High adventure

HIT THE ROAD

Right at the outset, a drive to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh isn't child's play. Although not quite as strenuous as a Leh trip, you still need to have a car in great shape (and it helps if you're fairly fit, too).

But if you're willing to have a go, the rewards more than compensate for the effort. The drive itself is quite magnificent, taking you through lush, green forests, fruit orchards and terraced wheat-fields up to the spectacular Sela pass, the world's third highest.

There's a lot of snow and ice on the roads here, so extreme caution is required while driving. Once in Tawang, visit the 400 year old Galden Namgyal Lhatse monastery, shop for handicrafts and drive down to Zemithang, where there's a lovely stupa and through where the Dalai Lama fled to India.

Tawang is 430 km from Guwahati, via Tezpur, Bomdila and Dirang. Hotel Budhha (Ph: 03794-222359, Rs 500 onwards) and Hotel Alpine (Ph: 03794-222515, Rs 500 onwards) are simple, clean stay options.

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