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INTRODUCTION

Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, is known for its rich and varied flora and fauna and is the home of a large number of tribes of different socio economic and religious pattern. Studded with hills and valleys Itanagar is predominantly rural and pastrol.Itanagar the headquarters of the State has ruins of historical Ita Fort which dates back to the 14th century.

ORIENTATION

Itanagar is concentrated in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The eastern Himalayas that border Itanagar from one side and the plains of the Brahmaputra River lie on the southern end of Itanagar.

HISTORY

History says that there is a note of Arunachal Pradesh in epics like Mahabharata, Ramayana and Kalika Purana. Itanagar is named after the Ita fort which was built by King Ramachandra around 14th-15th centuries. Itanagar was the capital state even during the 11th century in the name Mayapur at the time of Jiti Dynasty. Itanagar is situated in one of the largest state in the North Eastern region of India. Itanagar is predominantly occupied by the tribes Nishings.

FESTIVALS

Losar Festival

This is a 15 day festival which is the New Year according to Monpa calendar of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The main feature of this festival includes the dances like Aji Lhamu Dance, Lion and peacock dance and the yak dance. It falls in the month of January. During this festival religious flags are also hoisted in houses

Torgya Festival - This festival is celebrated for a period of three days and it manily denotes the destruction of evil spirit and harmful forces and to promote good fortune, prosperity and happiness in people.

Saka Dawa - This festival signifies the attainment of Nirvana by Gautama Buddha. This falls in the fourth month of lunar calendar.

Dukpa Tse-Shi - This festival which falls in the 6th month of Lunar calendar celebrates the preaching of the four noble truths at sarnath by Buddha.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

The Buddhist Temple

This temple is located at a distance of 67kms away from Itanagar on the top o a hill.

This is a Buddha Shrine with a yellow roof. This Buddhist temple is located behind a stupa bearing the portrait of a monk.

The special feature of this temple is a tree planted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Ita Fort

The main feature of this historical monument is that the palace is built in an irregular shape with bricks. This fort located in Papum Pare was built around 14th to 15th centuries. The Itanagar fort has three gates on three sides namely Eastern, Western and Southern.

Ganga Sekhi lake

This Lake is surrounded by a thick forest which is rich in bamboo trees.

Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum

This museum is known for the store of the tribes of the Arunachal Pradesh exhibiting its rich culture and heritage. The display in the museum includes archaeological artifacts, ornaments, basketry, weapons, bamboo artifacts, textiles and jewellery.This museum is situated in Siddhartha Vihar near the Secretariat.

Polo Park

This park is located on a hillock in Naharlagun of Papum Pare District. Adjacent to this park is a small zoo. The Polo Park is known for the cane thicknet giving a palm appearance with spines on its stems and grows like a bush. There is also a Handicrafts Center run by the garden in the premises of the park.

Tawang Monastery

This place is popularly known for its pilgrimage site which is located at a distance of about 10kms from Bomdil.It was in this place where Dalai Lama the spiritual leader of the Tibetans goes to preach and pray.

SHOPPING

This place is known for its handicrafts and articrafts exhibiting the states tradition and culture. The Monpa wood is very famous and which comes to the market as cups, dishes and fruit bowls. Baskets and masks made of bamboo and cane are also popular items for shopping in Itanagar. Beautiful ornaments and bangles made of beads may also feature in your shopping cart in Itanagar.

EAT OUTS 1.Hotel Arun Subansiri 2.Hotel Donyi Polo Ashoka 3.Hotel Kameng 4.Hotel Bomdila 5.Hotel Kosing ACCOMMODATION HIGH RANGE HOTELS 1.Hotel Donyi Polo Ashoka Near All India Radio, Itanagar 0360 212626/212630/ 212631 2.Hotel Arun subansiri '0' Point Tinali, Itanagar 0360 212806/212677 BUDGET HOTELS 1.Hotel Bomdila Gohpur Road,Itanagar 0360 203604 2.Hotel Kameng Bank Tinali, Itanagar 0360 203604 3.Hotel Itafort Bank Tinali, Itanagar 0360 213253/212590 4.Hotel Kosing Near Petrol pump, C-Sector, Itanagar 0360 213074/211034 5.Hotel Blue Pine Ganga Market, Itanagar 0360 21118/212812 7.Hotel Siang Continental Near Petrol pump, Itanagar 0360 216015/216016 8.Hotel Alpine Ganga Market, Itanagar 0360 213253/214298 9.Hotel Ane Bank Tinali, Itanagar 0360 211289 10.Hotel Jimsi Ganga  Market, Itanagar 0360 216855/213253

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HOW TO REACH

By Rail

The nearest railway station to Itanagar is Harmoti at a distance of about 33kms away from Itanagar. The railway station is connected to Kamakhya Railway Station, which is again, serviced by regular trains from eastern Indian cities like Silchar, Kolkata, Siliguri etc.

By Road

Itanagar is served with good network of roads connecting major cities like Assam, Manipur, Guwahati, Bomdila, Kolkata, North Lakhimpur, Siliguri and Shillong.

By Air

The nearest airport to Itanagar is located at Lilabari in Assam, which is nearly 67 km away from Itanagar. This airport is well connected by flights from Guwahati. Pawan Hans provides helicopter facility between Itanagar and Guwahati, thrice a week.