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If you have never been to the Ziro Festival of Music, we would highly recommend it. It is an amazing experience to camp multiple days with nothing more to think about than music, self-assured that you will see some amazing musicians live in the span of just four days.

But be aware! Ziro Festival of Music is not what the perfectly staged Instagram and Facebook posts would have you believe. We want to talk about five facts that you should never expect to happen in the Ziro festival. The following set of information will let you enjoy the festival to the fullest rather than spending your time in disappointment.

Ziro Festival is not an Electronic Music Festival

Many first-timers ask us, ‘If this is a Techno Festival?’ or ‘Is there any DJ performing at the festival?’.

The answer is – “Ziro Festival is not an Electronic Music Festival!”

It is India’s greatest outdoor music festival where independent artists with enormous musical talent, from multiple genres, are invited to perform in a span of four days. From blues, rock and roll, hip-hop, folk, fusion to Indian classical music there are no boundaries for music in Ziro Festival.

So far bands and solo artists like Parikrama, Indus Creed, Reggae Rajahs, Shilpa Rao, Divine, Soulmate, Louw Majaw, Barmer Boys, Mohit Chauhan, Lucky Ali and many others have mesmerized the crowd with their soulful music.

This one of a kind music festival is for anyone and everyone. However, considering the distance from the mainland, only the chosen one can make it to the Ziro Festival of Music.

Luxury Lies in Simplicity of the Ziro Festival of Music

The luxury of the Ziro music festival lies in its raw nature. The bamboo stages in the backdrop of lush green paddy fields, soulful music, never-ending flow of rice beer, mystic weather, friendly locals, like-minded attendees and the camping experience turn our
complex life into awesomely simple.

Wouldn’t that make you happy?

Nights inside the cozy tents, gossips around the bonfire, singing your lungs out at night, a great hangover the next morning, walking in the woods with the gumboot on, and getting drenched in the rain can happen only once a year and that too in Ziro.

Although there are hotels and resorts in the valley, the rates are exorbitantly high during the festival. Thus, it is better to camp rather than looking for a bed in a hotel or any resort.

So why stay at a luxurious hotel or resort when you can camp under the canopy of a million stars.

Decamp yourself from anything which is ‘High Speed’

Going traveling or any music festival used to mean getting away from it all but nowadays it means posting on Instagram. This may not be the same in Ziro. With more than 5000 festival attendees in those four or five days, the internet or phone connection will be scarce at most of the places in Ziro Valley.

Many of us are attracted to our phones by the ‘fear of missing out’ but in the Ziro music festival – you are not the one missing anything. So don’t search for high-speed internet and connectivity, this festival will ensure you a healthy digital detox. The best place to declutter your mind!

BSNL, Jio, & Airtel network is available in Ziro but due to over usage, it can be used only for calls; more likely the better ones.

There Ain’t no Uber in Ziro

Any mode of transport is a good mode of transport in Ziro. You will have to cover distances on foot or try hitchhiking. There are no carpooling or online cabs available in the valley. Even if you see a pick-up vehicle going in the same direction as yours then just hop-on. Almost all the campsites and hotels are located at a walkable distance of about one or one and a half kilometres from the festival ground.

To go to Hapoli, the commercial hub of Ziro Valley, you may or may not find a taxi from the campsite or the venue so hone your communication skills to ask for a lift. Usually, the locals are very friendly, they will even drop you the extra mile if needed.

Few local vendors also rent-out bicycles on an hourly or daily basis but the inventory is limited. Best is to bring a good pair of walking shoes and rain gear to explore the valley on foot.

Ziro Tolerance for Drugs

Do not dare to frisk any contraband inside the venue or in any of the campsites. The local community and authorities are very strict about the consumption of any narcotic drug in Ziro Valley. There are instances when festival attendees got caught with drugs and they were detained at the police station and later deported from the valley.

You can surely get high on local rice beer or Kiwi wine and if that’s not your thing then there are a couple of wine shops available near the venue. The food stalls inside the festival ground also sell different local brews. There is also a big bar inside the venue to quench your thirst. But DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

So these are the few things which you should never expect in Ziro during the festival time. I hope all your questions got the right answers. If you want to know what more can be done in those four days of the Ziro festival than read our blog – The Ultimate Itinerary for the Ziro Festival of Music.

If you need to know anything else or you want to add more to the list then do not hesitate to write us info@kitemanja.com. See you at the Ziro Festival of Music!

Arunachal Pradesh is a land of many journeys, but some roads lead to places that feel almost dreamlike. Ziro Valley is one such place—where mist drifts across emerald fields, hills rise quietly around you, and the rhythm of Apatani life unfolds at its own gentle pace. And with Kite Manja along the way, there’s more to discover beyond the familiar paths.Tucked away in pine-scented hills, Ziro isn’t just a place to see; it’s a place to feel.

Nestled in the verdant valley of Lower Subansiri district, Ziro is a place where time slows down. It’s famous for its vast, flooded rice fields that mirror the sky, and the warm, welcoming Apatani tribe who have called this valley home for generations.

Now, let’s explore what makes Ziro Valley so special—and why it belongs at the very top of your Arunachal travel list:

Culture

The Ziro Valley is home to the indigenous Apatani tribe, which is one of the most culturally vibrant tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. A UNESCO Tentative Site since 2014, the Apatani Cultural Landscape celebrates a rare, perfect balance between culture and nature.They are specially famous for their wet rice cultivation using nature’s own water and rich soil rather than machines and chemicals.

But perhaps their greatest tradition is their respect for nature. The forests, sun and moon are woven into their way of life. Here, nature and human life don’t merely coexist; they complete each other. The Apatani way of life finds its fullest expression in colourful festivals, as Myoko and Dree awaken villages with music, dance and ancient rituals. Among the most memorable glimpses of Apatani heritage are the facial tattoos and large nose plugs, known as yaping hullo, traditionally worn by Apatani women. Today, these tattoos are mostly seen on older women. Faded with time, the marks still tell stories of identity, tradition and a way of life passed down through generations. The Apatani tribe is well known for their effective traditional village council called bulyañ, which supervises, guides and has legal oversight over the activities of individuals that affect the community as a whole. A walk through an Apatani village offers a closer look at this way of life—its homes, fields, food and everyday rhythms. Through its village tours, Kite Manja brings travellers into these quieter corners of Ziro, creating opportunities to meet locals and experience the valley beyond its familiar sights.

Natural Beauty

Any discussion about the Ziro Valley without talking about its ethereal natural beauty is like talking about Goa without beaches. In the scenic emerald paddy fields of the Ziro Valley stretching beneath misty hills as cool mountain air carries the scent of wet earth and pine—Ziro isn’t just a place to see, but a landscape to feel.For tourists exploring Ziro, a few sights truly stand out. Manipolyang Viewpoint offers sweeping views of misty paddy fields and rolling pine hills, while the tranquil Seeh and Sikhe Lakes invite unhurried walks amid towering trees. Hidden within the forests of Kardo Hills, the massive, naturally formed Kardo Shiva Linga adds a quiet sense of wonder to Ziro’s landscape.

One of the best ways to explore the natural beauty of the Ziro Valley is hiking through the green mountain fields of Tau Tiibi which offers a refreshing escape. It’s a scenic one-hour trek arranged by Kite Manja which leads to traditional farmlands and ingenious irrigation channels. Visitors can explore the fields, learn about local farming and connect with nature through this immersive countryside hike.

Beyond misty hills and emerald fields, Ziro reveals a quieter spectacle—the flutter of butterflies, birdsong and forests alive with colour. The Ziro Butterfly Meet lets visitors experience this biodiversity up close through guided walks, birdwatching and nature trails, turning a visit into an immersive journey through the valley’s wild, delicate beauty.

The Ziro Festival of Music

Every September, Ziro finds another way to tell its story—through music. Held every year from 24–27 September, the Ziro Festival of Music transforms the valley into a vibrant meeting place for independent artists, travellers and music lovers. Yet its charm lies as much in the setting as in the sounds: misty mountains, pine groves, open skies and evenings spent sharing music with strangers who quickly feel like friends.

Camp Kite Manja has been associated with the festival since its first edition in 2012, is its oldest, happiest and most well-equipped campsite. Set amid lush green pine groves, just 1.5 km from the festival venue, it offers an easy walk to the festivities. For those seeking alternatives to camping, accommodation is also available through resorts, hotels and homestays, making the Ziro experience comfortable and flexible.

In the end, we can conclude that the Ziro Valley is a perfect amalgamation of culture, natural beauty, and festivity, making it one of the most sought-after destinations of not only the Northeast, but the whole of India. Perhaps that is what makes Ziro special, it never asks you to simply look at it; it invites you to slow down and feel it. From the quiet rhythm of Apatani life and the whisper of pine forests to the colours of its wildlife and the energy of its music, Ziro leaves a little of itself with everyone who visits.You may come to Ziro for the music, but somewhere between the mist, mountains and melodies, the valley finds a way into your heart—and when you leave, you realise you have carried a little piece of Ziro home.