Experiencing Ziro Festival of Music with Kite Manja
Once in a while, away from the cacophony and crowd, most of us need to break free from the urban civilization. A strong desire to distance from the squeezed concrete jungle takes us into roads less travelled, straight into the wild. Attending Ziro Festival of Music with Kite Manja helped me escape the adversity of regular life and create memories for lifetime. If you are wondering where to camp during Ziro Music Festival – Here is your answer.
Camping with Kite Manja was a blissful experience, starting from waking up to the sunshine, staring into the woods, wrapping the nip in the air, cherishing music, making friends, exploring the picturesque landscape and dancing to the tunes of music played by Indie artist at the festival ground. With such a idyllic location to call home for couple of days, my soul was fueled with passion to live life to the fullest, in the moment.
PC: Santanu Phukan
Table of Contents
The Happiest Campsite – That’s what Kite Manja is all about
There is a reason why they are called as the “Happiest Campsite”. The entire team of Kite Manja works rigorously for months to ensure that all the guests are happy and leaves with tons of memories. With years of organizing experiential tours and camps in some of the most offbeat destinations, they make sure the guests are comfortable, safe and enjoy the essence of camping. Every minute felt like homecoming, like it’s your calling.
The team welcomes every person on the campsite with so much of energy, mingles defining universal brotherhood in perfection, connect through the musical roots and bonds with the passion for celebrating life. It is this moment, the welcoming smile and euphoria in their vibe, that make you scream with joy to be camping with the happiest on the ground. What a journey it was, I returned with not only memories but friends for life – Its right when they say – “Find your tribe, keep them close”.
Complete ZFM Package
Ziro festival of music is a delight for music lovers and individuals seeking to wander in the embrace of enchanting landscape. But, the planning – That’s where comes the tricky part? It takes some planning and quite some travel to reach the forbidden land of Ziro Valley. This is where Kite Manja helps by offering a complete, carefree package that includes everything from and to Guwahati. They help in making your travel little less a hassle by booking train tickets to and from Naharlagun, arranging transport from Naharlagun to Ziro and back once the event is over, fooding, camping and purchasing the festival passes. So, all you need to do your pack your happy self and reach Guwahati, everything else is taken care of.
Camp in the Wilderness
In the wilderness, amidst the pine trees and paddy fields, the mornings are brighter and better. Oh Boy! What a feeling it is to sleep under the open sky, staring at the stars hidden behind the wool of clouds. The campsite is lit with fairy lights and eco-friendly bamboo lights at night adding to the beautiful vibe. Walk into the woods or simply bask under the mellow sunlight during day as you prepare to shake your leg for the musical event at night.
PC: Santanu Phukan
Eco-friendly with sustainable practices
Kite Manja takes “Saving the Planet” quite seriously with almost everything around designed in eco-friendly way. Right from the bamboo taps for running water to bamboo gates, light frames, dining space and eco-friendly plates and spoons, it is commendable how sustainable practices are religiously followed.
PC: Santanu Phukan
Delicious Buffet Meals
With in-house breakfast and dinner served piping hot, the satisfaction of your taste bud and stomach is sorted. The breakfast and dinner was served to the guests as buffet and the food was lip smacking delicious, hygienic and appetite filling. The team made the guests available with healthy and wholesome meals, considering the wilderness in camping scene. There were bamboo tables and seating arrangements for guests to comfortably gobble their food.
In-house Tree House Bar
Ah! There comes the part that gets us all excited and ready for the zeal of Ziro Festival of Music. The night a little intoxicated, with music flowing through our ears, seated on the top of a tree house bar – It takes you into a different dimension of celebrating life through the slightly inebriated moments. The tree house bar was set up with liquors in-house, snacks and a seating arrangement on top of the little bar.
Running Water and Clean Toilets
How does the idea of camping in the wild in middle of a jungle sound to you? Few days with no running water, digging cat holes to poop, no shower – Right? Wrong, all of these are wrong if you camp with Kite Manja. Eco-friendly clean and separate toilets for men and women with running tap water outside the washrooms keep you clean and happy during the camping. All the cleanliness OCD individuals, you have nothing to worry.
Never a Dull Moment
When I say “Never a dull moment” – I am serious and candidly honest about it. Not only the festival venue but the camp site is so eventful. It is almost an agglomeration of creative heads gathered at the same place conspired by the universe. Look around and you will find – “Impeccable musicians, brilliant artists, terrific writers, charismatic dancers, exceptionally amazing photographers and videographers”. It is all about finding your tribe and getting enlightened, bartering ideas and talents.
PC: Santanu Phukan
Cherish Life with New Friends
This reminds me of the movie – “Tamasha”. Most of us have dual personalities, at least I do and camping with Kite Manja gets got out my carefree, real and the best personality forward. It is getting out of your cocoon and meeting new people, making friends, chilling out, enjoying the vibe, creating heaps of memories and going back home with no expectations. Some stay, some leave, maybe you fall in love but it is a celebration of life with new people, strangers turned into friends, the kind with whom you instantly click.
Guided Tours and Walks
Ziro is not only about the music festival but about the surreal landscape, age old traditions, intriguing cultural practices and simplicity that people wear on them. No words can ever justify the gorgeous terrains of Ziro but only experiences. Kite Manja associates with local tours guides and help guests with an insightful walking tour to the villages. Any place that fancies your interest, all you need to do is walk up to the help desk and you will be helped.
PC: Santanu Phukan
Bonfire, Music and Banter
Bonfire, live music and sweet chatters – Is not it the most beautiful combination? Especially, when the night is alive, your heart is young and the soul weaves memories for tomorrow. This tradition of sitting around the bonfire, sipping on something and singing to the tunes of live music played by amazing musicians can never grow old. This is a bonding ritual that leaves you with so many fond memories, some beautiful and some faded, wobbly yet strong.
Since my first time camping with Kite Manja during Hornbill Festival, 2017, I knew I am taken and that’s the aura they spread amongst their guests. It feels like home, smells of happiness and happiness lingers at every corner of the happiest campsite.
Disclosure: I was hosted by Kite Manja during the Ziro Festival of Music but all opinions are mine. Everything is written with 100% honesty without a pinch of salt. Be there to experience what it is to camp with these adventurous Ninjas.
Gratitude – A special shout out and thanks to Santanu Phukan for helping me with the picture. Do given him a follow on Instagram to see some beautiful photography work.
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