Dhondup Homestay: Traditional Memba Tribal Home in Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh
Are you planning a trip to the offbeat hill station of Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh with its gorgeous valleys, snow capped mountains, hanging wooden bridges, lush forests and beautiful waterfalls? If yes, you might be looking for a good place to stay here. Like most of Central and Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, the best place to stay would be at local homestays that offer you a beautiful mix of local culture, good food and great hospitality.
During my visit to Mechuka, I stayed at the Dhondup homestay, a traditional Memba tribal home that is located in a residential locality, but real close to the town centre. I stayed here for 3 days and 3 nights and this review is based on my recent experience of staying with them.
1) Dhondup homestay is the home of Mr. Philley and his family who follow the Buddhist religion and belong to the Memba tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a gorgeous wooden home with a traditional open kitchen where everyone sits around the fire for warmth. The thing that you will notice as soon as you enter the homestay are its smiling owners who are always trying to help you and make your stay comfortable. Be it stay, food or local sightseeing, Mr. Philley and his lovely family will go all the way to make your Mechuka holiday memorable.
2) Dhondup homestay has a total of 8 rooms, which can accommodate 16 to 24 people. Each room comes with 2 beds, an attached bathroom with western toilet and hot water geyser. Backup power is also available here. The rooms costs INR 2000. Food costs are extra.
3) They also have a dormitory and a common toilet for the drivers on a chargeable basis. Typical charge is INR 500 per driver.
4) The lady of the house cooks delicious local and Indian food. They are happy to cater to any of your specific dietary or taste requirements if the raw materials can be procured from the local market. Food needs to be ordered in advance so that they have the time to buy the groceries. Dining at Dhondup homestay is a very pleasurable experience as all the people including the homestay’s family eat together and share stories and interesting local information.
5) Mr. Philley, who used to be a teacher before he set up the homestay is very helpful when it comes to getting necessary permits and planning your sightseeing itinerary. In fact, when I was there, he helped me and the other groups with getting permits for Lamang, even though the office was closed due to it being a Sunday. He also helped us understand the lay of the land and all the important tourist attractions, timings, places to eat, etc.
6) The homestay is located very close to the town centre. All the shops are within walking distance from the homestay and a petrol bunk is just 400 metres from the property. A Buddhist monastery is located just behind the homestay and can be visited whenever you crave for a short walk.
To make your bookings at Dhondup Homestay, you can contact Mr. R.D.Philley at +91 94029 97347.
