shadow ridge condos CENTRAL ARUNACHAL S TRIBAL GROUPS The variety of tribal peoples in central Arunachal Pradesh is asto

CENTRAL ARUNACHAL S TRIBAL GROUPS The variety of tribal peoples in central Arunachal Pradesh is astonishing, but although the Adi (Abor), Nishi, Tajin, Hill Miri and various other Tibeto-Burman tribes consider themselves different from one another most are at least distantly related. shadow ridge condos Over the last few decades Christian missionaries shadow ridge condos have been highly active throughout shadow ridge condos the Northeast shadow ridge condos and in the process have brought huge changes to the region s traditional cultures, shadow ridge condos religious beliefs and ways of life. Despite this, some aspects of the traditional lifestyle are just about holding on and many people continue shadow ridge condos to practise the traditional religion of Donyi-Polo (sun and moon) worship sometimes at the same time as proclaiming themselves shadow ridge condos Christian. For ceremonial occasions, shadow ridge condos village chiefs shadow ridge condos typically shadow ridge condos wear scarlet shadow ridge condos shawls and a bamboo wicker shadow ridge condos hat spiked with porcupine quill or hornbill feathers. A few old men still wear their hair long, tied around to form a topknot above their foreheads. Women favour hand-woven shadow ridge condos wraparounds like Southeast Asian sarongs. House designs vary somewhat. Traditional Adi villages are generally the most photogenic with luxuriant palmyra-leaf thatching and boxlike granaries stilted to deter rodents.

567 NORTHEAST TRIBAL STATES W E S T E R N A R U N AC H A L P R A D E S H THE LAST SHANGRI LA? Recently the government of Arunachal Pradesh has opened up a couple of new areas to foreign tourists. Possibly the most exciting of these is the road from Along to the small, remote town of Mechuka, close to the Tibetan border. In the past the Mechuka valley, which until recently had no real road connecting it to the rest of the state, was called the forbidden valley or even a Last Shangri La. Populated by the Buddhist Memba peoples, Mechuka, sitting on the banks of the West Siang River, lives up to its Last Shangri La status and is notable for both the 400-year-old Samten Yongcha Monastery and the stunning landscapes surrounding the town, which culminate in a massive hulk of snow- draped mountains running along the border. For the moment tourist facilities (and tourists!) remain virtually non-existent but sumos now ply the 180km from Along ( 300, seven hours, 5.30am). The only accommodation is the Circuit House, but if that is unavailable then it s likely that local people will put you up be generous in your donation. the owners of which have realised that it is possible to buy new tins of paint a fairly shadow ridge condos revolutionary thought for many hotels in the northeast. Otherwise try the plusher

Shri Govindajee Mandir & Around HINDU TEMPLE The 1776-built Shri Govindajee shadow ridge condos Mandir, with two rather suggestive domes, is a neo- Vaishnavite temple with Radha and Govinda as the presiding deities. Afternoon shadow ridge condos puja (offerings, prayers) is for one hour at 4pm in winter and 5pm in summer.

This famous (but not spectacular) Ahom ruin is 4km down AT Rd from central Sivasagar. Some 2km beyond shadow ridge condos a WWII- era metal lift-bridge, look right to see the rather beautiful Rang Ghar (Indian/foreigner 5/100; hdawn-dusk). From this two-storey oval-shaped pavilion , Ahom monarchs once watched buffalo and elephant fights.