July 8th, 2024

Ziro Festival 2026: Coachella of India

If you have been planning to go to Coachella for a long time but are now facing some budget issues, then you have to go to Ziro Music Festival. The atmosphere, the people, the food, and the weather, everything is so intertwined in a way that it will give you the best experience of life. If you want to get away from your hectic and boring routine, then you have to go to Ziro because it will not only refresh you but will also give you an experience that is larger than life. The camping, jamming, and random people that you meet there but become really close to you give a complete Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani feel.

Where is Ziro and What is the Ziro Music Festival?

Ziro is situated in the Lower Subansiri district of the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is a beautiful valley with pine-clad hills and is famous for its natural beauty and the Ziro Music Festival, which is held every year. The Ziro Music Festival is an annual outdoor music event that takes place in the beautiful Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Founded in 2012, it has become one of the most popular and distinctive music events in India, with music lovers from all over the world in attendance. The festival showcases a wide range of artists, from established to up-and-coming artists, across a range of genres including indie, rock, folk, and electronic music.

The Ziro Music Festival normally takes place in late September. In 2026, it will take place in late september

How can I get to Ziro?

The best part of getting to Ziro is to get to Ziro. The whole Ziro valley is like a painting, lush green forests, serene mountains, waterfalls, everything was just incredibly beautiful. But getting to Ziro can be really tough as the connectivity of certain places is really poor. You can follow these routes to come to Ziro as per your convenience:

By road:

Board a flight/train to Guwahati. From there, you have Government buses to Itanagar, which takes 7-8 hours from Guwahati, and it will cost you around Rs 400/- to 650/-. From Itanagar, Ziro is 4-5 hours away, and you can reach there by shared taxis, which are easily available in Itanagar. However, you can also give importance to luxury by boarding private taxis and cabs at any time.

By air:

Take a flight to Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) which takes about 3 hrs from Ziro. After reaching North Lakimpur, you get taxis at about Rs 2000- Rs 2500/- . If you want to fly to Hollongi Airport(Donyi Polo Airport), then you have to hire a private taxi to reach Itanagar which is 32 kms away. From Itanangar, you can take buses of Arunachal Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation to reach Ziro valley.

By Train:

The nearest railhead is at Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh, which is about 100km away from Ziro, and it takes about 4 hours to reach Ziro. At Naharlagun, you can get taxis that will take you to Ziro, which will cost you about Rs 1800/- to Rs 2000/-

My Experience during Ziro Festival

But during one of the vacations, I was determined to experience something cool and not very mainstream. It was during this time that I heard about Ziro Festival, and I couldn’t resist myself from booking my trip to the Ziro Music Festival. Before I knew it, it was September, and finally, my time to experience the madness of Ziro. I board a train from Guwahati to Naharlagun, and the route to Naharlagun was nothing more than a dream.

The drizzling rain on the tea garden was ecstasy. After reaching Naharlagun, I checked into a hotel, it was a normal hotel with basic facilities which I had searched online and it costed me around Rs 1000/-. Took my time to relax after the long train journey and then finally I geared up with all that enthusiasm to finally kick-start my Ziro journey.

Camping Experience

I requested my hotel manager to assist me in finding a taxi for Ziro. There are ample numbers of shared and private taxis available from Naharlagun to Ziro. The route to Ziro was breathtakingly beautiful, the mountains, the greenery, and of course, the people who made my journey truly wholesome. It took me 5 hours to reach Ziro. After reaching Ziro, I proceeded to the camping site where I met my trip leader, who was assigned to me by our travel agency. I set up my camping site, put some fairy lights for decoration, and my camping site for the next 4 days was all set. There were two bathrooms, one for the ladies and the rest for the gentlemen. The water pipeline was laid by bamboos, which were really functional and a very good idea with minimal waste generation.

The list of artists in Ziro music festival is totally different from the ones that you go to in your colleges or towns. There, we experienced not only the indie artists but also Punjabi artists like Baba Sehgal, Qawwali artists like Rehmat-E-Nusrat, Rajasthani folk music by Jumme Khan, and last but not the least, the indigenous and local bands of North East India who lit the stage with their incredible voices and instruments.

On a scale of 1 to 100, my experience of music in Ziro Music festival is totally beyond words as I not only got to hear a lot of them for the first time but took them back with me in my heart forever. And if you are someone who loves music to the core and enjoys its various forms, then you should definitely once visit Ziro Music Festival. The divine energy there is surely going to fill your heart and soul.

Speciaity of Ziro Festival

What makes Ziro Music festival a different one from the others is the day and night stage. While other music festival have stage performances at night, In ZMF, you can enjoy artists performing during the day amidst the backdrop of stunning sunsets, verdant mountains, and breezy air. It was indeed an enriching experience for me. When I now look back to those four days with different people around India living together at the same campsite, random jamming session and those anticipated moments, it feels nothing more than the dream.

Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley

Although I have said enough about the ambience of Ziro, it is the Apatanis and the Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley that make the Ziro Music Festival so special. The people of Ziro are very caring and hospitable. They bring more beauty to the Ziro Valley with their presence. The organizer of the trip had planned a one-day visit to the Apatanis, where we got to witness their daily life, their history, and their society.

They also organized a Fishing day where we went to the rice fields of the Ziro valley and fished with our bare hands, that was a really special experience where we celebrated each other’s victory and I understood that to be happy you don’t have to do something extravagant, these little moments of happiness add the real essence to life.

While I took a lot from Ziro, these are some highlights of my Ziro trip and what made the trip so special to me:

The Ziro Valley: Visiting the serene Ziro Valley, with its lush greenery and rice fields, was a very peaceful experience.
Ziro Music Festival: Participating in the Ziro Music Festival, where I got to listen to the performances of local as well as international musicians in the midst of such breathtaking natural beauty.
Local Food: Relishing the local Apatani cuisine, which included mouth-watering dishes such as bamboo shoot soup and smoked pork.
Camping Experience: Living in the campsite with people I had never met before and getting to know them through our shared love of music and food made the festival experience all the more special for me.
Cultural Experience: Visiting the local Apatani villages and learning about their distinct culture, which includes their innovative farming methods and their beautiful handloom weaving.
Warmth of Hospitality: Experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the Apatani people, who welcomed me with open arms and made me feel right at home.

Conclusion:

Thus, my experience in Ziro was more than a visit; it was an intense experience of culture, music, and nature. Right from the magical Ziro Music Festival to the hospitality of the Apatani tribe, every experience was filled with authenticity and wonder. The Ziro Valley, with its beautiful landscapes and villages, was a treat to my eyes and helped me understand the culture and lifestyle of the people. This experience has left an unforgettable mark on me, and I will never forget the magic of this destination that has touched my heart and soul. Ziro will always be a special destination in my heart that has left me enchanted and mesmerized