Arunachal finds mention in the literature of Kalika Purana and Mahabharata. This place is supposed to be the Prabhu Mountains of the Puranas.
It was here that sage Parashuram washed away his sin, sage Vyasa meditated, King Bhishmaka founded his kingdom and Lord Krishna married his consort Rukmini.
The widely scattered archeological remains at different places in Arunachal bears testimony to its rich cultural heritage.
Arunachal Pradesh, a serene land tucked into the North Eastern tip of India, invites you to relax in its picturesque hills and valleys, enjoy its salubrious climate and meet its simple and hospitable people, with their glorious heritage of arts and crafts and colourful festivals that reflect their ancient faith in the inexorable power of nature.
The visitor has a wide variety of options to pick from. There are places of worship and piligrimage such as Parasuramkund and 400 years old Tawang Monastery, or the sites of archeological excavations like Malinithan and Itanagar, the serene beauty of lakes such as Ganga lake or Sela lake or the numerous variations of scenic beauty of the snowclad silver mountain peaks and lush green meadows where thousands of species of flora and fauna prosper.
In addition, the state provides abundant scope for angling, boating, rafting, trekking and hiking. Besides, there are a number of wild life sanctuaries and national parks where rare animals, birds and plants will fascinate the visitor.
Nature has provided the people with a deep sense of beauty which finds delightful expression in their songs, dances and crafts.
The climate varies from hot and humid to heavy rainfall in the Shivalik range. It becomes progressively cold as one moves northwards to higher altitudes. Trees of great size, plentiful climbers and abundance of cane and bamboo make Arunachal evergreen.
Arunachal Pradesh is considered to be the "nature's treasure trove"and home to orchids, known for their exquisitely beautiful blooms, from one of the dominant taxa with more than six hundred species, occurring in varying elevations and climatic conditions throughout the state.
Travel Information of Arunachal Pradesh
By Air : The nearest airport is Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) in Assam, 57 kms from Naharlagun and 67 kms from Itanagar, served by Vayudoot. Indian Airlines operates direct flight from Calcutta to Tezpur ( 216 kms from Itanagar ) on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
By Rail : The nearest railway station is Harmuty (near Banderdewa check gate) only 23 km from Naharlagun & 33 km from Itanagar. However nearest convenient railhead is North Lakhimpur in Assam, 50 km from Naharlagun & 60 km from Itanagar. Stations are served by No.9 and No.10 Arunachal Fast Passenger Trains and other local services.
By Road : ( Distance between Itanagar and Naharlagun is only 10 kms )
Itanagar is connected by road to : Guwahati - 381 km (Gohpur 79 -Ballipara 110 -Mission Charali 17 -Orang 53 -Baihata Charali 90 -Guwahati 32), Shillong - 481 km ( Guwahati 381 -Shillong 100 ), Agartala - 980 km (Shillong 481 -Badarpur 211 -Agartala 288), Aizawal - 901 km (Badarpur 692 - Silchar 29 - Aizawl 180), Kohima - 350 km (North Lakhimpur 73 - Jorhat 69 - Dimapur 134 -Kohima 74) , Imphal - 495 km (Kohima 350 - Imphal 145).
(Itanagar 1,539 Kms from Calcutta )
