Four days of camping while attending India’s greatest outdoor music festival is an experience in itself. Surrounded by the misty mountains in the company of friends and a motley of music aficionados makes camping so special at Ziro Festival. Camp Kite Manja is the oldest, finest and happiest of all campsites in the Ziro Festival of Music and is located at a walkable distance of 01.5 kilometers from the festival venue in midst of lush green pine groves.
Ziro Festival of Music is an outdoor music festival held in the Ziro valley in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It showcases the independent music scene in India. The festival was founded in 2012 by Bobby Hano and Menwhopause guitarist Anup Kutty, and has featured artists like Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley, Damo Suzuki, Shye Ben Tzur, Mono, Divine, Louw Majaw, Sha’air n Func, Indus Creed, Peter Cat Recording Co, Menwhopause, Guru Rewben Mashangva, and Barmer Boys among others. The festival is spread over four days and is hosted by members of the Apatani people in Ziro.
Ziro Festival is noted to be one of the most eco-friendly festivals in India employing locally sourced material for the infrastructure. The festival has two stages, Donyi(Sun) and Polo(Moon), constructed by local artisans and made almost completely of bamboo. This is inspired by the animist Donyi Polo faith prevalent in the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The festival has a zero plastic policy and encourages attendees to be responsible for leaving behind no waste.
Accessibility: The journey to the Ziro Festival of Music is an adventurous one. Ziro Valley is located at a distance of around 500 kilometers from Guwahati and 115 kilometers from Itanagar. The nearest Airport is Guwahati (GAU), it is well-connected with all the major cities of India. The nearest railhead is Naharlagun (Doni Polo express is advisable), shared cabs are also available from Naharlugun railway station in the morning hours. During the festival, it is difficult to get a shared vehicle without advance booking. Ziro is also well-connected from Guwahati by road with regular buses (preferably overnight bus) to Lakhimpur (357 kilometers) from where vehicles on sharing basis to your final destination is available. Ziro main town Hapoli to the festival ground is around 05 kilometers.
You can also hire a private vehicle from Guwahati for the entire session which is most convenient during your stay at Ziro valley (finding a local vehicle within Ziro is very hard).
Tickets: Entry tickets to Ziro Festival of Music are available on the festival website. All non-Arunachali Indians need an Inner Line Permit and foreigners need a Protected Area Permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh. These are available at state tourist offices in all major Indian cities. You can also directly buy them there en route but, only if you reach early enough. There are also some government entry permits required to visit Ziro Valley. These permits can be obtained from state offices in Delhi, Guwahati and Tezpur. Be prepared for all such stuff.
Accommodation: Visitors can stay at tents (from the organizers) near the festival ground at Hapoli or can bring their own tents Additionally, the town also has some basic lodges and homestays at a distance from the venue. Normally, BYOT (buy your own tent excluding the event) starts from INR 3000 and goes up to to INR 24000 depending on accommodation and festival access pass inclusions.
Facilities at Camp: Tree House Cafe | Conveyance Shop | Food & Beverage | Drinking Water | Common Lobby | Locker | Bonfire | Music | Live Jamming | Electricity | Common Charging Points | 24 hours Water | Concrete Sanitary Toilets |
Package A – (Camping + Naharlagun transfers + Inner Line Permit + Festival Pass): 04 Nights & 05 Days: INR 15500 per person – It is for a limited period or till the stock lasts – Packages are with daily Breakfast & Dinner – This package cost is subject to increase with the increasing cost of festival passes
Package B – From Guwahati (Guwahati – Ziro – Guwahati by road transfer + Camping + Festival Ticket + ILP): 04 Nights & 05 Days: INR 18500 per person – Packages are with daily Breakfast & Dinner – This package cost is subject to increase with the increasing cost of festival passes
Particulars: Travel inclusive packages are only for Dome tents. For Alpine shaped tents, package details are on request. Naharlagun-Ziro Tata Sumo Transfers on sharing basis 08-09 persons per vehicle. Luggage other than handbags has to go on top at the carrier. For Guwahati-Naharlagun, Doni Polo Train (overnight) is the best option. Ticket options (both way): 3AC @ INR 1350 per person and Sleeper @ INR 550 per person extra. Guwahati to Ziro is around 12 hours drive by road. Guwahati-Ziro-Guwahati vehicle options: Sumo (6-8 sharing), Innova (06-07 sharing) and Tempo Traveller (10 or 15 or 22 sharing). Guwahati-Ziro-Guwahati transfers start at 06:30 hours (morning) on 25th September for 05 night’s tour and on 26th September for 04 night’s tour. Return to Guwahati on September 30th at the late evening hours. Guests should book the next day i.e. on October 1st flights/trains only. Within Ziro, the maximum Kilometer limit is 200 kilometers for the entire stay. Exceeding the limit is subject to INR 10 per kilometer extra.
Optional Tour Activities Ziro Valley is in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Site because of its nature and Apatani culture. We have two unique optional tours/activities for Guests: Apatani Village Walk INR 500 per person (optional ethnic lunch @ INR 500 and local rice beer tasting @ INR 300 per person extra) & Half-day Hike to high altitude Fish Farm and Organic Farm INR 2100 per person(Inclusive of transfers from Campsite / festival venue)
Let’s spend the time together! Contact: www.dreamwaydestinations.com & www.visittobengal.com Or Call me at +919733465000 & +919474092500 Or WhatsApp : +918617432205