Being one of the oldest towns in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Pasighat’s also been in the news for being a part of the Prime Minister’s 100 smart cities mission. Abundant in ancient heritage, nature and wildlife, tourism in Pasighat’s also known for a variety of adventure sports visitors can enjoy and indulge in. Besides tourism, agriculture and horticulture are two other chief sources of economic stability in town, while rice is the main food crop cultivated here and a number of large tea plantations in the near vicinity of the town which invites workers from across the region in great numbers. Here’s a travel guide to help you find your way in and around Pasighat.

By Air:

Situated 169km away, the Dibrugarh Airport is the nearest airport for Pasighat, with an alternative being Guwahati Airport. Local flight operators like Indigo and Air India have regular incoming traffic from major metro cities. Some of the popular flight connections to this part of the state include flights from Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata in the approx. cost range of INR 6,000-11,000. On arrival at Dibrugarh, you can travel to Pasighat by bus or taxi and reach in roughly 4 hours.

By Train:

Murkong Selek is the closest train station to Pasighat, 35km away and is well-served from other parts of the country. However, to reach Pasighat, you will have to hire a taxi or travel by bus, which would entail another 40 minutes journey.

By Road:

There are frequent buses plying en route to Pasighat from Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Itanagar, Lakhimpur, etc with ample routes. Alternatively, you can explore traveling by taxi or self-driving as well. However, it is better to drive yourself only if you’re confident enough to drive through steep roadways or hire an experienced driver.

Getting Around:

In Pasighat, the best mode of getting around is traveling in cabs or rental cars only. Alternatively, you can explore riding bikes here as well.

With an abundance of scenic beauty nestled cozily in the midst of River Siang, Pasighat is a pristine paradise with incoming tourist traffic spread over the year. With a tropical humid climate during the summers, heavy monsoons and mild dry winters, the best time to visit Pasighat is in the months of October, January through May, when the weather’s pleasant and cool.

Summer (April-July):

Whilst the warm spring season with summers following in March witness an increasing rate of heavy showers and a warm to humid weather, Summers tend to be quite hot in Pasighat with an average temperature of 31°C-19°C.

Monsoon (July-September):

Pasighat experiences torrential rains during the monsoon season and the months of July through September witness an average rainfall of about 25mm a day. The level of humidity during this season is quite high and July turns out the wettest month of the season with 878mm rainfall level.

Winter (October-March):

The months of October-March constitute Winters in Pasighat and are dry and cool majorly. The strong wind levels from Siberian High make the town a fog-free tourist destination. The days are clear and warm from November to February with an average temperature of 29°C-12°C making winters the best time of the year to visit Pasighat.

Pasighat’s Wildlife Tours:

If you’re looking for an incomparable adventurous holiday, then Pasighat is your destination. With the Siang river, acting host to a variety of outdoor sports like Kayaking, white water river rafting, angling, fishing and more, some other worthwhile activities you can explore in town include visiting the Wildlife Sanctuary at Daying Ering, home to some of the most endangered species of flora and fauna in the state and enjoy thrilling wildlife expeditions or bird watching tours.

Historic Sightseeing:

The quaint little town of Pasighat is backed by an interesting past that goes back to the Colonial Era and makes the village Komsing, the hill cliff – Kekar Monying some of the most popular tourist spots in town that showcase an intriguing history of the war between the native tribes of Pasighat and the British Army. 

Discovering Ancient Ruins:

For archeological enthusiasts, the tiny village of Gomsi, situated 15km from Pasighat makes for an interesting tourist spot, where you can find ancient ruins excavated in 1996 from the 13^th century Ahom Kingdom. These findings include broken pottery pieces, artifacts that reflect an association with the ancient civilization.

Cultural Events:

Boasting of a rich culture Pasighat has the ancient tribes of Minyong and Pasi inhabiting the quaint village with an assortment of traditional and religious customs, unique lifestyles and a melee of vibrant festivals celebrated with great pomp and show. The festival of Solung is celebrated by the Adis over 5 days, with songs and dances that represent not only the human way of life but also includes the lives of animals and plants.

Eating out options in Pasighat are quite limited and hence it is best to explore local cuisine where you’d be staying during your visit. From a variety of Indian and Chinese delicacies to the local delicious meals, you can also explore the staple local platters that include rice, meat, fish and vegetables. While Momos and Thukpa continue to be an all-time favorite combination, preparations of rat meat and pig are also available from the tribal community. In addition, there are some delicious soup varieties and curries with fish quite popular here, while the local rice beer Apang is a must-try. Some places you can try to tickle your taste buds include the China Valley Restaurant, Khamba Restaurant, CJ’s Fine Dining, Manna, O&A, Agham Beef Hotel, Shangrila and My Kitchen.

The markets in Pasighat and Itanagar are renowned for shopping experiences in Arunachal Pradesh. The state Emporia has a variety of decoratives and souvenirs that depict the rich culture of Pasighat and includes wood carvings, bamboo and cane handicrafts, men and women ethnic wooden carvings, paper mache or wooden masks, etc. Some other popular shopping choices include bead ornaments and woven grass neckpieces that are unique in this part of the world, as are the acrylic or cotton bags, cane stools, carry bags and bamboo headgear.