Travel and roads complement each other; they are intertwined and interdependent.Travelling is one of the most exhilarating feelings we can ever experience if we wish to be merged with nature. This experience gets amplified when our journey takes us to the adventurous mountain terrains of Arunachal Pradesh in the north-eastern part of India. A trip to the least explored border state liberates the soul that otherwise lies stifled in the prosaicness of urban life. However, travelling in Arunachal Pradesh has been difficult because of the lack of proper transport infrastructure because the challenging terrains made road construction difficult. Travellers in the past rode over elephants back to explore the hilly terrains and reach their destination. But all this is set to change in the next few years with the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) making fast progress in augmenting the highways to efficiently connect many segregated parts of the mountainous state. Construction of highways in certain stretches is going on at a faster pace than ever before to connect the length and breadth of the state to make road trips a wonderful experience.

Arunachal Pradesh with its enchanting snow-capped Himalayan peaks, deep valleys, and the world’s second-largest Buddhist monastery in Tawang Valley is also known as, the “last Shangri La” of India. For the uninitiated, tourism in the state has two major circuits – the Buddhist circuit and the Tribal circuit. The Buddhist circuit includes Tawang, West Kameng, and Upper Siang areas, while the Tribal circuit includes Ziro Valley, Daporijo, Along, and Pasighat. Unfortunately, the lack of sturdy transport infrastructure in the state kept these two circuits apart for a long creating immense problems for travellers. These issues will be addressed after the completion of a new Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) in the coming months. TAH is being jointly built by NHIDCL, the Border Organisation (BRO) and the Arunachal Pradesh Public Works Department (APPWD).

TAH will connect Tawang in the north-western tip of the state with Kanubari in the south-eastern end traversing through the beautiful apple orchards in Bomdila, Kiwi Gardens in the three valleys – Pakke Valley, Pappu Valley and Passa Valley in Seppa, wildlife sanctuary in Roing, and national park in Changlang. TAH will not only allow travellers to experience the colourful and vivacious culture, traditional crafts, and lifestyle of different tribes in the state but will also connect the two major tourist circuits. The under-construction highway will make it possible to explore the mesmerizing bamboo handicrafts of different tribes in Daporijo and the life of the Nishi and Mikir tribes in Yupia. Travellers can also visit the Ziro Valley to experience the alluring lifestyle of Apatani tribes, who have created a unique template of peaceful co-existence of humans with nature.

NHIDCL and other agencies have already developed several stretches of TAH linking different isolated parts of the state that have started benefitting the local tribes. The development of highway networks in the state will also open fresh avenues for mountaineering enthusiasts to explore new trekking and mountain climbing expedition avenues, which are inaccessible due to a lack of proper transport connectivity. Further, exploring the state’s rural and remote areas will turn easier with accessible road networks. The pristine Glow Lake and Parshuram Kund inside Kamlang Sanctuary in Tezu district, which could only be reached by trekking are difficult as mountain roads are regularly washed away during rains making it difficult for trekkers to reach the valleys. These locations will draw attention of the mountaineering enthusiasts to discover the least explored part of our country after the completion of TAH.

Arunachal Pradesh, or the “Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains”, is not just another growing tourist destination but is also of great strategic importance for our country. The weak highway network system in the state is now undergoing massive development due to the single-minded mission of NHIDCL and other agencies to build new roads and improve the existing roads in the state, allowing all-weather accessibility and greater socio-economic progress in the state.

After a whirlwind tour of the places of interest in the state, we will discuss the strategic importance of highways built by NHIDCL in our next blog…