Diana Australis' photos with the keyword: Arunachal Pradesh

In remote North-East India, in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, high in the Himalaya, are many tribes of people still living traditional lives. It is a very untouristed place, up near the border of China and Burma. The Apatani women over about 40 all have the traditional nose plugs and facial tattoos. The younger women are abandoning this. The women live hard lives, working in the fields in the simple villages where they live, as well as all the other work of women within the home. They are very poor, and usually are not Hindu. I took this while travelling in this remote area, in the village of Ziro. I felt very sorry for these women

Traditional yak hair hat. Arunachal Pradesh. Eastern Hill States of India near Chinese border.

Apatani tribal women in remote Arunachal Pradesh, India. In older women, tattoos and nose plugs were customary. The next generation quit the nose plugs, while the younger ones have divested both of these customs

Sela. Arunachal Pradesh. The pass to Tawang. Himalayas, North East India. A typical Indian mountain road. We travelled up and over this pass twice!

Arunachal Pradesh. North East India. This cultural practise of nose plugs and tattoos is now only found among older women in the Ziro area of this remote and difficult to access province. It has been banned and will be gone in a generation.