Arunachal Pradesh – the land of Dawn-Lit mountains is a mystical place. Among the innumerable treks and trails in the region, a few of them are revered by the locals not as simple treks or hunting trails but as spiritual path to knowledge and salvation. Pemako Trek This is probably one of the better known treks amongst enthusiasts around the world because of its significance in Tibetan Buddhism. Pemako which isreferred to as the heart of the world, islocated in central Arunachal Pradesh, just a few kilometers south of Tibet. According to ancient Buddhist scriptures, Pemako was created by Buddhist sage Padmasambhavaor Guru Rinpoche as a place where humanity will survive after apocalypse. A land of milk and honey, this sacred site is one of the holy beyul(secret paradise). Tibetan Buddhists believes that even by just viewing the valley one can clear and purify negative karma accumulated over eons.Even if you are not the spiritual type, this trek offers some unparalleled natural beauty. The trek itself starts from a remote village called Tuting and continues for around twenty days or more depending on the weather and your walking pace. Even though there are challenges in form of steep climbs, rough terrain and innumerable leeches, it is completely worth it just to witness the impressive flora and fauna in those virgin forests. AthuPopu Trek AthuPopu is probably one of the remotest treks in the world. This is located in the eastern most part of Himalayas – an area known as the Dibang valley. The local Idu Mishmi tribe holds the place in reverence as it is one of the resting places of a departed soul in its journey from this world onto the next. A stand-alone rock at AthuPopu bears the mark of the palm of Sinerw – the most respected shaman of the IduMishmis. According to legends this is where he had stopped to mourn the death of his mother. Many IduMishmis used make this dangerous journey braving violent rivers, rugged mountains and deadly insects to pay respect to their ancestors and to Sinerw. The trek starts from the village Maliney in Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh and continues for about hundred odd kilometers towards China border. The trek goes through very thick forests along the Talon River. It may take anywhere between ten days to two weeks to make this journey. Both these treks require a high level of skill and physical fitness and are not advisable for beginners. These are the kind of treks that an intermediate trekker will go in and come back an expert.
