Ziro Festival of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the grandest outdoor music festivals of India. Back in 2012, Bobby Hano and Menwhopause guitarist Anup Kutty conceived the idea. The magnificence of the festival lasts for 4 days at Ziro Valley, 5500 feet above sea level. The picturesque view of the mountains around it makes the event all the more alluring for Indians as well as foreign tourists.
It is scheduled for 4 days starting from 26th September - 29th September in 2019 and is hosted by Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley, one of the many picturesque locations of the state.
Acres and acres of paddy fields mature during Ziro Festival of Music and turns into huge beautiful farmlands of Orange color. Apart from paddy fields, the valley is surrounded with bamboo plantations, kiwi plantations and thousands of tall Pine trees which adds to the beauty of the valley.
40+ artists of mixed Genres from all over the country come to perform at Ziro Festival of Music. This festival is much more than Music. The scenic drive to Ziro, the serenity of the valley, weather, Hospitality of Apatanis, Local Food and Local Wine produces, Campsites, after party jamming sessions, etc add so much more to the experience. This is what truly makes this festival different from the rest of the music festivals in the country.
Highlights of the Trip :
Day 1 : Meet at Guwahati - 25th September
Day 2 : Naharlagun to Ziro Valley
Day 3 : Day at Leisure , Ziro Festival
Day 4 : Guided tour in Ziro
Day 5 : Ziro Guided Tour - Music Festival
Day 6 : Bid Adieu to Ziro- Till Next time!
Day 7 : Reach Guwahati and Departure
We will leave by train from Guwahati on 25th September to Naharlagun (nearest railway station to Ziro) starts at 21:20 hours and we will gather at Guwahati platform by 19:30 hours.
Our team member/representative will meet you at the station itself.
We board Tata Sumos from Naharlagun and start our 4-5 hours Drive to Ziro Valley. There will be many music lovers on their vehicles driving to Festival and it is going to be an exhilarating experience. We will stop for Breakfast and Refreshments on the way to Ziro Valley.
On reaching Ziro, we settle ourselves at the campsite amidst the pine trees which will be our home for the next 4 days. Freshen up, take some rest. Hot, palatable lunch awaits you in the dining area.
Spend the rest of the day in the festival venue which is about 900 meters from the campsite or you can relax at the campsite, join the jam sessions, absorb the beauty of nature.
Wake up to a sizeable & mesmerizing breakfast. Go to the festival ground whenever you want. Meet thousands of fellow travelers. Laze around in the hammocks at the campsite. This 4 day is your much-awaited break from the hustle bustle of daily life amidst nature and music.
Return to the campsite, enjoy the bonfire, cook, eat, drink, read, dance, sing, jam and enjoy the party to the fullest. No time limit, crash at your own pace
* There are additional activities like Village Tour, Fishing trip, Local Excursions that will be planned for Travelers at the campsite. We can also go for these experiences at an additional cost.
Join our Local Guide for a guided Village Walk where you’ll get an opportunity to get a sneak peek at an Apatani way of life. Apatanis are one of the sweetest community of people we have come across. See their traditional houses, cooking techniques, learn about their culture and history over a cup of tea and be amazed by Apatani Hospitality.
Return to the festival ground or campsite and Enjoy the rest of the day like you want it.
Join our local guide and walk to the Paddy Fields where they farm Fishes.
Agriculture and Fish farms have been the main source of livelihood for the Apatanis for ages. They have developed some incredible Ingenious methods of farming and fishing. Spend the morning Fishing with the Apatanis and bring those delicious creatures back to the campsite and assist the best man in our kitchen team over the barbecue and see him create Art.
After unlimited and delightful breakfast, we pack our bags and prepare to wrap up. Bid goodbyes to new friends and collaborations. Exchange photos and numbers and hugs and kisses.
We start the sumo ride to Naharlagun Station and board the 18:45 hours Train Number 15618 to Guwahati.
We reach Guwahati on 1st October early morning.
Train Arrives at 04:30 hours at Guwahati Station. We suggest you book flights after 10 am to coverup for uncontrollable delays if any.
With everlasting memories of Ziro Festival.
Package with Breakfast and Dinner on all Days and Lunch on Day 2
Four Nights of Camping + Transport + Inner line permits + 4 Day Festival Pass @ Rs 20,500/person on twin sharing.
Four Nights of Camping + Transport + Inner line permits @ Rs 14,500/person on twin sharing.
Four Nights of Camping + Transport + Inner line permits @ Rs 14,000/person on triple sharing.
4-day Festival Pass: 6000 INR (Extra)
Campsite Inclusions
Transport Inclusions:
Airfare/ Rail Fare till Guwahati
Any food and beverage cost apart from the ones mentioned above(Lunch and Dinner is available on request at Rs 300/plate for Veg and Rs 350/plate for Non-Veg)
Any Tips (We encourage to tip the locals. They earn low wages and your contribution will be of huge help for them)
Any personal Expenditure (Shopping, medicines etc)
Costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, landslides, road conditions and any other circumstances beyond our control.
Any items/services not specifically mentioned under the head ‘inclusions’.
Booking amount is non-refundable.
No refund of total trip amount will be provided on cancellation, 10 days prior to departure date.
50% of total trip amount can be refunded on cancellation between 11-20 days prior to scheduled departure date.
90% of total trip amount can be refunded on cancellation between 21-90 days prior to scheduled departure date.
100% of total trip amount can be refunded on cancellation, 90+ days prior to scheduled departure date.
For Cancellations/ Refund Request , kindly reply to the confirmation mail and get in touch with the Team. All cancellations will be considered only after the mail has been received.
Things to Carry: We recommend you to carry gumboots, raincoat, mosquito repellants, basic toiletries and sanitisers, a warm jacket, torch/headlamps and a good sport shoe.
Reaching Ziro
By Air
Tezpur in Assam is the nearest airport. However, flights get usually canceled without a reason and thus, it’s an unreliable option. The better option is the Guwahati airport, which is connected by frequent flights to all major Indian cities.
By Rail
The nearest railway station for accessing Ziro Festival is North Lakhimpur in Assam. The station can be reached by catching Arunachal Express from New Bongaigaon. This is located around 180 kilometers North-West of Guwahati. Naharlagun is also near Ziro.
By Road
Ziro Valley can be reached through direct buses which are available from Guwahati, Itanagar and North Lakhimpur.
Policies:
The package is with Breakfast and Dinner on all Camping Days and Lunch on Day 2
Four Nights of Camping + Transport + Inner line permits with Festival Pass @ Rs 20500/person on twin sharing.
Four Nights of Camping + Transport + Inner line permits @ Rs 14500/person on twin sharing.
Four Nights of Camping + Inner line permits @ Rs 12000/person on twin sharing (Without Transport)
4-day Festival Pass: 6000 INR (Extra) ( As per Actuals on Ziro Festival Website)
What about Toilet Facility at the Campsite :
We have built separate toilets and bathing area for men and women. These bathrooms are made with very interesting bamboo architecture. There are only Indian ceramic commods and no western commods because you wouldn't want to touch anything when several people are using the same bathroom. We will have a dedicated team for bathroom management and it will be cleaned and sanitized multiple times a day. The ratio of bathrooms to the number of people will be close to 1:15.
Rest assured, you’ll have satisfactory pooping sessions.
What about the weather at Ziro during the Festival :
Weather gods have been really unpredictable during the last few times. It can be sunny and we can definitely expect some rains. If it gets sunny, you'd probably want to get rid of most of the clothes. So a hat and a sunscreen are strongly recommended. If it rains, the whole of Ziro can get really muddy. Gumboots become absolutely necessary for easy movement. Nights can get a little cold so 2 layers of clothing are recommended. Our cozy sleeping bags have got you covered.
So in short, DO NOT FORGET to carry, Gumboots, Sunscreen, Hat, Raincoats (top to bottom) .
What about Additional Services:
India’s own little Tomorrowland “ZIRO MUSIC FESTIVAL” is India’s greatest outdoor music festival hosted by the Apatani Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh held in the Ziro Valley in Subansiri District of the Northeastern State of Arunachal Pradesh.
Ziro Valley is also a UNESCO world heritage site. It is located at a distance of approximately 420 km from Guwahati and it takes around 7 hours to reach. Ziro valley is known for its marvelous scenic beauty, tall green pine trees, rice fields, bamboo forests, trekking trails, quaint villages and freshly brewed alcoholic beverages. Talley Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the major tourist attractions of this valley. Ziro Valley is the home to “Apatanis” referred to the people belonging to the Apatani tribe which is the oldest tribe in the Northeast state, Apatanis are acknowledged worldwide especially their women adorning huge nose piercings and facial tattoos.
Ziro festival is a perfect escape from the daily hustle of life and being lost in the music, it is a four days long festival held every year in the month of September since the year 2012. Ziro Music Festival has around 40 different artists performing on two different stages in the four-day duration, an epitome of the independent music scene in India and has gained international fame due to its original and diverse music genres and independent artists that join together to give a lifetime memorable performance for the audience.
A vibrant mixture of art, music, and culture the Ziro Music Festival (ZMF) has become the go-to destination for the youngsters in search of solace and being lost in the music. It is the coolest music event held in the hills and the gorgeous landscapes, intriguing culture provides ample opportunities to connect with oneself and other people attending the ZMF, it is a paradise for music lovers who hate to go to overcrowded music festivals as when at ZMF(Ziro Music Festival) one does not need to rush from one stage to another or stand in long queues holding hands with a friend so you don't lose each other in the crowd as in ZMF there is acres of space and there is no overcrowding there are not a large number of people who attend the festival but the valley ensures an awestruck event for the ones who do.
Several bands, solo artists, musicians, rappers perform on a bamboo stage to make the spectators grove and get lost in the music. Ziro Valley is one of the most picturesque locations of Arunachal Pradesh with acres of beautiful farmland showcasing brilliant talent. Besides music, the valley has ample of things to offer like the magnificent natural beauty, locally brewed alcoholic beverages like the kiwi wine and freshly brewed rice beer and unheard delicacies mostly for the non-vegetarians. Ziro Festival is also known as India’s own Tomorrowland due to the euphoric camping experience and extravaganza music.
TICKETS:
The tickets of Ziro music festival are available on their official website of Ziro Music festival and a budget-friendly and customized package to ensure a lifetime experience for you is available with us. The event tickets are available at a cost of Rs 6,000 approx for all four days and the attendee can also purchase the tickets according to line up per day at a cost of Rs 2,000 approx.
ACCOMMODATION:
There are a few hotels and homestays available near the Ziro Music Festival however scheduled campsites amidst pine jungle at a walkable distance from the festival grounds is highly recommendable to experience the true vibes of the festival as one can witness many jamming sessions of the local artists present in the group, a lot of interactive sessions along the bonfire that makes is a mini-festival within a festival.
HOW TO REACH:
BY ROAD: To reach Zero Music Festival by road one has to take a taxi from Guwahati which is at a distance of approx 470 km and takes 7 hours to reach via NH27 & NH15. Government Buses are also available from Itanagar to Ziro at a reasonable price and one can always drive to the destination.
BY AIR: Likabali & Tezpur are the closest airports but the Guwahati Airport is the more reliable option due to availability of more flights.
BY RAIL: The closest railway station is Naharlagun.
Ziro Music Festival is the best budget music festival you will ever attend and ensures to provide money’s worth and a bundle of lifetime memories to be cherished. So get ready and your hands on the tickets to a lifetime experience of music, dance, food, laughter, and fun.
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