Tucked away in the far corners of Arunachal Pradesh, Anini has quietly been doing its own thing — untouched, unhurried, and unbelievably beautiful. Now,
the rest of the country is finally catching on. The remote town in Dibang Valley has been named India’s Best Emerging Adventure Destination, an honour announced at the 17th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) held recently in Srinagar. The award was presented to District Tourism Officer Lamwang Aran by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, putting this little-known Himalayan town firmly on the adventure map. Often described as an “unexplored paradise,” Anini is everything you imagine when you think of raw mountains, deep forests, and complete silence — the good kind. Surrounded by dramatic landscapes and snow-clad peaks, it feels like a place where time slows down, and nature takes centre stage. What truly makes Anini special is its adventure potential. Trekkers and explorers are drawn here for routes like the Seven Lakes trek, Aeyo Valley trek, and the Pomo Winter trek in Zambra Valley, which is also home to the endangered Mishmi Takin. There’s also the culturally important Athupopu trek, revered by the local community. These are not crowded trails with tea stalls every few kilometres — they are wild, demanding, and deeply rewarding, best experienced with local guides who know the terrain like the back of their hand. Anini is a hidden storehouse of culture. Tucked into the Dibang Valley, this quiet town is home to the Idu Mishmi tribe, one of Arunachal’s original communities. When you spend time here, you don’t just visit; you learn what it means to live with real respect for the land. Locals welcome visitors into their lives. You might wander through tribal villages, trade stories, or catch a few words of the Midu dialect—the northernmost variant—floating through daily conversations. There’s no tourist rush, no packaged experience, just a real, quiet exchange that lingers with you. Getting to Anini isn’t simple, and that’s part of what makes it special. The closest train station sits at Tinsukia in Assam, and Dibrugarh is the nearest airport. From there, it’s a road trip—long, winding, but gorgeous—about 12 to 14 hours through Roing. Anini itself sits high on a plateau, sandwiched between the Dri and Mathun rivers, roughly 200 to 235 kilometers from Roing. You need an Inner Line Permit to enter, and public transport is rare—state buses run on certain days, nothing more. Careful planning really pays off here. Choose the best time to visit. October through April works best, with crisp winter months from November to March dusting everything in snow and revealing sharp, clear skies. Spring, especially March and April, brings out the rhododendrons and a softness in the air. If you love lush greenery, April to July fits the bill, but monsoon season—June through September—brings heavy rain and unpredictable roads, so it’s smart to skip that window. Anini isn’t just about trekking and trails. You can spend hours birdwatching in the forests or at Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, camp along the rivers, or just lie back and stargaze in skies that city dwellers only dream about. Here, adventure and peace live side by side, and it’s easy to lose track of time.
