Places of Interest in Arunachal...

Itanagar :

The capital of Arunachal Pradesh is actually two twin towns, Naharlagun- the older town and Itanagar- the official capital. Itanagar derived its name from Itafort meaning ‘fort of bricks’

What to see : Gekkar Sinyi or Ganga Lake, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas is a unique part of the capital in Itanagar. The lake is surrounded by land mass and hard rock with slopes varying from 10 degree to 60 degree.

Itafort, a historical fort of irregular shape built mainly with bricks. The fort has been identified by some scholars with the Mayapur of Ram Chandra a king of Jitari dynasty dating back to 1360 to1550 A.D. The total brick work is of 16,200 cubic metre length. There are three gates on three sides namely the eastern, western and southern which is said to have been built by the Ahoms.

Other places worth seeing in and around Itanagar are the Buddhist monastery, museum, zoo, Naharlagun craft centre, etc.

How to reach :

Air: The nearest airport is Tezpur in Assam. Naharlagun is also connected by helicopter service from Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) and Guwahati in Assam.

Rail: The nearest railway station is at Harmoti in Assam, 23 km. from Naharlagun and 33 km. from Itanagar.

Road: Itanagar is connected by a network of roads with all important cities and town in the neighboring states and major cities in the country.

Distances : Itanagar to :

Accommodation : Donyi Polo Ashok, Hotel Bomdilla, Hotel Arun Subansiri, Hotel Itafort, Hotel Blue Pine, Hotel Alpine, Hotel Kosing.

Bomdilla :

Bomdilla at a height of 8500 ft. is the land of Monpa, Sherdukpen, Aka, Miji, and Begun (Khawas). A land of artistic people combine with the brilliant Himalayan landscape, a variety of orchids and Buddhist Gompas, Bomdilla is an ideal tourist destination. Covering an area of 7422 sq. km. its altitude varies from2430 to 2700 metres.

What to see : Craft centre, Buddhist monastery, museum, birds eye view of Kangte and Gorichen (highest peak of the state).

Distances : Bomdilla to :

Accommodation : Tourist lodge, Circuit house, Hotel Shiphiyangphong, Hotel Shangri-La, Hotel Pasang, Hotel Pine ridge.

Tawang :

Tawang at a height of over 12000ft. is a land of the Monpa tribe and a major centre of the Mahayana Buddhism. The road to Tawang meanders through the extremely picturesque Dhirang valley. Sela pass, the second highest pass in the world at 14000 ft, runs through a small ridge along a lake called Paradise Lake. Tawang is also famous for a 400 years old Buddhist monastery, which houses rare arts and culture of Mahayana Buddhism. Priceless objects like gold lettered copies of sacred Buddhist scriptures and a 9 metre high Buddha statue is to found in this monastery. The birth of the sixth Dalai Lama, this monastery houses more than 500 lamas. The Tawang monastery is associated with the famous Torgya festival whish is held in the eleventh Monpa month called the Dawa Chukchipah (i.e. December to January). During the festival, the Monpa tribes come from far & wide, wearing their traditional costumes to participate in the festival.

What to see : Tawang monastery, craft centre, Penga Ten Tso Lake, Ani Goompha, Monpa tribal village.

Distances :

Tawang to:

Accommodation : Tourist lodge, circuit house, Hotel Buddha, Hotel Shangri-La, Hotel Paradise, Hotel Nefa, Hotel Alpine.

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