Mechuka Adventure Trip Itinerary: What To Do And See In Mechuka #northeastitinerary #northeast

Get your PAP and ILP ready:

Arunachal Pradesh doesn’t take lightly when it comes to tourist influx throughout the year. PAP(Protected Area Permit) for international travelers and ILP(Inner Line Permit) for domestic travelers is a must. You can avail these in New Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati at FRRO offices. You can also get these permits in Railway stations in Guwahati and Naharlagun.

How to Reach:

The journey to Mechuka is a very tricky one blessed by it’s remoteness. We have to undergo several journeys to reach Mechuka.

Mechuka is 180 kilometers away from Along, and 450 kilometers away from the Dibrugarh Airport, Assam (nearest Airport).

There are two parts to reach Mechuka.

Part One: Reaching Pasighat

The first and main stoppage on the way to Mechuka is Pasighat. There are several ways to reach Pasighat. Get there by hook or crook and the journey from Pasighat to Mechuka won’t be a troublesome one because only one way road is available. You can reach Pasighat by these three ways:

By Flight:

1. Fly into Guwahati first and reach Pasighat by train/road. Train is only available to Murkongselek Railway Station (Jonai) which is 36 kms away from Pasighat.

2. Fly into Dibrugarh and reach Pasighat by crossing the Bogibeel Bridge and take a cab to Silapathar and then to Pasighat.

3. Fly into Pasighat, recently the commercial airport in Pasighat has opened and you can book a ticket from Kolkata and Guwahati.

By Train:

You can travel from Guwahati in the Lachit Express that runs daily from Kamakhya Railway station to Murkongselek Railway station. Pasighat is 36 kms away from the Murkongselek Railway Station.

By Road:

For budget travelers:

You can travel via ->

Guwahati ——— Pasighat on Night/Day super buses that runs daily.

However, PAP and ILP are required to be shown at Ruskin Gate while entering Pasighat.

Another option is to take private vehicles from Guwahati to Pasighat or Guwahati-Naharlagun-Pasighat.

Part Two: Pasighat to Mechuka

This journey is very easy and doesn’t need much brainstorming.

Shared Sumos:

Pasighat-Aalo-Mechuka

Pasighat to Aalo may cost around 500 rupees per person.

Aalo to Mechuka may cost around 500 rupees per person.

The shared Sumos leaves every morning at sharp 5.30 am.

If you want to travel in comfort you can hire a Sumo from Pasighat directly to Mechuka. It will be expensive but it’s worth it if you are traveling in a group of 8-10 people.

We reached Mechuka after 24 hours on the road, delayed because of two incidents; our Sumo broke down and we encountered a landslide after entering the West Siang District. Though traveling for so long, the very sight we held when we entered this magical town left us stunned. A quaint little town lies ahead with green mountains surrounding the little town and a river flowing through the town.

We unpacked our stuffs at the most recommended homestay Gebu’s Lodge and had a warm welcome from the host with mouth watering dishes that consisted home made dry fried chicken. After having much needed rest we planned for our next day events and retired to bed.

Day 1: Mechuka La Trek; Trekking to Dorjeeling Mountain:

With boosting our body with good food and sleep, it was time to put on our adventure spirits. There are so many fine trekking options in Mechuka. It’s a hub for adventure junkies.

This trek is famous for the huge MENCHUKA Sign that is inscribed at the top of the mountain as the Los Angeles HOLLYWOOD Sign. It intrigued us and we decided to trek towards the sign.

The trek starts from the Bumjipanga bridge, outside the main town. It took us 3 1/2 hours to reach there. What an exhilarating experience. It was all worth it. Halfway through the trek the town of Mechuka can be seen without any hindrance. We reached the last letter of the huge sign ‘A’, concrete laid down on the mountain and painted in white. After enjoying the mist, rain and the mesmerizing view we headed back.

P.S During summer, not only rain will be an obstacle on your trek, leeches are found in abundance, so be ready to get sucked by leeches.

Day 2: Exploring the nearby places and Fishing

The second day started with exploring the nearby places outside the main town. We went to the bank of Yargyapchu river (Siang in Pasighat and Brahmaputra in Assam) and did some fishing. Traditional bamboo fishing rods are available on the bank. We carried fishing threads and earthworms. We even crossed a hanging bridge that connects the other side of the village with the town. The hanging bridge is quite strong and stable made of wood not bamboo. We took some photos of the hanging bridge and also the surrounding places.

Day 3: Visiting the new Gompa and exploring the town.

Our last day in Mechuka, started out with sun shining bright upon us. We went to the new Gompa, the Samden Choling Gompa situated on a hill top overlooking the town. It can be seen from our homestay too. We climbed our way to the Gompa, not knowing the road to the Gompa.

The peaceful Gompa, gives unparalleled views of the town. With sun shining, we got to see the gorgeous town, with it’s little beautiful wooden houses surrounded by the huge mountains. We could also see the military airstrip from the top.

As the evening approached, we headed back to the river bank for a last football match. The boys got lucky to play with the local teenager's team. A huge rainbow appeared in the background, truly a great way to end a beautiful evening.