ABOUT ARUNACHAL PRADESH, India’s ‘Land of the Rising Sun’

On the eve of the new millennium newspapers carried reports of a small and breathtakingly beautiful valley hidden in the hills. The reports said that the valley of Dong in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh was marked as the place to receive the first rays of the millennium sun in mainland India. This fact further confirmed by scientists and Survey of India officials promoted a rush of intrepid visitors to the remote spot, which was dubbed ‘the Sunrise Village’.

Come closer to Arunachal Pradesh
Part of the Eastern Himalayan Range, Arunachal Pradesh is a vast and mountainous land crossed by turbulent streams and rivers. The state's pristine beauty, however, remained hidden to the outside world and it was only in 1992 that Arunachal Pradesh opened its door to tourists, both domestic and international. Since then the allure of this unknown and fascinating land has held visitors enthrall. 

Tucked away from the city’s hustle and bustle, Arunachal Pradesh gives you a prospect to discover the India’s ‘Land of Rising Sun’ and a soothing lap to seek tranquility and breathing space.

Arunachal Fact File
Area:            83743 sq km
Population:    10,91,117 (census 2001)
Capital:         Itanagar

Entry Formalities
Foreign Tourists intending to visit Arunachal Pradesh require Restricted Area Permit (RAP) which will be arranged by us in advance (01 month before the departure date).
For the RAP application, we need the photocopy of the passport and the Indian Visa together with 04 passport size photograph.

The cost of the permit is US$50 per person for 10 days in a group of 04 people traveling together extendable for the next 10 days by paying additional $50 per person.

Access 
For Tawang sector: (Western Arunachal)
The nearest airport is in Guwahati (Assam). It is well connected with Delhi and Kolkotta by regular flights. From Guwahati, the tour to Western Arunachal commences.

For Pemako/Oriah sector: (Eastern Arunachal)
The nearest airport is at Dibrugarh (Assam) and there are regular flights from Delhi and Kolkotta to Dibrugarh. From Dibrugarh, we will start the tour to the Eastern region of Arunachal.
Please write to us (beekgee@gmail.com) to check the exact schedule and fares. 

Helicopter
There is a helicopter service run by the Government connecting major places in Arunachal. However the service/s are not regular and reliable so we will not recommend them.

Best time to visit
Arunachal has many things in offer in different seasons. For a cultural visit the best time to visit is from September to April. For the floral lovers, particularly Rhododendron, we recommend you to visit during April to July.
Some of the exclusive treks in the Pemako region can only be undertaken from July till September in the Upper Pemako region.  

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation at all places in Arunachal Pradesh is very basic but clean. At most places, we use the Government Guest houses or the Circuit Houses/Inspection Bungalows. At places where there are no accommodations, we provide tents.
During trekking, we provide complete tented accommodation supported by a team of guide, cook, helper and porters/ponies/yaks.
Indian, Monpa and Chinese food will be served.

Mode of Travels
Taking into consideration the terrain, we use jeeps during the entire journey. Air Conditioned jeeps can also be provided on advance notice and at additional cost.

Places of interest
Tawang, Bomdila, Tipi, Itanagar, Ziro, Daporijo, Along, Mechuka, Pasighat, Roing, Anini, Tezu, Hayuliang, Parsuramkund, Namsai, Miao and Changlang.
Namdapha National Park in Changlang District and Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Dibang Valley District.

Climate
The State has 3 major climate zones: 

Firstly, the hot and humid sub-tropical zones of the foot hill and southern plain.

Secondly the cooler or Meso-thermal region of the sub-Himalayan and thirdly the Alpine type climate of the great Himalayan. These types of climates are generally controlled by topography, alternation of pressure cell of the north-east India and Bay of Bengal, Maritimes air mass, roving periodic western winds and local mountains and valley wind. The annual minimum and maximum temperature varies from location to location in the State.

The highest maximum temperature recorded 30 degree C at Tezu with the lowest maximum 18 degree above 1500mts. The snowfall is common in Arunachal in the Tawang region. The minimum temperature varying 0 degree C to 2 degree C in winter in South and below 0 degree C in the higher elevation. Summers are moderate but temperature varies “between” 35 degree to 40 degree C due to frequent rainfall. There is fall in temperature with increases in height, example 1.7 degree C per 300m in altitude.
  
History
Little is known about Arunachal’s earlier history, but the ancient sanscrit writtings, called Puranas, mention that in the 16th century, the Ahom, King of Assam invaded a part of Arunachal.
In 1826, Assam became a part of British India.
In 1912, the region became a unit within Assam called the North Eastern Frontier Tract (NEFT)
In 1962, after the Chinese invasion, the Indian government gave statehood to all the territories surrounding Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was born.

Arunachal is an ancient and legendary land. It is abode of Lord Shiva, Krishna and his wife, Rukmini. The Archaeological sites like Malinithan at Likhabali, Tamreswari Temple at Lohit, Bhishmaknagar at Roing, Itafort at Itanagar, etc. are proven that Hindu Culture penetrated into the State during 10th and 16th century A.D. The State is also the land of Palaeolithic and Noelithic men. The Neolithic sites are found in almost all over the state of which Paris Parlo site at Kamala valley of Lower Subansiri district and Megalithis of Jamri in West Kameng district are the prominent sites in the region. The Buddhist culture influenced the western and eastern people of Arunachal during 17th and 18th century. His Holiness the Sixth Dalai Lama was also born on the soil of Arunachal Pradesh.

Recently the discovery of a World War- II cemetery in the eastern district of Changlang has led to renewed interest in the famous Stillwell Road built by the Allied Forces linking Ledo in Assam to Kurung, the only road communication that existed during pre- independence days. 36 miles of this road lie within India running from Ledo through Changlang district to Pangsau Pass on the Arunachal - Myanmarese border.
The discovery drew the attention of international media and attracted historians and archaeologists. The Departments of Research and Tourism are both set to preserve and develop the site as an historical monuments and tourist attraction.

People
Arunachal has 26 major tribes and many sub-tribes living in 3649 scattered villages. Although a number of tribal groups constitute the total population, the density of population is sparse. People possess common Mongolian features but each tribe has certain distinct characteristics in language, dress & costume. They have a rich cultural heritage. The People are simple, friendly and hospitable. Their colourful festivals are manifestations of their faith and belief.

Culture
There are 26 major tribes and a number of sub-tribes inhabiting the area. Most of these communities are ethnically similar, having derived from original Mongoloid stock but their geographical isolation from each other has brought amongst them certain distinctive characteristics in language, dress and customs.

Broadly, the entire population may be divided into three cultural groups based on their socio-politico-religious affinities. The Monpas and Sherdakpens of Tawang and West Kameng districts follow the lamaistic tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. Culturally similar to them are Membas and Khembas who live in the high mountains along the northern borders, Khamptis and Singphos inhabiting the eastern part of the State are Buddhists of Hinayana sect. They are said to have migrated from Thailand and Burma long ago and to be still using ancient scripts derived from their original homeland.

The second group of people of Adis, Akas, Apatanis, Bungnis, Nishis, Mishmis, Mijis, Thangsos etc.,worship the Sun and the Moon God, namely Donyi-Polo and Abo-Tani, the original ancestor for most of these tribes. Their religious rituals largely coincide with the phases of agricultural cycles. They traditionally practice Jhuming or shifting cultivation.

The third group comprises Noctes and Wanchos in the Tirap district. These are hardy people known for their structured village society in which the hereditary village chief still plays a vital role. The Noctes also practice elementary form of Vaishnavism.

Arts & Crafts
Arunachal Pradesh is a land of beautiful handicrafts comprising a wide variety of artefacts. Artistic craftsmanship has been passed on from one generation to the other and sense of aesthetics has been manifested through a variety of crafts.

From the viewpoint of the art and culture the state may be very conveniently divided into three zones. The first of these zones includes the Buddhist tribe; the second occupies the central part (from east Kameng in the west to Lohit in the east); and the third zone is the eastern part of the territory.

Some of the art and craft are beautiful masks, exquisite painted wooden vessels and silver articles, carpets with exotic designs, a wide variety of cane and bamboo products, wood carvers, papermaking, smithy work, carpentry, pottery and ivory work.

Flora
Arunachal has an abundant flora with some  rare and endangered species and varieties of trees like Diptoro, Carpus, Terminitia, Shares Mesua, Dysoxylem, Dysexylem, Attrigia etc. of high economic value. Different varieties of dense bamboo, conifers, rhododendron and other wild ornamental plants are found in the State. As many as 525 species of orchid can be found in the State, of which 175 species are attritional and 350 species are epiphyte. An Orchid research centre located at Tipi in West Kameng district and a floriculture mission were lunched of late. Besides, wide varieties of medicinal plants are found in Arunachal. Captis Teets, Punee, Revoultic etc. are bearing effective medical plants.

Fauna
Arunachal Pradesh is home to a very rich mammalian wildlife population as the wide variety of altitudinal and climatic conditions have given rise to different forest types, which create corresponding natural shelter, food etc. to varieties of wildlife. It has two National Parks and four Wildlife Sanctuaries. It is home to many rare and highly endangered species of Wild life like Mishmi, Takin, Hoolock Gibbon, Musk Deer, Bharal, Hisbid Hare, Flying Squirrel and more than 500 species of birds.

Amongst them, the Namdapha National Park has perhaps the widest diversity of habitat of any of South Asia's protected areas. It is unique, with its elevation varying between 200 to 4500mts. and has all four large cats, the tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard in addition to lesser feline species like the Golden cat and marbled cat

Seven species of primates i.e. Hoolock Gibbon, Slow Loris, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque, pigtailed macaque, Stumptaile macaque and Capped Langur are found here.

All the three goat antelopes found in India i.e. Serow, Goral and Takin are found here. Arunachal Pradesh is the only place in India where Takin is found.

Among the large mammals, the Mithun, which is a cross between the wild Gaur and the domestic cattle, the buffalo and the elephant are all found in the plains and adjoining hills.
The other high altitude animals include the Himalayan Black Bear, the Red Panda etc.

The Musk Deer is found in some areas of the state while the Bharal has been reported in the western part of the state.
Among the smaller mammals, a large number of rodents (squirrels, porcupine and rats), civet, mongoose, linsang, shrew and bat species are found here.

More than five hundred bird species have been recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, many of which are highly endangered and restricted to this state, e.g. the White Winged Wood Duck, the Sclater Monal, the Temminck's Tragopan, the Bangal Florican etc. This state has the highest number of species of pheasants with some ten species at different altitudinal levels. Arunachal Pradesh is equally rich in reptiles, amphibian and pisces. Pythons and snakes of all colours and descriptions are found in the forests all almost all the levels up to the Temperate Zone.

The invertebrate faunal communities are found in the dense and evergreen forests of Arunachal Pradesh. Numerous species of butterflies, moths, beetles and all other kinds of small creatures make Arunachal Pradesh a paradise for Entomologists and Naturalists.

Festivals
Festivals form an essential aspect of the socio cultural life of the people of Arunachal. There are many festivals in Arunachal which are mainly concerned with quality of life and prosperity and these festivals may be considered socio-religious festivals. Almost all the festivals of this hill state are linked to agricultural rites, thereby maintaining harmony with nature and the environment that they live in. Throughout the year one or the other tribe celebrates festivals.

Si-Donyi of Taqins, Reh of Idu Mishmis, Boori Boot of Hill Miris, Lossar of Monpas, Tamladu of Taraon and Kaman Mishmis, Oriah of Wangchos, Nyokum of Nishis, Mopin of Galos, Dree of Apatanis and Solung of Adis.