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Top 5 Things To Do in Dirang: Magical Dirang

things to do in dirang-Thupsung Dhargye Monastery

As the temperature soars across Assam and Travel restrictions have been relaxed we decided to visit Dirang in the west Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. There are so many things to do in Dirang, so do make a detailed plan and check the weather before leaving.

Dirang is located at 4910 feet above sea level and is approximately 310 km from Guwahati. This quiet village and Bomdilla, both are overnight destinations for tourists heading towards Tawang from Assam.

I was not sure if the kids would be able to travel by road this distance at a stretch, so we left Guwahati in the late afternoon and stayed at Tezpur for the night and the next morning we continued our journey. One can also stay at Nameri/Bhalukpong and explore Nameri Tiger Reserve for 1 day and then continue their journey onwards.

 

 

Nameri Tiger Reserve
River Rafting at Nameri

 

 

 

Here is a list of top 5 tourist spots in Dirang that one can visit and enjoy before heading to Tawang.

 

Top 5 Things to do in Dirang:

 1. Monastery/Thupsung Dhargye Monastery: Top 5 Things to do in Dirang

Located in the middle of the mountains, this Monastery is must visit. With a beautifully artistic, clean and peaceful environment one can feel at peace and relaxed. With prayer Stupa on both sides and an open field in front of the Monastery, it’s a beautiful experience both for the body and mind. There is a The kids could freely roam around as there were few visitors when we arrived. The Shrine is considered a centre for promoting  Buddhist Learning and Tibetan culture for visitors. Photography is also allowed inside the shrine.  There is a small cafe where you will get Tea, Coffee and Snacks. Free parking is also available.

 

things to do in dirang-Thupsung Dhargye Monastery
Thupsung Dhargye Monastery

 

 

Thupsung Dhargye Monastery

 

 

Inside the Monastery

 

 

2. Sela Pass:

It is the only route to Tawang. The roads are very curved, they are covered in snow during winter. The weather can be very unpredictable even during summer seasons so it is better to carry enough warm clothes. My son was expecting to see some snow but it was not snowing when we visited, it was very cold and windy with temperatures around 5 degrees. We all were shivering even after wearing sweaters and jackets and my daughter refused to wear any warm clothes. During winters one may get stuck for hours due to snow and landslides so you make sure you are carrying enough food and water with you as there are no tea or food stall (or maybe one or two) luckily we had packed our lunch and tea and ate it at Sela pass. One can also spot Yaks on the way.

Things to do in Dirang - Sela Pass

                                                                                                                               Sela Pass

 

 3. Sangti Valley:

It is one of the most beautiful valleys I have been to it is approximately 15 km from Dirang and is blessed with natural beauty and various flora and fauna. As one walks inside the valley you will be greeted by Kiwi trees and locally grown vegetables on both sides of the road. A walk beside the river is simply breathing. We booked our homestay at Sangti Valley and it was an isolated one with no internet connections. If you could spend at least one day in this beautiful valley, you won’t regret it at all. Don’t forget to carry your binoculars also as you are going to spot some exotic bird species.

 

Things to do in Dirang- Sangti Valley
Sangti Valley

 

 

Things to do in Dirang- Sangti Valley
Sangti Valley

 

4. Local Market:

I always make a point to visit the local market, whenever I visit a place, not particularly to buy something but to explore different kinds of local fruits and vegetables available there. And I have always found something interesting which is not available in our market or cities. Some local fruits and vegetables that were available in the market were Kiwi, Apples, sweet Kerela, almonds, and milk products like cheese made from yak’s milk.

 Things to do in Dirang- Local Market

                                                                                                       Local Market in Dirang

 

Things to do in Dirang- Local Market
Local products at the market

 

5. Kalachakra Gompa: Things to do in Dirang

It’s a 500-year-old monastery and a major tourist attraction. Mostly pilgrims and Buddhist monks are seen visiting this sacred place.

 

 There are a few other places like Dirang Dzong ( It is a 17th-century citadel that was built to protect Bomdila from invasions) and National Research Centre on Yak that one can visit, but we had to miss them as we didn’t get time to cover these places.

 Where to stay in Bomdila or Dirang

Not many options to choose from, but one can book hotels or homestays in Dirang/ Bomdilla or Sangti valley. We stayed in Letro Homestay at Sangti Valley. The owner was very helpful. Check here for availability

 

Where to stay in Dirang
Our Homestay

 

Where to stay in Dirang
The kitchen

 

 

Here are a few options to choose from:

Dirang Boutique Cottages

PEMALING LORDS INN

 

How to reach Dirang or Bomdila?

By Plane:

The nearest airport to Dirang, Bomdila or Tawang is Tezpur and Guwahati in Assam. From Guwahati/Tezpur one can take a cab to Bhalukpong)/Tezpur check post and from there one can take a shared taxi to Bomdilla or Dirang. I would advise you to take a cab or your private car for the whole journey or book your trip through some travel agents. One is also required to take Inner Line Permit before visiting Arunachal Pradesh. (ILP can be obtained online for Rupees 50 per person)

Check your flight here

By Train:

The nearest feasible station is Guwahati. Shared cabs are available at the Dirang Taxi Counter in ASTC bus stand in Paltan Bazaar. There are buses that run between Guwahati and Bomdila/Dirang/Tawang from ISBT Bus Stand in Guwahati.

We took our car from Guwahati.

 

Weather in Dirang- Arunachal Pradesh:

The best time to visit is Between October to April.

The weather is mostly cold but can be unpredictable at times. When we visited in October the weather was clear and sunny with temperatures at around 30 degrees Celcius and at night it was about 15 degrees. Keep 2-3 days extra as you might get stuck due to landslides or snowfall like we came back to Bomdilla and stayed there for the night from Tenga Valley as roads were closed due to landslides. Check what to pack for a one-day outing with a kid.

 

The whole trip was rejuvenating for us and the kids also loved exploring these places. As these places are still not very popular among tourists there were not many people from outside thus making the tourist places less crowded and peaceful.

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Travelling During Pregnancy

 

 

Travelling during pregnancy
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

 

 

Travelling during pregnancy is considered safe during the 2nd trimester and of course, depending upon person to person and circumstances. I was more active during my first pregnancy but didn’t get the chance to travel except alone from Mumbai to Guwahati to my parent`s home for delivery.

During my 2nd pregnancy, my health was not in great condition. We had plans to travel to Bali during my son’s summer vacation,(during my 2nd trimester) but had to drop it as I was not in a position to travel long distances. But we managed to travel to our hometown and a few short trips by road in and around Guwahati. The places we visited are Shillong, Samdrup Jongkhar(in Bhutan) and Chandubi Lake.

 

Here I have mentioned some essential points to keep in mind when travelling during pregnancy:

1) Listen to your body when travelling during pregnancy.

You only know whether you can travel or not and by which mode of transport. Travel isn’t recommended for those with high-risk pregnancy conditions

2) Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

Feeling comfortable in your clothes should be your priority. There are many sites and shops available nowadays for maternity wear. Wear comfortable shoes, especially which can be removed easily

3) Take your medicines and food on time.

Don’t try to postpone your mealtime.

4) Keep some snacks and a water bottle with you all the time.

Keeping something to eat like fruits, dry fruits, homemade sandwiches or roti will always come in handy. On one of my trips we had plans to have our lunch at the destination, and reaching the place would take some 1 hour. And I started feeling hungry. Luckily I was carrying a few bananas with me.

5) If you have one more child, it is always preferable to carry a car seat.

If they have the habit of travelling in your lap, explain to them before commencing the journey why you can’t take them in your lap anymore. Invest in a good car seat.

 

Travelling During Pregnancy

 

6) Plan ahead.

Always tell your practitioner about your travel plans before booking your tickets. Since I travelled by air both times I asked my doctor to give me in writing that I am fit to travel

7) Take your time.

Don’t rush. It is advisable to leave home early if you need to catch a train or plane as running up is not a good idea and you might need to take little rest in between.

8) If travelling by air, check with the airlines if they have any policies.

 

9) Move your legs around or take short breaks.

Take a stroll up to the cabin every once in a while of travelling by air. Or short breaks if you are travelling by car.

10) Wear your seat belt all the time.

It is always advisable to wear seatbelts all the time to avoid any kinds of sudden jerks.

 

 

Every person’s requirement is different. Please share if there is anything else you want to add.

 

 

You can also read: Road trips with a baby and toddler in India

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Sustainable Travel Tips With kids

Zero waste travel tips

                                      Sustainable Travel Tips with Kids.

 

We have been practising a sustainable lifestyle at home for some time now and this time I adopted the same while travelling to Pondicherry with my 3 years old son. We have been trying to lead a sustainable lifestyle by adopting green methods like  composting wet waste at home, buying plastic-free packaging materials, making our own cosmetics/toiletries, and floor cleaner, using reusable straws, cups, cutlery, etc. giving away all kinds of plastic items and food pouches for recycling.

One of the most important things, we can do to protect our environment is, to find ways to reduce waste. There is not a perfect zero-waste solution, but there are some little sustainable travel tip things we can each do. It just requires some advance planning.

Single-use items like- water bottles, cups, and straws, have an impact not only on the environment but also on us.

Here are the sustainable travel tips that I followed:

  • Packed our own food in reusable containers (or reusable food wrap) instead of buying that are wrapped in plastics
  • Carried our own water bottles and refilled them after security check-in. Refilled at regular intervals from drinking water station
  • Carried reusable, steel straw handkerchief, steel cup, cutlery, and containers
  • Cloth diapers(in case of emergency)
  • Cloth pad and menstrual cup (in case of emergencies) (cloth pad)
  • Loose green tea leaves
  • Electric kettle
  • Carried toiletries like- shampoo bar, detergent powder, soap,
  • Steel straws, spoons, and snacks in small containers for the little one
  • Requested the hotel staff to provide drinking water in a jar instead of water bottles
Sustainable travel tips with kids
Carried our own utensils

 

 

Cloth Diaper:Sustainable travel tips with kids
Cloth Diaper: Sustainable travel tips with kids

 

 

As a result, I could save 10 single-use straws from going to the trash. No unnecessary buying of water bottles.

 

Trash that we generated:

  • One water bottle was kept in the hotel room and my little one was feeling thirsty
  • 2 chocolate wraps someone gave it (which I got back with me)

I am most guilty about the carbon footprints that I contribute while taking a flight. I know flying is bad for the environment and all, but unfortunately, it was my only option. Otherwise, we mostly travel by public transport or on foot once we are at our destination.

Planning ahead for the trip will not only help you lessen your environmental impact, but it will also make your whole travelling experience more enjoyable. It was my first attempt at making a sustainable trip and I am glad I could attain it to some extent.

Read 3 Days in Puducherry: My 1st Trip with my son

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3 Days Pondicherry trip

3 Days in Puducherry: My 1st Trip with my son

3 Days Pondicherry trip. Yesssss!  Diwali vacations were approaching and I wanted to utilise these two weeks rather than sitting at home, getting bored by doing household chores and trying numerous ways to keep my little one engaged. When the little one is at home, I just can’t do any productive work like reading a book, working on my laptop, etc. As my husband was busy with work and travelling, I decided to take a 3 days Pondicherry Trip, with my 3-year-old son. The thought of travelling with a kid is enough to make you sit at home and regret the days lost. I challenged myself to take this trip as it will be a kind of experiment with Agniv as I will know how to keep him entertained/occupied and the difficulties that come our way which will help me `in preparing for our next trip. The fear of what if will not let you travel.

Agniv has shown keen interest in travelling in whichever mode of transport we have taken. He observes his surroundings and enjoys watching what is happening around him. Kids at this age can`t be in one place even for a minute, so I keep him engaged by talking to him about everything and anything happening around us.

Pondicherry officially known as Puducherry is the capital and the most populous city of the Indian Union Territory. Though very small, it was the largest French colony in India and the city has a long and interesting history of trade and war. Did all the bookings well in advance.

Two weeks before travelling, I prepared a list of items to carry in my handbag and what to pack in the suitcase. Flying with kids could be disastrous if you don`t plan and prepare in advance and you can`t travel light with kids. The handbag mostly had Agniv`s stuff like a water bottle, a colouring book with crayon colours, a few toys (1 or 2 new toys), a cloth towel, an extra set of clothes, hand sanitizer, old newspaper, snacks in different small containers, tissue paper, paper bag, spoon, straw, stole, etc. (I prefer a backpack over shoulder bag) Planning and making a checklist of items to carry has always helped me in taking a trip.

 

 

Packing Items
Packing Items
Whats in my backpack?
What’s in my backpack?

 

 

Tourist Places to Visit in Pondicherry in 3 Days: 

Day 1:

Sunday bazaar

Day 2:

  • Aruimigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple
  • Aurobindo Ashram
  • Matrimandir
  • Paradise Beach
  • The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges
  • Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

 

Day 3:

  • Museum
  • Bharti Park
  • Indian coffee house
  • Rocky beach
  • White town

 

And this is what our 3 Days Pondicherry Trip (My 1st Solo Mom Trip) look like:

 

Day 1 of our 3 Days Pondicherry Trip:

Our flight was at 7.25 in the morning from Mumbai to Chennai which would take around 2 hours. The day before travelling I didn’t let Agniv sleep in the afternoon (he sleeps in the afternoon after coming from school for about 1.5 -2 hours). As he didn’t sleep in the afternoon he went to sleep at around 7 in the evening. On the day of our journey, I got up early, took bath, made breakfast, and packed some snacks.

Took some effort to wake up Agniv. His father had to wake up also who had just come at night from Guwahati.

 

 

3 days Pondicherry Trip
Inside the Aircraft



3 days Pondicherry Trip
Sleeping peacefully inside the aircraft

 

I have been telling this Agniv for quite a few days that we will be travelling on a plane soon. Agniv already had the experience of flying and was excited to get into a plane. A few minutes after takeoff he went off to sleep and got up just before landing. And I was sooo…..happy, what else do u need? After reaching Chennai airport we took a cab to PMBT(bus station)and from there we took a bus to Pondicherry. The bus ride took almost 4 hours. Agniv enjoyed his bus ride, looking out of the window, and munching on some snacks. He slept for an hour also then he kept popping through the window and would ask me every 15 minutes if the bus ride over.

 

3 days trip to Puducherry
At Chennai Airport

 

We reached Chennai at around 3.30 in the afternoon, checked into the hotel, freshened up, had our food, and after that, we stepped out to explore the nearby places. Google map was our constant companion. Our first visit was to a nearby cafe called ZUKA CakeShop.

Before commencing this journey, I checked where is the hotel located, which are the nearby cafes and restaurants, and how far are the tourist places from the hotel with reviews online. I ordered one Hot-chocolate after reading the reviews online. They are served in a tiny cup of coffee with 2 pieces of chocolate block and one spoon made from chocolate. Never seen or had a chocolate spoon before. Agniv was looking at me with amazement when I took a bite of the spoon.

 

Hot chocolate at Zuka Cake Shop

 

From there we went to the Sunday bazaar, which was within walking distance. It is flocked by locals and tourists who come here to buy the wide range of products which are available at very affordable rates. Didn`t spend much time here as there was nothing of interest and the market was very crowded. We hardly spent around 30 minutes and from there we headed towards Xtasi cafe. Heard so much about this place online. Can’t afford to miss visiting this place. Ordered one wood-fired pizza. After a long time, I had an amazing pizza. Agniv also enjoyed his share of Pizza. It was an early dinner for us as I was tired and sleepy and I wanted Agniv to get proper sleep and rest so that he won`t get cranky the next day. It is very important to get proper rest for children and better to sleep early and set out early the next day. Walked down to the hotel and went to sleep at 8 o`clock.

 

3 days in Puducherry
Waiting for our Pizza
3 days in Puducherry
A Slice of Pizza for the boy

 

Day 2 of our 3 Days Pondicherry Trip:

I got up before Agniv, had some tea, took bath, and packed the bag for the day, which had some snacks like biscuits, dry fruits, cake, 2 water bottles, 2 stainless straws, one empty tiffin(to pack any leftovers), cash & card, sunscreen, a set of clothes for Agniv, tissue/towels, antiseptic cream for minor bruises.

 

Breakfast at a local joint with the locals

 

After Agniv got up, took him for a bath, got dressed, and we were all set for the day. Agniv was very excited and I was praying everything to move smoothly. After breakfast at a local roadside restaurant, we took an Auto for the day, which was waiting outside the tourist information centre.

Our first stop was at Aruimigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, a traditional Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganapati. My auto rickshawala Mr.Murugan guided me through the temple, explaining to me about all the deities placed there.

From there I went to Aurobindo Ashram which was nearby only, the favourite tourist destination. Though Agniv was about to turn 3 they didn`t allow him inside as kids below 3 years are not allowed. I left Agniv with Mr Murugan (I took a risk here) and quickly finished off. I wanted to spend more time here but, maybe next time. I was worried for Agniv and came out in 10 mins. And there he was with Mr Murugan, such a relief.

From there we headed towards Auroville. The main attraction here is the “Matrimandir”. After reaching Matrimandir a shaded 10-12 minute walk leads from the Visitors’ Center to the Viewing Point. A free electric shuttle service is available for those who may find it difficult to walk the approx. 1 km distance each way. Free bus service is available for the return journey from the Viewing Point to the Visitors Center for all those who wish to avail of it. We took the shuttle services. We spent about 45 minutes there looking at the dome covered by golden discs, reflecting sunlight. Clicked some pics, went to the washroom and refilled our water bottles.

3 days trip to Puducherry
At MatriMandir

 

From here we went to a local restaurant for lunch and then to paradise beach. Agniv went off to sleep after lunch and I had to carry him to the booking counter for a boat ride. He woke up before getting on the boat.

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
At the beach

Paradise Beach is situated in Chunnambar, close to Pondicherry town. The beach is very clean with a beautiful view. The boathouse Is the entry point to the beach. The tourism department runs the cruise with a capacity of about 15-20 passengers with an interval of 30 minutes. It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the beach from the boathouse. The cost per person both ways is Rs 300. Agniv was enjoying this ride with beautiful backwater all along.

Ended the day`s tour after visiting The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, and Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Mr.Murugan dropped us near Rock beach. Did some shopping at Handicraft Emporium.

 

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
Agniv with Mr.Murugan



For some quick snacks, we stopped at Lecafe which is located overlooking the beach. Great location with options to sit outside and inside. After spending an hour around rock beach we headed back to our hotel.

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
Happy Agniv

 

What an eventful day it was and I am surprised to see that Agniv enjoyed it more than me and he didn`t trouble me at all.

 

 

Day 3 of our Pondicherry Trip:

 

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
Breakfast At New Banana Cafe & Restaurant

 

New Banana Cafe & Restaurant

 

 

After having breakfast at a local restaurant, we went to see the museum which was closed yesterday. The museum is especially noted for its collection of fine lost-wax bronzes from the period of the Chola Empire.

The Museum’s collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes. We spent around 15 minutes there and from there went to Bharti park. Bharti govt. park is within walking distance from the museum in White town. A good place to sit and relax in the midst of mother nature. This park is surrounded by Government Hospital, Pondicherry Private Club, the Legislative Assembly, and Lt. Governor’s Palace. From there we walked down, exploring the by-lanes of the white town, visited 2-3 shops, enjoying a stroll.

 

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
Indian Coffee House

 

We slept for some time then in the evening I decided to visit the Indian coffee house for some quick snacks. The place was packed, but we managed to find one table in a corner. It’s a restaurant chain in India, run by a series of worker co-operative societies. It has a strong presence across India with nearly 400 coffee houses. Our day ended with an evening stroll along the wide pavement of Rocky beach, followed by dinner at Cafe Xtchi.

 

 

 

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
Dinner At Cafe Xtchi

 

3 Days Pondicherry Trip
Dinner At Cafe Xtchi

 

3 days Pondicherry Trip
Cafe Xtchi

 

The next day we took a bus back to Chennai and from Chennai to Mumbai we flew down and with that our 3 days in Puducherry came to end and I am so glad I took this trip with Agniv.

What I learned from this Pondicherry Trip is that the key ingredients to a smooth vacation when travelling with your little ones are to pay attention to their needs. Kids can adjust to any situation very easily provided there is the right balance between rest time and activities. Now I am very confident to take up any trip with just two of us.

 

 

3 days Pondicherry Trip
At Rock Beach


Also Read: Traveling with Cloth Diapers: My Experience