The name Arunachal Pradesh literary means “Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains”, as the state is the easternmost state of India. Situated in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent, Arunachal Pradesh is one of the major tourist attractions in India. A huge number of tourists visit this state in order to experience its dense forests, snowcapped mountain peaks, roaring rivers, discrete wildlife, heritage sites, historical monuments, culture, and pilgrim destinations. Thus, Arunachal Pradesh is a complete tourist package and definitely satisfies all the requirements of ideal tourism.
According to the several mythological stories described in the ancient Hindu Puranas, the region of Arunachal Pradesh is the place where the great sage Parshuram washed away his sins, sage Vyasa meditated for years, King Bhishmaka founded his kingdom, and Lord Krishna got married to Rukmini. However, some of the recorded histories of this area depict that the area was ruled by the Monpa Kingdom from 500 BC to 600 AD and later by the Ahom Kingdom in the 16th Century. Thus, the state has rich old cultures and offers various tourist attractions to its visitors. Let us now take a look at some of the major cities and tourist attractions in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Major Cities in Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar: The city of Itanagar is the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh and is one of the must-visit destinations in this state. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, the city has a historical fort named the Ita Fort, which was built in the 15th Century. The fort is also known as the “Fort of Bricks”, as the fort is totally built using bricks. The other attractions of this city include the Gaekar Saenyik (also commonly known as the Ganga lake, is rich with natural beauty), Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum, the State Forest Reserve Institute, Emporium Trade Center, The Zoological Park, Arunachal University, Baba Vishwanath Temple, NERIST, Kali Mandir, the Buddhist Temple, and the Indira Gandhi Park. The city of Itanagar can be visited anytime around the year and is one of the major attractions of this state.
Tawang: The city of Tawang is one of the most beautiful places in India that offers great eternal peace. Situated at an elevation of 3049 meters, this town lies in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh. The major tourist attraction of Tawang is the Tawang Monastery, which is said to be the biggest Buddhist Monastery outside Tibet and a major holy site for all Tibetan Buddhists. This monastery was founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance with the wishes of Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama. The other major attractions of this place include the Tipi Orchid Sanctuary (which houses thousands of varieties of orchids), the fortified complex of the monastery, the beautiful lake of Pankang Teng Tso, Sangster Lake, Banggachang Lake, and the eight-meter tall statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. However, a special permit is required to visit Tawang, and it is available in Tezpur, Guwahati, Kolkata, and New Delhi.
Changlang: Not only the city, but the entire district of Changlang is rich with biodiversity, heritage, culture, and tourist destinations. Situated in the northeastern corner of the state, Changlang is home to several different tribes. Each tribe has its own culture and traditional beliefs. The traditional dances and festivals celebrated in this district are worth watching. Some of the major tourist attractions in Chanlang include the World War II cemetery in Jairampur, the Pangsau Pass and the Nampong town on the Indo-Myanmar border. The district is also well known for its rich flora as well as fauna. Some of the valuable species of flora found here include Hollock, Dhuna, Juli, Oak, Makai, Hollong, Blue Vanda, Betula, and many others. The place is also famous for several wildlife species including the clouded leopard, tigers, gaur, sambar, elephant, hog deer, lesser panda, wild bore, etc.
Lohit: Many years ago, the place used to be known as the Mishmi Hills until it was renamed Lohit. The city of Lohit has witnessed several historical pieces of evidence and is one of the must-visit destinations in Arunachal Pradesh. The scenic beauties, cultural events, traditional festivals, and adventure sports attract a huge number of tourists to this place. Some of the must-visit destinations in this city include the Parasuram Kund (holy destination for Hindus, where sage Parshuram came to wash off his sins of matricide), Buddha Vihar (locally known as Chong; the place is a Buddhist meditation centre), Dong (known for its first sunrise of the millennium in India offers a spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains and blue pine forest), Glow Lake (beautiful lake with snow-clad mountains in the background and rich flora and fauna), Hot Springs, the District Museum, Bhismak Nagar, and the Hawa Camp.
Must Visit Tourist Places in Arunachal Pradesh
Bhalukpong: This place is known as the entry point to Arunachal and is situated around 56 kilometres from Tezpur. The region is famous for several archaeological excavations and ruins of King Bhaluka, who used to rule this region during ancient times. The historical fort here dates back to the 10th and 12th Century AD and is a major attraction of Bhalukpong. One still gets to see the strong fortification of this fort along with other important remains of this fort. Some of the other major attractions of this region include river rafting, trekking, and other adventure sports. One must definitely visit this place on one’s tour to Arunachal Pradesh.
Pesighat: This is another major tourist attracted destination in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Blessed with beautiful snowcapped peaks, rocky mountains, mighty rivers, and discrete flora and fauna, Pesighat welcomes a huge number of tourists every year. Some of the major tourists attracted destinations in and around Pesighat include Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary (home of hog deer, hispid hare, sambar, elephants, wild buffalo, cranes, wild ducks, etc.), Siang River (river rafting and other water sports), Mouling National Park (lush green vegetation is home of clouded leopards, black bear, red panda, takins, serow, etc.), Kekar Monying (a memorial of freedom fighter Adis), Komsing (high suspension bridge constructed by the British), Dehang (biosphere reserve), and the Yingkiong (well known for its scenic beauty, river rafting, trekking, and other adventure sports). One must definitely visit this place on their tour to Arunachal Pradesh.
Ziro: The place is the home of the Apa-Tani tribe, which is one of the oldest known tribes in India. Ziro has its own culture, traditions, and festivals that are practised by this tribe. This region has enchanting scenic beauty that attracts a huge number of tourists to this place. The other attractions of this place include the paddy cum fish culture (practise of rearing fish in the paddy fields), Tarin Fish Farm (a high altitude fish farm), Ziro Putu (a hillock from where one gets a bird’s eye view of the Ziro Valley), Shiva Linga at Kardo (one of the biggest Shiv Linga with 25 feet height and 22 feet width), and the Talley Valley (blessed with diverse flora and fauna).
