Arunachal Pradesh
Enchanting beauties of Eastern region of India...
The largest state in the North-East region of India, Arunachal Pradesh is also the abode of the mighty Himalayas. Literally, the name means “land of the dawn-lit mountains” and indeed, the first rays of the rising sun hit the Himalayan peaks in Arunachal Pradesh before any other part of the country. The 1,500 mile (2,400 km) long Himalayan mountain range ends in the Brahmaputra valley in eastern Arunachal. The capital is Itanagar.
The snow peaked mountain ranges of Arunachal is home to some of the tallest peaks of the world. The most famous being Gorichen, Kangto and Takpa Shri. Arunachal is one of the most sparesely populated states of India, borders China, Bhutan and Myanmar. There are five major rivers - Kameng, Subansiri, Siang (later the Brahmaputra in Assam), Lohit and Tirap and the mountain ranges follow the river systems.
The Himalayas also contribute to the heavy rainfall in the state. North- east India, of which Arunachal is a part of, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the world. Monsoon is between the months of May and September. November and December are usually devoid of any rainfall.
The best time for Arunachal Pradesh travel is October to April.
Many people in Arunachal Pradesh still follow their ancient tribal culture and customs, even down to their attire comprising of bamboo hats with hornbill beaks, necklaces with claws of wild cats and the ‘Dao’, a kind of machete. There are 66 major and sub-tribes spread out across the state. The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh have an excellent heritage of artistic craftsmanship. Their aesthetic essence of tribal art can be seen in their pottery, wood carving, basket making. Weaving, Wood and bamboo crafting are some major professions of these tribes.
In Arunachal's rich flora and fauna, orchids find a place of pride. Out of about a thousand species of orchids in India, over 500 are to be found in Arunachal alone. These are colourful, spectacular and some bear exotic names such as Sita-Pushpa and Draupadi-Pushpa, which are believed to have been worn by these Goddesses.
- By Bus :
A good connectivity by bus is provided by Arunachal State Transport and Private transport operators. A direct bus facility from Guwahati (381km), Shillong (481km), Tezpur (216km), Dibrugarh (375km), Tinisukia (415 km), Jorhat (245km), Namsai (495km) connects to Itanagar. - By Train :
It is well connected with rest of India. The closest railway station is Harmuty located at a distance of 33 km from Itanagar. - By Air :
Air services are available from Delhi, Kolkata to Guwahati and Mohanbari (Dibrugarh). The nearest airport for Itanagar is Lilabari which is connected twice a week by Indian air lines services from Guwahati. The capital town Itanagar (Naharlagun) is daily connected by Pawan Hans Helicopter services from Guwahati.
