We are still looking for the road to Sangti Valley. Once we cross back towards the town of Dirang, we find another steel bridge to cross the river right back again.
Far away in the distance, on top of a hill, is our tourist lodge, dwarfed by the the much bigger Pemaling Hotel behind it.
We finally figure out the road to Sangti Valley. The Dirang-chu, or Dirang River, joins the Kameng River near the first bridge we had crossed, near the Dirang Dzong. Instead of turning left as we did, we should have turned right, and then followed the Dirang River for about 10 km. This we now do.
It's a beautiful, scenic road, and we find this picturesque footbridge across the river, nestling among a few houses in a little village. The old bamboo-and-rope bridges have lately been replaced with metal bridges strung on steel ropes, but...
...these are no less dangerous as Sutripta-da finds out to his peril!
The folks carry on with farming and fishing on the banks of the river, and life is as idyllic as can be.
The river flows by quietly, the water is crystal clear, and the cool breeze blowing makes us wish we could spend more time here.
Further ahead is the Sheep Breeding Centre, but there's no one there, and the gate is locked up - we decide to turn back here. It's getting darker, and there wouldn't be much to see when we reach the valley a couple of km further ahead.
Back at the lodge, dinner is waiting. It's just past 7 pm, and everyone is ready to retire. One last shot of Dirang town, and we too turn in.