One of the less explored places, Anini is a remote and underdeveloped town in Arunachal Pradesh, primarily inhabited by the Idu Mishmi tribe. The Idu Mishmi and other indigenous tribes in Anini are believed to have migrated from ancient Tibet over a thousand years ago.
Located in Dibang Valley, the town sits on a plateau between two tributaries of the Dibang River: the Dri River and the Mathun River. Despite its isolation, Anini has basic road and air connections to the rest of India. The town relies on the nearby major settlement of Roing in the Lower Dibang Valley District for most of its commercial necessities. This offbeat destination is ideal for nature lovers, culture enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Here is all you need to know about this offbeat destination:
Anini has many beautiful hiking trails, and the Seven Lakes Trek has become especially popular recently. The untouched beauty of the mountain lakes in Mishmi Hills will inspire you to explore less-travelled paths.
The Mathun and Dri river valleys, specifically Mipi and Acheso, are picturesque. Plans are underway to improve the roads in these regions, which is expected to boost adventure tourism significantly.
While there, you will find the Idu Mishmi community involved in traditional occupations such as farming and hunting. The Idu Mishmi, a sub-tribe of the Mishmi community, hold beliefs in animalism, distinct from others. Their homes often feature skulls of animals like Mithun, Yak, and Buffalo. Moreover, the Idu Mishmi maintain two separate kitchens, one for males and the other for females, with female members prohibited from entering the male kitchen, continuing the age-old rituals.
The Paragliding Association of Arunachal has been significantly promoting paragliding in the region. They are actively encouraging both men and women to become paragliding experts. Besides trying the popular adventure sport, you can train yourself to become a paragliding expert here.
Anini View Point
To get a great view of Anini town, visit the Anini viewpoint. A short hillside drive takes you to the highest point, offering an aerial view of the entire town and valley.
One should not miss the opportunity to visit Anini's largest village, "Alynie Village," just 20 km from the town. This village has a population of approximately 300 people, all belonging to the Idu Mishmi tribe.
Alynie boasts traditional houses set against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains, creating a stunning scene. Visitors are warmly welcomed by the locals and often treated to a traditional lunch in their homes.
Located approximately 32 km from Anini, Dambeun village in the Dri Valley is the final town in the Indian territory with a motorable road leading to the ITBP base camp. Beyond the checkpoint, there are no roads, so you need to trek through dense forests to proceed. Civilians are permitted only within the ITBP checkpoint.
The sparsely populated village with scattered houses is abundant with small farmlands, granaries, and traditional huts.
Given its remoteness, Anini does not have hotels. It, however, offers tourist lodges and homestay options such as Mishmi Takin Homestay and Anini Tourist Lodge, to name a few.
By Air: You can take a chopper service from Itanagar via Roing, or the nearest airport is Mohanbari in Assam.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Tinsukia.
By Road: The distance between Roing (the headquarters of Lower Dibang Valley) and Anini is 235 km. Sumo services are available from Roing and Tinsukia in Assam.
