April 22, 2025 TnH Global

Arunachal Pradesh hosts India’s first border adventure tourism; Major push to border Adventure tourism

The much awaited and biggest event in Arunachal Pradesh has recently concluded. Adventure @ Mechukha – the 3^rd National Adventure Racing Championship 2025 took place between April 17-20, 2025 in the beautiful valley of Mechukha in the northeastern state. The event was organised by NthAdventure along with Arunachal Pradesh Tourism.

Positioned as ‘India’s First Border Adventure Race’ – the sporting event is a part of the prestigious Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) – Asia Series. Held annually, the National Adventure Racing Championship is also a qualifier for ARWS Asia Championship. This year’s Asia Championship is scheduled to take place in Malaysia in October 2025. The biggest advantage of being part of ARWS is that each race receives global visibility and provides access to participating teams to travel to different countries.

The 3^rd National Adventure Racing Championship 2025 witnessed participation from 12 states of India and 3 countries representing Malysia, Nepal and South Africa. This race serves as a mega get-together of adventure seekers across the country to test the true team spirit.

“Arunachal Pradesh is well positioned to emerge as a leading adventure tourism destination in the world. We want to showcase the potential in adventure tourism vested in our state through events like National Adventure Racing Championship. We plan to organize this event in a much bigger way next year,” said Mr. Pasang Dorjee Sona, Minister for Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

As efforts to promote adventure tourism , ATOAI convention ( Adventure & Tour Operators Convention ) recently took place in Arunachal Pradesh and thus the state is making its presence felt in the global front .

The Department of Tourism and NthAdventure left no stone unturned to make sure teams have a wonderful experience while they travel to this remote border village of Arunachal Pradesh. The event also showcased natural beauty of the remote regions in Arunachal Pradesh and potential in promoting border tourism.

The journey for all the National and International teams started from their arrival at the Dibrugarh Airport where they were welcomed by the Tourism Department and Team NthAdventure. During the course of their journey, the participants and the visiting delegates experienced the local homestays in Aalo and Basar. Many of the participants were visiting Arunachal Pradesh for the first time and were delighted by the warm hospitality of the locals.

Team Photoshoot, Captains meet, race kit handover and a Flag Parade also took place as the event unfolded. The race took teams through 150 km of wilderness of Mechukha. The Line of Actual Control (McMahon Line) forms the India-Tibet border approximately 29 kilometers north of Menchuka, marking the boundary between Indian and Chinese territories.

The track of the competition witnessed teams traversing through villages, rivers, mountains and valleys. While the full-course team fought for the ticket to Asian Championship, short course competitors experienced the thrill of this sport that took teams through grasslands, mountains, experiencing scenic views of Mechukha, connecting with local tribes and traditional activities. Disciplines included Trail Running, Hiking, Kayaking, River Crossing, MTB, Rope Works, Navigation and more.

Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed substantial growth in its tourism sector. In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals surged by 300% to 4,496 visitors, while domestic tourist footfalls saw a 368.91% increase, reaching 1.04 million compared to the previous year.