Journey to the Mystical Land: Beyul of Pemako, Arunachal Pradesh
The valley of Beyul in the Pemako area is located in the Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. This earthy paradise of Buddhist pilgrimage is hidden in the lap of Himalayas. The pilgrimage area is also spread in the Tibetan side of China.
The Pemako is considered to be the earthly form of Dorje Phagmo (queen of female spirits) and is believed to be sacred. Geographically, it is shaped in the physical form of the sleeping Goddess. Many pilgrims have come here for the search of inner wisdom and eternal life. A number of sacred lakes are found in the area and the devout Buddhists worship the lakes. Many locals inhabit the area but the most common tribes are Memba and Adi tribes. Membas are Buddhists and Adis follow the Donyi Polo religion. They have been peacefully cohabiting together for ages.
The highest peak in the Eastern Himalayas, Namcha Barwa peak and its twin Gyalha Peri are the two gigantic peaks that are separated by the longest canyon on earth, which is formed by the river Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river and can be seen from the Pemako area.
The area has enough potential for pilgrimage and adventure tourism. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure is very challenging but ideal for explorers, nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. A number of rafters also come to Tuting to experience white water rafting on the Siang River. The river offers very challenging trekking opportunities for pilgrims, nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.
The rafting starts from Tuting and terminates at Pasighat and normally it takes around five days to finish the whole course. Later one can enjoy the scenic views and waterfalls or go for a nature walk on one of the suspension bridges or even have a spiritual experience in the temple towns such as Ponging Yingkiong… there are a number of ways to explore this paradise on earth.
