Arunachal Pradesh Tourism

Arunachal Pradesh located in north eastern India has fifteen districts and is called "Land of the Rising Sun". The literary meaning of the "Land of the Rising Sun" is "the land of the dawn lit mountains." The state has its capital in Itanagar, which is also its largest city. The state, known for its natural beauty is backed by a strong agricultural economy- pulses, sugarcane, rice, wheat, maize being its main crops. It has a considerable amount of forest cover which ensures that the forest products also contribute to its economy. The tourism sector of the state, however, has not been fully utilized.

History
The history of pre-modern Arunachal Pradesh is unclear. According to the Arunachal Pradesh government, the Hindu texts Mahabharata mention the region as the Prabhu Mountains of the Puranas, and where sage Parashurama washed away sins, the sage Vyasa meditated, King Bhishmaka founded his kingdom, and Lord Krishna married his consort Rukmini. On the other hand, the Kalika Purana written in the 10th century mentions the region to be ruled by the descendants of a king named Bhirmuko of the Chutika (today's Chutia) clan.
Recorded history only became available in the Chutiya chronicles. The Monpa and Sherdukpen do keep historical records of the existence of local chiefdoms in the northwest as well. Northwestern parts of this area came under the control of the Monpa kingdom of Monyul, which flourished between 500 B.C. and 600 A.D. The remaining parts of the state, especially those bordering Myanmar, were under the control of the Chutiya Kings. However, most Arunachali tribes remained in practice largely autonomous up until Indian independence and the formalisation of indigenous administration in 1947.
Recent excavations of ruins of Hindu temples, such as the 14th century Malinithan at the foot of the Siang hills in West Siang, indicate they were built during the Chutiya reign. Another notable heritage site, Bhismaknagar (built in 8th century), has led to suggestions that the Chutiya people had an advanced culture and administration in prehistoric times. The third heritage site, the 400-year-old Tawang Monastery in the extreme north-west of the state, provides some historical evidence of the Buddhist tribal people. The sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.

Fairs & Festivals
Fairs and festivals in Arunachal Pradesh are a fine way to understand the state's rich culture and traditional practices. An extension of the lives of the people of the state, the Arunachal Pradesh fairs and festivals are characterized by a lot of color. Right from festivals with religious undertones to merry affairs, you can find them all as you check the fairs and festivals calendar of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. Many of the festivals celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh are closely linked to agriculture, the main occupation of the state. Celebrated on a grand scale, these festivals are characterized by prayers that are later followed by merry making. Among the most popular festivals of Arunachal Pradesh are Ziro Festival of Music , Losar Festival, Tamladu Festival, Sangken Festival.

Best Time to Visit
Arunachal is located at a high altitude, and so has pleasant weather throughout the year. However, all activities may not be available at all times, so it is advisable to cross check the availability and seasons for each site or activity. The most preferable months to plan your trip to Arunachal Pradesh are from October to April when the weather is pleasant, and you can move around happily under the clear blue sky to have the most fun. We recommend you to avoid June to September when the rains come down hard, and it becomes a bit tough for tourists to travel in the state.

How to Reach :-

BY AIR - Lilabari in Assam is the nearest airport at a distance of 67 km. There are connecting flights to Guwahati from Lilabari. Flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad, etc. operate to Guwahati. Taxis and buses are available from Guwahati to reach Itanagar.Pawan Hans operates helicopter services from Guwahati to Itanagar thrice a week.Kolkata is the nearest international airport at a distance of 760 km.

BY RAIL - Around 43 km away (just an hour drive) from the state capital Itanagar, Harmuti train station (Assam) is the nearest train station connecting Arunachal Pradesh to other major cities of India. Further, take bus or hire a taxi for your onward journey towards the state.

BY ROAD - Itanagar is well connected to most neighbouring regions of Arunachal Pradesh. Daily overnight buses from Guwahati ply to Itanagar. AST buses also connect Itanagar to Shillong, Ziro, Guwahati, Balijan, Poma, Lilabari, Jote, Raga, Sagalee, Pasighat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Bombdila, etc

Tourist Attractions
Tourist Attractions in Arunachal Pradesh mostly includes ancient monuments in the form of temples. Malinithan is a temple site in ruins located in the north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Malinithan in Arunachal Pradesh is situated at the foot of the Siang hills under the Likabali Sub-Division of West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a holy place of worship visited by huge number of visitors and pilgrims every year. The legend says, on the way to Dwarka from Bhismaknagar, Sri Krishna with his newly married wife Rukmini Devi begged blessings of Goddess Parvati. Devi Parvati greeted the newly married couple with wreath. The stringing of the garland was so unique, that overwhelmed Krishna called Devi Parvati as "Sucharu Malini", or a lady who strings garlands beautifully - hence from Malini the name Malinithan was achieved. The nearest airport from Malinithan is Leelabari or Dibrugarh in Assam. A helipad is also situated at along. From here you can pick a bus to Malinithan. By bus or car one can easily reach Malinithan from Guwahati. One can also take a bus from Itanagar.