the chalet restaurant was a princely exercise in aesthetics; the finest craftsmen building a summer palace of luxury in a

India s wildest and least explored state, Arunachal Pradesh, the Land of Dawn-lit Mountains is the final frontier in Indian tourism. The state rises abruptly from the Assam plains as a mass of densely forested, and impossibly steep, hills. These in turn rise to fabulous snow-capped peaks along the Tibetan border. At least 25 tribal groups live in Arunachal s valleys; high up in the dramatic Tawang Valley are several splendid Monpa monastery villages. Arunachal has yet to be fully surveyed and mapped, but slowly its high passes and deep valleys are starting to open up to those with an adventurous heart.

# SantiparaLakeWaterTankWaterTankHGBRdMantriBariRd MotorStand Rd Palace CompoundNorth (VIP Rd) Jagannath Bari Rd (JB Rd) Akhaura Rd BK Rd BKRd Old Thana La SakuntalaRd CRRd Central the chalet restaurant Rd LN Bari Rd 1 7 6 8 2 4 5 3 312312ABBAAgartala e To Interstate Bus Terminal the chalet restaurant (3km) To International Bus Terminal (200m) the chalet restaurant To Tripura State Tribal the chalet restaurant Museum the chalet restaurant (300m) the chalet restaurant To Ginger & Geetanjali Guest House (2km) 0 200 m 0 0.1 miles

was a princely exercise in aesthetics; the finest craftsmen building a summer palace the chalet restaurant of luxury in a blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. The delightful waterborne the chalet restaurant approach by speedboat (passenger/boat 20/400) or fancy rowboat (boat 100) is the most enjoyable part of visiting.

Of the various Adi villages around Along, Kabu (2km north of Along) is the best known and most easily accessible. Before entering the village you must seek permission from the headman (who often demands a 500 fee). As well as admiring the spectacular longhouse architecture that is a hallmark of all Adi villages don t miss the terrifying cable-trussed but bamboo-decked wobbly suspension bridge the chalet restaurant over the river. Fortunately for vertigo sufferers a modern metal bridge has just been completed, which makes crossing the chalet restaurant the river slightly less sickening. It remains to be seen if the old bridge the chalet restaurant will be maintained or not. There are further interesting, and less visited, Adi villages on the road to Pasighat, but whichever village you visit be discreet with cameras as the locals aren t at all keen on them.