Anini Wins Gold Medal for ‘Best Offbeat Mountain Destination’ at Outlook Traveller Awards 2024

There is a peaceful town called Anini in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley district. It just won the prestigious Outlook Traveller Award for "Best Offbeat Mountain Destination." The wonderful news was shared at a ceremony on Saturday, where less well-known, secret gems that offer unique travel experiences were honoured. This year's awards theme was "Exploring through the unknown: A spotlight on emerging destinations." It focused on unique and beautiful places like Anini that are becoming more popular.

Anini's award is a big sign that it's becoming more popular with travellers who want to see something different from the normal tourist spots. The town is becoming more well-known because of its beautiful scenery, mild weather, and the well-known Seven Lakes Trek, which tourists from all over the world love. This walk through beautiful landscapes, dense woods and calm lakes has become a big draw for adventurers, putting Anini on the map as a new place to visit.

The award winners were chosen by a group of professionals, including Vijay Parmar, founder of Raid De Himalaya, Sanjay Sonndhi, a naturalist, and Nirat Bhatt, director of the Adventure Tour Operator Association of India. They chose places like Anini that offer something new and less-explored because they knew a lot about travel and adventure tourism. These places are perfect for travellers who want to try something new.

Jimu Mele, co-founder of Emudu Trekking and a key figure in the creation of the Seven Lakes Trek, was thrilled to receive the award. Mele talked about how Anini has changed over the years from a small, little-known town. In the past, Anini didn't have any homestays or tourist facilities. Now, the area has a well-developed tourism infrastructure that can handle the growing number of guests. Mele talked about how the area has grown its tourist industry without changing the beauty of its natural surroundings.

This prestigious award should help Anini's tourist industry by bringing in more people who want to see its natural beauty. But along with this growth comes the duty of keeping the delicate balance between environmental protection and growth. There are already plans to improve the town's tourist infrastructure even more, but Mele stressed how important it was to protect Anini's natural beauty. "We need to make sure that tourism doesn't hurt the beautiful nature that makes Anini so special," he said.

Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, praised Anini for her amazing accomplishment. In his speech, he talked about how charming the town was, how culturally rich it was, and how friendly the people were. He also said that the award shows that Anini is becoming more and more popular as one of India's best unique places to visit. With Khandu's fame, the town is becoming even more well-known as a must-see for nature fans and adventure seekers alike.

This gold medal is more than just an honour for Anini; it shows how important the town is becoming to Indian tourists. As more tourists learn about how beautiful Anini is, the town is set to become a top choice for those who want to go beyond the beaten road. Anini is a unique place to visit, whether it's for the Seven Lakes Trek, the quiet charm of its towns, or the untouched landscapes.

Anini is still dedicated to supporting responsible tourism that helps local communities and protects the environment, even though its natural beauty continues to draw visitors. With the Outlook Traveller Awards bringing this secret gem to the public's attention, Anini is about to go from being a quiet town to a well-known travel spot.

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