Arunachal Pradesh - Information

Information Arunachal Pradesh

Mysterious Magical Mystical

Early riser, Arunachal, the land of the rising sun, is the remotest and most scantily populated state in the entire North East. Yet, it is also one of loveliest regions. All this has added to the allure of this mysterious land.

Its very isolation has been a blessing in many ways, having protected Arunachal from the ills of overdevelopment and consequent problems. And it is for this very reason that Arunachal, with its capital Itanagar, is such a unique holiday destination. Its haunting beauty has a magical charm that lures the visitor to imbibe of its natural wonders, tribal culture, craft traditions and splendid wildlife.

Arunachal shares borderlines with China (Tibet) in the north, Myanmar (Burma) in the east, Bhutan in the west and the states of Nagaland and Assam in the south. Its fertile lands are watered by five major rivers.

Largest of all the North Eastern states (83,743 km2) Arunachal is blessed with a delightfully variegated climate, perfect for holidays any time of the year. Almost 82 percent of the state is under forest cover, which varies from the sub-tropical to the alpine in the upper regions of the northwest, where it is bordered by the Himalayan ranges. This vast canopy of rainforest with its dynamic blend of flora and fauna is one of the world's 17 bio-diversity heritage sites. It is the only state that can claim to have four major varieties of big cats in its jungles, those being the tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard.

Then there are the lesser feline species like the golden cat and marbled cat. More than 500 species of birds have been recorded, many of which are highly endangered and restricted to the state, such as the white-winged duck, Sclater's monal and Bengal florican. Besides, it is home to seven species of primates - the Hoolock gibbon, slow loris, Assamese macaque, rhesus macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque and capped langur - and three species of antelopes amongst them the takin which is found in Arunachal Pradesh alone. The majestic ox-like mithun which is of deep religious significance and socio-cultural importance is indigenous to the state. Arunachal's serried peaks, running from north to south, are interspersed with rich valleys in whose hidden folds live her ancient tribes in their picturesque villages.

The first to be kissed by the morning sun, Arunachal is all set to blaze ahead on the tourist trail.