• NaturePalin areaOffbeatRiver valleys and village trails.

Remote high-altitude hill district.

• OffbeatKoloriangOffbeatIsolated hill HQ with mountain views.
• CultureDaminOffbeatTraditional Nyishi hamlet.

Home to the Tagin tribe and the Subansiri valley.

• CultureDaporijoOffbeatTagin tribal market and river views.
• NatureSubansiri river banksOffbeatDramatic river valley.

Gateway to Tawang with monasteries and apple orchards.

• SpiritualBomdila MonasteryColourful Tibetan monastery above the town.
• HeritageDirang DzongOld Monpa fort and thermal baths.
• AdventureSela PassHigh pass of about 13,700 ft with frozen lake.
• OffbeatKalaktangOffbeatWarm valley bordering Bhutan.

Remote district rich in forest and Nyishi culture.

• OffbeatSeppaOffbeatForest town with orchids.
• WildlifePakke Tiger Reserve edgeOffbeatHornbill sightings and forest walks.

Home to Pakke Tiger Reserve and its hornbills.

• WildlifePakke Tiger ReserveFamous for hornbills, home to the Nyishi hornbill festival.
• OffbeatLemmiOffbeatTiny hill hamlet with forest lodges.

High-altitude Monpa district with India's largest monastery.

• SpiritualTawang MonasteryLargest monastery in India with Himalayan views.
• NatureSangetsar (Madhuri) LakeHigh lake formed by an earthquake; needs permit and army clearance.
• NatureNuranang (Jang) WaterfallSpectacular multi-tier waterfall near Jang.
• AdventureBumla PassOffbeatBorder pass near China, entry with special permission.
• NatureGorichen Peak viewOffbeatDistant icy peak seen from higher ridges.

Adi homeland with quiet river valleys and cane bridges.

• CultureAlongAdi hill town and weekly market.
• AdventureSiyom RiverOffbeatRiver with scenic gorges and rafting stretches.
• CultureKayingOffbeatNeighbour hamlet famed for cane suspension bridges.

New district carved from West Siang, the Galo heartland.

• CultureBasarOffbeatGalo cultural town with a Rwng festival.
• NatureBasar hillsOffbeatForest walks and village stays.

Remote high-altitude district bordering China.

• OffbeatTatoOffbeatMountain hamlet with Memba culture.

Mid-Siang plateau district with river-gorge views.

• OffbeatBolengOffbeatHill-town on the Siang river.
• CultureMeboOffbeatAdi village, gateway to Siang adventures.

Home to the Siang's gorges and Adi culture.

• CultureYingkiongOffbeatAdi market town in the Siang gorge.
• HillsTutingOffbeatBorder town at the Siang's U-bend; special permits.
• OffbeatBedingOffbeatMountain village near the border.

Gateway to the Siang river, rafting and Adi culture.

• CulturePasighatOldest town of Arunachal on the Siang.
• CultureMeboOffbeatAdi village near the confluence.
• WildlifeDaying Ering Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatRiver island with birds and grass.

River-plain district at the Assam border.

• OffbeatLikabaliOffbeatBorder town near Assam.
• NatureTirbinOffbeatRiver beaches and migratory birds.

Tai-Khamti and Singpho buddhist district.

• SpiritualGolden Pagoda (Kongmu Kham)Burmese-style golden pagoda and monastery.
• CultureTengapani ValleyOffbeatTea estate and Singpho tea culture.
• SpiritualNamsai Buddha ViharOffbeatMonastery with Khamti heritage.

Mishmi district on the Brahmaputra headwaters.

• SpiritualParshuram KundPilgrim site with a holy bath on the Lohit river.
• CultureTezuOffbeatMishmi cultural town and market.
• WildlifeKamlang Tiger ReserveOffbeatRemote jungle sanctuary on the Lohit's east.

Easternmost district where the sun first rises.

• OffbeatKibithooOffbeatEasternmost border village.
• HeritageWalongOffbeatSite of 1962 war memorials.
• OffbeatDongOffbeatIndia's first village to see the sunrise.

Namdapha and Tangsa-Singpho country.

• WildlifeNamdapha National ParkTiger-leopard-snow-leopard-clouded-leopard biodiversity hotspot.
• CultureMiaoOffbeatGateway town with museum and cane-craft.
• OffbeatVijayanagarOffbeatRemote hamlet near the Burma border.

Wancho and Nocte tribal hills on the Myanmar border.

• CultureLongdingOffbeatKonyak-style Wancho villages.
• OffbeatPongchauOffbeatHill village with border views.

Hilly district of Nocte and Wancho tribes.

• CultureKhonsaOffbeatNocte hill town.
• OffbeatDeomaliOffbeatFoothill market town.

Mishmi highlands, among India's least-populated regions.

• OffbeatAniniOffbeatHigh mountain headquarter town; special permits.
• AdventureMayodia PassOffbeatHigh pass with views, requires permits.

Gateway to Mishmi hills and lakes.

• WildlifeMehao Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatLake and forest in Mishmi hills.
• HeritageBhismaknagar FortOffbeatRuined ancient fort of an old kingdom.
• NatureSally LakeOffbeatTranquil forest lake near Roing.
• WildlifeDibru-Saikhowa edgeOffbeatBrahmaputra fringe for dolphins and birds.