The township is located at an altitude of350 metersabove sea level. Itanagar has scattered wooden-framed,light and earthquake-proof, buildings on the slopes of verdant hills. The traditional huts are scattered among the new concrete buildings in Itanagar. The Governor’s residence islocated on one peak and a new Buddhist Temple is locatedon top of the other one. Between theseare the administrativeand government offices, daily bazaars,shops and the thatched houses. The pretty town is surrounded by gushing waterfalls and lush greenery. The interesting places here includethe historical fort known asIta-fort which goes back to the 15th century also gave the city its name. Then thereis the legendary GyakarSinyior Ganga Lake and a new Buddhist temple calledthe Buddha Vihardeclared holy by the Dalai Lama. Itanagar has two churches also.
As per the sayings, Itanagar is believed as the home to Hindu mythological characters like Lord Parashuram,Princess Rukmini and King Bhismaka. This place has frequentlybeen cited in the heroic tales of Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Vedic texts. As per some historians, many ethnic groups whose roots trace to the Tibeto-Burman tribes have ruled the place in the past. As there is no concrete evidence on the origins of this place, the speculations on the origin is mainly based on the local traditions and food habits of the people.
Places To Visit
Buddhist Temple
The Buddhist temple was consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The temple is a yellow roofed shrine which reflects the Tibetan influence and showssome good views of Itanagar and of some of the surrounding countryside.
Ita Fort
The name Itanagar was derived from the historical fort knownas Ita Fort which is located in the heart of the capital in Papum Pare district. The fort is a place of historic interestand has been built in an irregular shape mainly with bricks.
Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum
The Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum reflects a culture of Arunachal Pradesh.One can findtextiles, handicrafts, musical instruments,archeological finds andwoodcarvings. There is a workshop in the Handicrafts Centre which specializes in traditional cane manufacture. The museumalso has a library section. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm.
Weather And Best Time To Visit
Itanagar has a warm but pleasant climate all-round the year. After Monsoon, during the winter and spring from October to Aprilthe climate remains cool, especially during the winter months. In this season the temperature remains between 22°C to 15°C. Summersare observed during May to June and the monsoon season during July to September. During Monsoon the temperature moves between 18°C to 30°C. During summer the temperature can rise up to 40°C.
The best time to visit the place is between October and March, pretty much like most of the places here in Arunachal Pradesh. During these months a cool breeze blows in from the foothills of the Himalayasand tempers the heat and humidity.
Language And Culture
The people of Itanagar and its nearby areas mainly belong to the Nyishi tribe. The Religious Places in Itanagar include the Gompa Buddhist Templewhich was consecrated by Dalai Lama and is a yellow roofed shrine which reflects the Tibetan influence and exhibitsbeautiful views of Itanagar and the surroundings of the countryside. The people of Itanagar mainly speak Assamese, Bengali, English and local dialects.
Accommodation
State Guest House, Naharlagun
The guest house is controlledby the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh and has rooms with double beds. It is under the authority of the Protocol Officer of the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh of the Itanagar District – Papum Pare.
Address: Naharlagun,Arunachal Pradesh, India
Phone No : 0360 244348
Field Hostel, Itanagar
The Field Hostel in Itanagar provides economical guest lodging for tourists. They are favorable due to the low cost accommodation option in Itanagar. The guests can relax here without worrying about the expenses.
Address: Anjaw Market, E-Sector, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
Festivals And Activities
Losar marks the New Year of the Monpas and is celebrated for five days. The festival is celebrated by praying, reading of the Buddhist scriptures,hoisting the religious flags at the top the homes and the lighting of butter lamps in the houses.
Reh is mainly relatedto the IduMishimis. The main attraction of this six-day festival is the priest dance. TheDigaruMishimis offer their prayers to the God of Water and the God of Earth.
During Sangken the people sprinkle water on each other tomark merriment and smear rice powder on each other's facesto mark the beginning of the five-day festival of Mopin.
There is a plenty of choice for outdoor activities in Itanagar. One can tryrafting, angling and trekkingin Itanagar. The town is full ofadventurous activities and provides plenty of rafting and angling spots and exciting trekking trails.
How To Reach
Itanagar is accessible by air as well as land.
By Air
The LilabariAirport in Assam is nearest airport to Itanagar and is nearly 67 km from Itanagar. This airport hasregular flights from Guwahati. There is helicopter facility thrice a week provided by Pawan Hans between Itanagar and Guwahati.
By Train
Harmutiis the nearest railway station which is about 33 km from Itanagar. There are taxi easily available from the railway station. Harmutihasgood connectivity with the North East railway stations
By Bus
There are overnight super express buses connecting Itanagar with Guwahati and takes about 12 hours. The buses from Arunachal State Transport provide connectivity from North East cities in India to Itanagar.
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