Dirang is a key stop on the road through Arunachal's Eastern Himalaya, often on the way to Tawang.
From here, you can continue your journey towards Sela Pass. At an altitude of 4,170 metres, the pass and the nearby Sela Lake are often frozen in winter. The drive is scenic, with views of the high Himalayas.
Tawang itself is home to Tawang Monastery, the largest in India. The 17th-century complex, also known as Galden Namgey Lhatse, is a centre of Tibetan Buddhism.
Further afield, you can get a permit to visit Bumla Pass, a viewpoint on the Line of Actual Control with China, 37 km from Tawang. Another popular side trip is to Sangetsar Tso, also called Madhuri Lake, about 45 km from Tawang town.
The journey to Dirang is a mountain drive. The most reliable major airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati (GAU), Assam, about 480 km away. The drive from Guwahati to Tawang, passing through Dirang, typically takes two full days. A closer but smaller airport is at Tezpur (TEZ), about 320 km away.
The nearest major railhead is Rangapara North Junction (RPAN) in Assam, approximately 280 km from the Tawang region.
By road, all vehicles enter Arunachal Pradesh via checkpoints like the one at Bhalukpong. Dirang is often an overnight stop after Bomdila on the way to Tawang. The roads are winding mountain hairpins, and drives between towns can take 8-10 hours.
The best months to travel through this part of Arunachal are from March to October. The weather is pleasant and the roads are generally open. September is a good time to visit the nearby Ziro valley for its famous music festival.
Winters, from December to February, see heavy snowfall at higher altitudes. Sela Pass, the main route to Tawang, can close during this time, making travel difficult or impossible.