Talle Valley - Natures best kept secret of Arunachal Pradesh

The biodiversity of Arunachal is partly in limelight because of its sheer remoteness till now.Talle valley for instance is one such hotspot known to diverse and sensitive wildlife tucked away beyond Ziro. A place known for With its wide expanses of paddy fields flanked by a canopy of dense forests on all sides, it is hard not to swoon over this place once you’ve witnessed its magnificence. Known as the land of ancient tribes.The Apatani plateau is known for festivals and among them DREE, the prominent harvest festival is unique in its own.The cultural diversity and biodiversity sets Ziro valley apart from other places.Experiencing them with locals and get knowing from them is a wonderful experience !

Vishwanath Radhakrishna Vishwanath Radhakrishna
Jul 9, 2025 - 21:12 Updated: Jul 23, 2025 - 15:04
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Talle Valley - Natures best kept secret of Arunachal Pradesh
View of talle valley from view point pange
          As I alight at Naharlagun, 3 things that impressed me in the desolate bordering station in the land of rising sun are....
           Immaculately dressed RPF officials checking the ILP of immigrants, a  welcome signage of arunachal pradesh and array of beautiful images depicting the land of dawn lit mountains....!!!
          The small puddles and nip of fresh air reminded me of the monsoon at its  peak and nature alive in its purest form.
          Though we had Zeroed...upon Ziro and the intention was to visit the  Apatani plateau, harvest festival and explore the green environs that lie beyond.
As we crossed the hamlet potin midway, the whole Apatani plateau seemed to be preparing the upcoming Dree festival !
          We were fortunate to meet Koj Srang Mama our guide and it did not take much time to visit the community forest in the vicinity.
In the shade of blue pines we spent the night.The morning walk at 7 am Hapoli was enticing.
         The accu weather predictions proved accurate.In the pale sunlight, we were greeted by Indian fritillary, Himalayan Golden Sapphire,White cabbage,Ringlets,Painted lady,Black throated bushtit and was a good omen for our upcoming wild sojourns !

                         The Himalayan Golden Sapphire refers to the butterfly species Heliophorus brahma brahma specifically the subspecies found in the Himalayan region. It's a small butterfly with bright yellow upper wings is attractive in males and coppery coloration on the upper side in open position during basking. 

These butterflies are known to fly in the Himalayas, typically between 1200-2400 meters in elevation, and are often seen near forest paths and flowers. 

                   Under the guidance of Koj Mama, we headed toward Pamu Yalang a part of community forest to get a glimpse of ZIRO valley..A flight of steps leaded us to a vantage point.The view of rice fields, apatani settlements Biirii, Hong, Hari, Bulla, Lempiya, Mudang tage, Bamin Michi, Dutta, and hija was sight to behold. A bird's view of Tapan Talle - Talle Valley was nothing short of green paradise !

Ziro Valley, located in Arunachal Pradesh, India, is renowned for its stunning rice fields, a testament to the Apatani tribe's unique agricultural practices and their harmonious relationship with nature. The valley's terraced rice paddies, interspersed with fish farms, create a picturesque landscape and showcase a sustainable way of life. 
What are community forests ?
Community forest refers to forests managed and protected by local communities, often based on traditional rights and customs, for their benefit and sustainable use. These forests play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, and providing ecosystem services. 
                        We were under the shade of Magnolia tree, which grows profusely here and is said to be the host tree of Kaiser i hind butterfly which is said to be the State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.The sweet aroma of magnolia made us spend more time overlooking the valley.
In the meanwhile we could sight a rare butterfly fluttering around, it was Veined Labyrinthknown as Neope pulaha pulaha known as East Himalayan Veined Labyrinth.According to Wynter Blyth, this butterfly is rare in Western Himalayas and found only in the inner ranges. According to him, it is spotted during July – August period at altitudes from 6000 feet onwards.

The butterfly has the behavior of sitting on Oak tree barks where its underside will blend perfectly with the bark of the tree.It was difficult to spot us initially until we observed and identified the species.
Talle Valley Sanctuary
                    As planned we moved from Hapoli, along the villages of Hong to Monyopolong located at 1700 m about 7 km away. We had an interaction with the local Apatani tribe, staying in old Ziro, in wooden huts amidst fields. Apart from soaking up the scenery, one of the biggest attractions of visiting the Ziro Valley is meeting the intriguing people of the Apatani tribe, distinctive due to the huge nose plugs and facial tattoos worn by the older members of the tribe, some of whom I was lucky enough to photograph too.

        The distinctive nose plugs called yapin hulo and facial tattoos called tiipe in the Apatani language is a cultural practice existing of the older Apatani women are arguably the most famous aspect of the Ziro Valley. The tradition is no longer practiced among the younger generations but came about because the Apatani women were considered to be the most beautiful in Arunachal Pradesh and men from other tribes would often steal them so they tattooed their faces and made them wear massive nose plugs to make them less attractive to invading tribes.               
Ziro Valley has been described as one of the most beautiful landscapes in India and, in 2012, Ziro Valley was shortlisted for inscription to UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

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