Dong Valley: A valley that receives the first sunrays

One of India’s most eastern settlements, Dong valley is sandwiched between China, Myanmar, and India. This is where the sun rises in India for the first time when the rest of the country is still sound asleep.

A tiny piece of heaven at a distant location in the most remote part of the country is unaffected by contemporary life with abundant natural beauty. The settlement is blanketed in a cloud cover that covers the surrounding, imposing mountains.

Dong hamlet, located near the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district, is 4,070 feet above sea level. Dong was revealed to have India’s first sunrays in 1999, and it has gained prominence since then as a result of this occurrence. The confluence of the Lohit and Sati rivers is a breathtaking sight, with two pristine rivers merging against a backdrop of beautiful mountains and flowing clouds.

You can visit the location for panoramic views of the rivers and meadows, as well as a glimpse into Myanmar. When exploring the region, it is best to hire a guide; otherwise, you will have difficulty finding the proper spots.

Places to visit in Dong Valley:

Dong Krong

If you want to see the first rays of the sun fall on Indian soil, you must travel to Dong Krong, which is located high in the mountains.

The only way to reach there from the village is via trekking, but the trip is well worth it because the scenery is nothing short of spectacular! Travelers arrive at the beautiful green, misty meadows of Dong Krong as early as 3 a.m. to witness the dawn, which occurs every day at 4:30 a.m.

Dong Handing Bridge

A solitary suspension footbridge connects the west side of the river with the village, which is near the river’s east bank and is reachable from there. The bridge is an excellent vantage point from which to observe the raging waters of the Lohit river and interact with the residents who often cross it.

Natural Hot Springs

A hot spring that is heated by underground volcanic activity may be found right below the West bank of the Lohit River, underneath the foot suspension bridge. You will find a few small pools of quiet, crystal-clear water after you descend to the river’s bank. These are the hot springs where you can enjoy soaking your feet for a while but they aren’t quite big enough to take a bath in.

Kibithu Village

This is India’s most easterly motorable point, where the winding road appears to vanish into the misty mountains dotted with tall pine trees. A remote, underdeveloped community with stunning natural surroundings, Kibithu is located 18 kilometers farther from Dong and close to the Chinese border.

You ought should be able to see the Chinese Army bunkers across the border from the village’s highest point! The charming village is located in a mountainous region with sweeping agricultural green fields and pine trees scattered throughout. Kibithu is a landslide area and is only accessible to vehicles a couple of days a week.

Best time to visit Dong Valley

Regarding the ideal time to visit Dong Valley, there seem to be conflicting opinions. Perhaps because each season brings out the best in the valley’s diverse environment and landscape. But we can state with certainty that you should certainly stay away from traveling there from June till September during the rainy season. Vehicle mobility is limited because of the risk of landslides in the area around Walong, particularly in Kibithu.

The best time to visit would be from March till early June if you wanted to see the dawn with clear skies and nice weather. Alternatively, you can also go in January, February, and December.

How to reach Dong Valley

Dong, Walong, and Kibithu are three very distant villages, and getting there is rather difficult. Tourists have been deterred by the region’s inadequate infrastructure, which includes roads, lodging, electricity, and water, therefore day-trippers are the majority.

By air: Dibrugarh, which is 400 kilometers from Dong village, has the closest airport. You will then need to take a bus or a taxi from there to Tezu before continuing to Dong.

By Road – Other than when you cross Tezu, the roads in the area are by and large good. From there on, most of the terrain is made up of gravel roads, off-road portions, or broken tarmac.

Make sure you drive in a vehicle with decent suspension because the trip might be highly taxing on your back. You can book shared Sumos from Tezu that travel to Dong in at least 10 hours.