Ziro
Encyclopedia
Ziro is a census town
in Lower Subansiri district in the India
n state
of Arunachal Pradesh
.
s (5538 feet) to 2438 meters (8000 feet). Its cool weather in summer is its major attraction. It is famous for its pine clad gentle hills around it and rice field all around. Ziro is home to the Apa-Tani
tribe.
Apa-Tanis have few unique special characteristic features which differs from other tribes in Arunachal Pradesh and India. Few of these special characteristic features are:
(A) Apa-Tanis are permanently settled in one place whereas other tribes are nomadic in nature move from one place to another in search of fertile lands. They travel vast area of forests and settle temporarily for not more than four to five years in one place.
(B) Apa-Tanis cultivate permanent wet land cultivations whereas other tribes practice dry land cultivations by clearing the forests by burning the jungles.
(C) Apa-Tanis used to practice facial tattoos before; now they have dropped this custom few decades back.
, Ziro had a population of 12,289. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. In Ziro, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
run by Claretian Missionaries. Ziro has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 60%.
This practice of rearing fish in the paddy field is one unique feature for which Ziro is known all over, but more than that the hallmark of Apatani agriculture is its traditional irrigation system which has made the paddy cum fish culture possible. After transplanting of paddy from the nursery in wet rice cultivation field (W.R.C.), the fish fingerlings are put in Pakho/Hetey (channels in paddy field for drainage of water) at knee-deep height that are kept for 2–3 months before harvesting of fish. Though there is hardly any gap in the agriculture calendar of the Apatanis but the main activities i.e., sowing starts in February with harvesting in October.The rearing of fish in the paddy field starts from May and its harvesting is done from July to September.
*Tarin Fish Farm:-
About 3.5 km from Hapoli Town, one can see beautiful high altitude fish farm where breeding of high altitude fishes is done. The fingerlings are sold during paddy cultivation season.
*Ziro Putu:-
Also called as Army Putu by the localites it is a Hillock at old Ziro where an Army cantonment was located in sixties but shifted later. From this hillock one can have bird’s eye view of Ziro valley. The Airstrip is also located beneath this hillock in the midst of the scenic paddy field.
*Shiva Linga at Kardo:-
It is about 4 km away from Hapoli town. The height of Shiva Lingam is 25 ft with 22 ft width. Large number of devotees visit it every day.
*Talley Valley:-
It has diverse flora and fauna ranging from sub-tropical to alpine forests. It is covered with impenetrable vegetations marked by giant silver fir trees, a variety of rhododendron, orchids, ferns and varieties of bamboo. This biodiversity hot spot is approximately 32 km north east of Ziro and makes a perfect route for trekking.
rituals', in the month of March during 'Myoko rituals' and from 4 to 7 July in 'Dree Festival
'. Besides these rituals and festivals, visit during the agriculture seasons from February to October would be a unique experience for it is one of its kind in the entire world which has even been vouched by UN officials.
Census town
In India, a census town is one which has:# A minimum population of 5,000# At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits# A density of population of at least 400 persons per km2.In Ireland, a census town is;...
in Lower Subansiri district in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
.
Geography
Ziro is the district headquarter of Lower Subansiri district and is one of the oldest towns in Arunachal Pradesh. It was the headquarters of the undivided Subansiri district comprising the present districts of Upper Subsansiri, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare. It is located at 27.63°N 93.83°E at an elevation of 1688 metreMetre
The metre , symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units . Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole , its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology...
s (5538 feet) to 2438 meters (8000 feet). Its cool weather in summer is its major attraction. It is famous for its pine clad gentle hills around it and rice field all around. Ziro is home to the Apa-Tani
Apatani
The Apatani, or Tanii, are a tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh India. However more Apatanis live outside this valley, making the total population approximately 26,000 all over the state...
tribe.
Apa-Tanis have few unique special characteristic features which differs from other tribes in Arunachal Pradesh and India. Few of these special characteristic features are:
(A) Apa-Tanis are permanently settled in one place whereas other tribes are nomadic in nature move from one place to another in search of fertile lands. They travel vast area of forests and settle temporarily for not more than four to five years in one place.
(B) Apa-Tanis cultivate permanent wet land cultivations whereas other tribes practice dry land cultivations by clearing the forests by burning the jungles.
(C) Apa-Tanis used to practice facial tattoos before; now they have dropped this custom few decades back.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Ziro had a population of 12,289. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. In Ziro, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Education
Ziro has highest numbers of Schools in Arunachal Pradesh. There are more than hundred private and Government Schools and one collegeSt Claret College, Ziro
Saint Claret College, Ziro is a premier Catholic undergraduate school nestled in the Himalayan foothills at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Founded in 2003, SCCZ is run by Claretian Missionaries, a Roman Catholic Order that serves in 64 countries. St Claret College at Ziro is permanently...
run by Claretian Missionaries. Ziro has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 60%.
What to see
*Paddy cum fish culture:-This practice of rearing fish in the paddy field is one unique feature for which Ziro is known all over, but more than that the hallmark of Apatani agriculture is its traditional irrigation system which has made the paddy cum fish culture possible. After transplanting of paddy from the nursery in wet rice cultivation field (W.R.C.), the fish fingerlings are put in Pakho/Hetey (channels in paddy field for drainage of water) at knee-deep height that are kept for 2–3 months before harvesting of fish. Though there is hardly any gap in the agriculture calendar of the Apatanis but the main activities i.e., sowing starts in February with harvesting in October.The rearing of fish in the paddy field starts from May and its harvesting is done from July to September.
*Tarin Fish Farm:-
About 3.5 km from Hapoli Town, one can see beautiful high altitude fish farm where breeding of high altitude fishes is done. The fingerlings are sold during paddy cultivation season.
*Ziro Putu:-
Also called as Army Putu by the localites it is a Hillock at old Ziro where an Army cantonment was located in sixties but shifted later. From this hillock one can have bird’s eye view of Ziro valley. The Airstrip is also located beneath this hillock in the midst of the scenic paddy field.
*Shiva Linga at Kardo:-
It is about 4 km away from Hapoli town. The height of Shiva Lingam is 25 ft with 22 ft width. Large number of devotees visit it every day.
*Talley Valley:-
It has diverse flora and fauna ranging from sub-tropical to alpine forests. It is covered with impenetrable vegetations marked by giant silver fir trees, a variety of rhododendron, orchids, ferns and varieties of bamboo. This biodiversity hot spot is approximately 32 km north east of Ziro and makes a perfect route for trekking.
Best Times to Visit Ziro
The best times to see, feel and be the part of an Apatani is in the month of January during 'MurungMurung
Murung is the Festival of Prosperity, celebrated by the Apatanis of Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Though an individual festival, whole villages and indeed the whole of the Apatani people get involved in the festival. It is celebrated in the Month of January or Murung piilo...
rituals', in the month of March during 'Myoko rituals' and from 4 to 7 July in 'Dree Festival
Dree Festival
The Dree Festival is an Apatani agricultural rite. It involves the sacrifice of fowls, eggs and animals to the Gods - Tamu, Metii and Danyi Pilo. The purpose of the festival is to appease these Gods so that famine could be avoided. This rite is observed by the Apatanis in Arunachal Pradesh, India...
'. Besides these rituals and festivals, visit during the agriculture seasons from February to October would be a unique experience for it is one of its kind in the entire world which has even been vouched by UN officials.