Rijiju treks to Nakhu village, previews Himalayan heritage centre
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju trekked his home village Nakhu in Bichom district, Arunachal Pradesh, to visit the upcoming Guru Padmasambhava Himalayan Heritage Meditation and Learning Centre, highlighting the state's Buddhist heritage and natural beauty.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju trekked his ancestral village Nakhu, Bichom district, Arunachal Pradesh on October 24, 2026 .
The destination was the upcoming Guru Padmasambhava Himalayan Heritage Meditation and Learning Centre in Nakhu.
Guru Padmasambhava was an 8th-century Buddhist tantric master whose legacy runs deep across Himalayan communities including those in Arunachal Pradesh.
The centre is still under development and is expected to serve as a hub for spiritual practice and heritage tourism.
The visit aligns with broader efforts to spotlight Buddhist heritage infrastructure and promote cultural tourism in Northeast India .
Some trails lead back to where everything began. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday, October 24, 2026, trekked through his home village of Nakhu in Bichom district, Arunachal Pradesh, to visit the upcoming Guru Padmasambhava Himalayan Heritage Meditation and Learning Centre — sharing the experience as a reminder of the spiritual and natural wealth quietly nestled in India's eastern Himalayas.
A walk through Nakhu — Rijiju's roots in Bichom
Rijiju described the trek as 'a refreshing experience' that brought him 'closer to nature, heritage and roots.' Nakhu, his ancestral village in Bichom district, sits amid the forested ridges of Arunachal Pradesh — a landscape that has long been home to Buddhist communities with deep ties to Guru Padmasambhava, the 8th-century tantric master revered across Himalayan cultures from Ladakh to Bhutan. For a senior Union minister who has spent decades in the corridors of Parliament, the trek carried a pointed personal resonance: a return to the geography that shaped him.
Who was Guru Padmasambhava — and why this centre matters
Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, is credited with transmitting Vajrayana Buddhism into Tibet and the wider Himalayan world in the 8th century CE. His legacy runs especially deep in Arunachal Pradesh, where communities have maintained living traditions connected to his teachings for generations. The Guru Padmasambhava Himalayan Heritage Meditation and Learning Centre in Nakhu is described as 'upcoming', signalling that construction or development is still in progress. When complete, it is poised to become a focal point for both spiritual practice and heritage tourism in one of India's most biodiverse and culturally layered states.
Northeast heritage in the national spotlight
Rijiju's post fits a clear pattern: Indian ministers regularly use personal visits to regional heritage sites to draw national and global attention to assets that might otherwise remain invisible to mainstream tourism. Arunachal Pradesh — sharing borders with China, Bhutan, and Myanmar — carries strategic as well as cultural significance, and efforts to develop its spiritual infrastructure have been growing steadily. A meditation and learning centre anchored in Guru Padmasambhava's legacy could attract both Buddhist pilgrims and heritage travellers, adding an experiential layer to what is already one of India's most dramatic Himalayan frontiers. The minister's pride was unmistakable: 'Proud to see the natural beauty and spiritual heritage of my home state shine through!'
Point of View
Rijiju subtly reinforces India's civilisational and administrative presence in the state. The move also fits a pattern of Northeast-focused ministers using personal narratives to pull national tourism attention toward a corridor that Delhi has been keen to develop.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Guru Padmasambhava Himalayan Heritage Meditation and Learning Centre located?
The centre is located in Nakhu village, Bichom district, Arunachal Pradesh , which is also the ancestral home of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. It is currently described as 'upcoming', meaning it is still under development.
Who is Guru Padmasambhava?
Guru Padmasambhava , also called Guru Rinpoche, was an 8th-century Buddhist tantric master widely credited with establishing Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet and across Himalayan regions, including parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Where is Bichom district in Arunachal Pradesh?
Bichom is an administrative district in Arunachal Pradesh , India, situated in the Himalayan frontier region of the country's northeast.
Why did Kiren Rijiju visit Nakhu village?
Kiren Rijiju trekked to Nakhu , his home village in Bichom district, to visit the upcoming Guru Padmasambhava Himalayan Heritage Meditation and Learning Centre and to highlight the natural beauty and spiritual heritage of Arunachal Pradesh.
What is the significance of Buddhist heritage in Arunachal Pradesh?
Arunachal Pradesh has deep historical connections to Guru Padmasambhava and Vajrayana Buddhism, with communities maintaining living traditions linked to his teachings for over a thousand years. The state is increasingly developing this heritage for spiritual tourism and cultural preservation.
