10 Amazing facts about Arunachal Pradesh
Imagine surrounded by sprawling mountains of Himalayas, you are almost in a reverie, a reverie transcending time and space. You are living a dream, a beautiful dream. There are sounds of meditation chants and horse hooves all around you, and they are the sirens from a different past. You would look around, and find that you are not in a dream. Your reality will dictate to you that, you are in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and that is Arunachal Pradesh. This article will deal with some of the facts about Arunachal Pradesh.
Let us check what makes this beautiful state distinct from all of the others, and let us start our journey through this amazing land of the dawn-lit Sun. Like Mizoram and Tripura, this imaginary journey will be awesome, trust me!!
The State that was called as NEFA
Until 1972, Arunachal Pradesh was a part of the North-East Frontier Agency. It included some parts of Assam and the present-day Arunachal. This was mostly due to the political manoeuvres of the British, who called it the North-East Frontier Tract. When India had attained its independence, in 1947, the area became part of the nascent Assam state. In 1951, the area was renamed NEFA.
The state that is the largest among the seven sister States
Arunachal is comparatively bigger than all of the seven sisters, with Assam coming at second. Blessed by beautiful geography and flora and fauna, this state is distinct and different from all other seven states. It covers an area of 83, 743 sq. km with a population of 13, 82,611. It has 25 districts with Dibang Valley being the biggest. These districts are ruled by an officer assigned from the Indian Administrative District. The MacMahon Line lies in Arunachal.
International Border State
Contiguous to the People’s Republic of China, this is an important state in terms of security and geopolitics. It shares a border with Bhutan, China and Burma. Arunachal has had historical relations with the territory of Tibet for a long time.
Intriguing History
Most of the people in Arunachal share their history from the Abotani Tribe, a prehistoric tribe. The people of Arunachal belong to the five tribes of Tani, which are Nyishi, Adi, Galo, Apatani and Tagin. The state also hosts tribes belonging to other Tibeto- Burman groups. Most of the state was under the rule of the Chutia Kings from Assam once upon a time. Archaeologists say Chiefdoms belonging to various tribes had existed in Arunachal at various points of history. Most of its history is shrouded in history, and the Monpa kingdom had flourished between 500 BC and 600 AD. At different junctures of history, the state was controlled by both Tibet and Bhutan. Some parts of the state were under the Ahoms till 1858, when the British took control.
State Symbols
The state symbols of Arunachal Pradesh are the follows-: Mithun (State Animal), Horn Bill (State Bird), Foxtail Orchard (State Flower) and Hollong (State tree).
Sacred places in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal, probably due to its historic connections with Tibet, has a lot of Monasteries, with the one at Tawang being the most important. Some of the other famous sacred places are-:
Urgelling Monastery, Rigyaling Gompa, Parashuram Kund, and Taktsang Monastery.
Geography
This is completely a green state. The highest peak in Arunachal Pradesh is Kangto (7090 M). It belongs to the Eastern Himalayan Range. This state is known as the paradise of Botanists due to its geographical diversity. The major rivers in the state Include Tirap, Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri and Kameng. Dhola- Sadiya Bridge, the bridge that connects Arunachal with Assam, is the largest river bridge in India. Spanning 9.15 Kilometres, over the Lohit River, this bridge connects Northern Assam with Eastern Arunachal. Most of the rivers in the state begin as small streams in the Himalayas and also the rivers are tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra.
Economics of Arunachal Pradesh
GDP wise Arunachal is the third last state in India. Most of the peasants in Arunachal practice a special form of cultivation, known as Jhum. Some of the main agricultural products are rice, maize, oilseeds, wheat and various pulses. The state also produces crops such as Pineapple, apple and oranges. There are many sawmills and rice mills in Arunachal. Arunachal is also adept at making handloom products. Some of the mineral resources found in the state are graphite, dolomite, zinc and lead.
Sociological Facts about Arunachal
Literary wise the state does not have good standards. The ethnography is really diverse with almost 26 tribes inhabiting the state. The literacy rate is only 66.5%. The state has English as the official language, which is a unique thing.
Places to see in Arunachal
1. Tawang
2. Ziro Valley (could be described as a paradise on earth. With paddy fields all around, this place offers a unique spectacle)
3. Namdapha National Park
4. Sela Pass, the mountain pass at an elevation of over 13000 meters
5. Roing -: A cultural marvel
6. Bomdila-: Far from the madding crowds. The lush and verdant landscape
7. Dirang-: A popular destination for travellers’
8. Pasighat-: The gateway and the oldest town of Arunachal
9. Itanagar-: The cultural as well as the state capital of Arunachal
10. Nurnanag Falls -: Here you can see the nature at its best
11. Bhalukpong-: A beautiful landscape
12. Sangti Valley-: An aesthetically pleasing valley
13. Bumla Pass-: Situated on the Indo- China border, this is at an elevation of 15200 feet
14. Anini-: Anini is a small town and the capital of the Dibang district. This a beautiful place to see. The major inhabitants are the Idu Mishmi tribes.
15. Pakhui Wildlife sanctuary-: Sprawling at 862 square kilometres, the sanctuary is a vantage point from where you can watch the nature at its best. It is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas. There is a notable number of tigers here.
16. Gorichen Peak-: For thrill-seeking trekkers, this is your abode!!
17. Madhuri Lake-: Near to the Indo China border, you can see the intricate tapestries woven by nature.
18. Golden Pagoda-: An exemplary example of Burmese architecture. Never give it a miss!!
Conclusion-:
Arunachal, as the name implies is the land of the dawn-lit sun. There is much to see here, and you will enjoy every minute of it. People are warm and hospitable, and it will be a miss if you can’t visit here. Best of luck for the journey.
