Miao

Miao is a small administrative town in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, located near the Noa-Dihing River at the foothills of the Patkai Hills. It serves as the main gateway and base for Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve. The town is known for its diverse tribal communities, Tibetan settlement at Choephelling, and as a transit hub for visitors exploring eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

Visitors can expect a small, quiet frontier town with basic markets, eateries and lodges surrounded by forested hills and the Noa-Dihing River. The town itself has administrative offices, a local bazaar, and access roads leading to Namdapha National Park, Deban forest camp, Miao Mini Zoo and the Tibetan settlement at Choephelling. It functions primarily as a base for permits, guides and supplies before entering Namdapha.

Miao developed as an administrative sub-divisional headquarters in Changlang District. It gained prominence after the establishment of the Tibetan refugee settlement at Choephelling in the 1960s and as the gateway town for Namdapha National Park, which was declared a national park in 1983.

Miao is culturally diverse, home to indigenous communities such as Tangsa, Singpho and Lisu, along with Chakma and Tibetan settlers. The Choephelling Tibetan settlement contributes Buddhist cultural elements, handicrafts and monastic traditions to the town's character.