"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan

Arunachal  Pradesh Sights

** please note that the information below is given by the government tourist department.

DISTRICT : PAPUMPARE

Itanagar and Naharlagun:
Buddhist Temple: A beautiful yellow roofed shrine, it rises from well- maintained grounds behind a Stupa Tree planted by his Holiness The Dalai lama. A viewpoint of Itanagar Town.

Ganga Lake: The 6 km drive from the capital town takes visitors on a rugged road through some superbly primeval jungles, Bamboo groves, Orchids massed on tall trees which are eye catching. Then, one reaches a hill stopping at the base of which one has to take a flight of steps uphill. At the top of the ridge one looks on a serene green forest lake which one can cross in a rowboat.

Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Museum: The socio- cultural heritage of the people and their life- style have been depicted here with the help of maps and miniature dioramas. Actual specimens of house- types, musical instruments, headgear, ornaments, weapons etc. have been displayed. There is also a rich section on archaeology.

Polo Park: the little botanical garden atop a ridge overlooking Naharlagun. Visitors may notice the cane thicket; it slightly resembles palms with spines on its stems, but grows as a bush. There is also a small zoo housed in the park.

The Mini Zoo at Miao is another attraction.

DISTRICT: WEST KAMENG

Bhalukpong, Tipi:Tipi orchid centre where more than 500 species of orchid have been collected.
Rafting and angling on the river Kameng
Ideal for trekking, hiking

Bomdila:Buddhist Monasteries
Crafts Centre, producing very fine carpets of colourful designs and masks
Views of Himalayan landscapes and snow- clad ranges
Ideal for trekking, hiking

Dirang: Apple Orchards
Sheep breeding farms
Hot springs where people go for a holy dip to wash away sins and diseases
Kalachakra Gompa
Ideal for trekking, hiking

DISTRICT: TAWANG

Tawang: Standing on the spur of a hill over 12,000 ft above sea level, it overlooks the wide valley, surrounded on all sides by towering mountains. Houses the 350 years’ old famous Buddhist Monastery. Ideal for trekking and hiking. Has a Craft Centre producing fine woollen carpets of colourful designs and masks.

DISTRICT : DIBANG VALLEY

Roing: Ruins of Bhismaknagar. Ideal for trekking, rafting, angling and rock climbing.

DISTRICT: LOHIT

Parasuram Kund, Tezu:A rare shrine of India, situated in the lower reaches of the left bank of the river Lohit.

Annual fairs and festivals for the pilgrims. It is believed that a holy dip in the Kund on Makar Sankranti day washes away one’s sins. The Kalpurana records that it was here that the sage Parasuram washed away his sin of matricide. This place is also mentioned in the Brahmakaivarta Purana.

A large lake called Glow Lake, which can be reached on foot by one day of climbing up and down hills.

Ideal for trekking, hiking, river rafting, angling.

DISTRICT : LOWER SUBANSIRI

Tarin Fish Farm
Pine and Bamboo groves
Villages
Indigenous method of rice cultivation
Craft Centre
Ideal for trekking and hiking

DISTRICT : UPPER SUBANSIRI

Daporijo
Villages
Beautiful Cave
Festivals
Ideal for trekking and hiking.
Angling on the river Subansiri

DISTRICT: TIRAP

Deomali: Tribal villages. Ideal for angling and picnic

DISTRICT: CHANGLANG

Miao: Tibetan refugee settlement where colourful woolen carpets of various designs are produced
Oil drilling at Kharsong
Plywood and veneer mills
Ideal for trekking, hiking
Angling on the river Noadihing

National Park, covering an area of 1850 sq. km., with the widest altitudinous variation which rises from 200 m, nearly at sea level, to 4500 m. This variation has given rise to the growth of peninsular as well as alpine flora.

Because of its sheer remoteness and inaccessibility the entire area is pristine and virgin.

Interesting assortment of forest biomes. The forests in the lower reaches are multi- storied with trees like Hollock, Mekai and Hollong, the best of the last species reaching almost 50-m height.

More than 150 timber species. The Pinus Merkusi and Abies Delavani are not found elsewhere in India.

One of the rarest and endangered orchids, Blue Vanda, occurs here.

The tribal for all kinds of diseases uses the most famous local medicinal tree, Mishmi Teeta.

Great variety of avian life. The most common bird is the great Indian Hornbill.

Last home of the Hoolock Gibbon.

It is the only national Park in which four big cats – tiger, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard – are found.

Ideal for trekking and hiking. 

DISTRICT : EAST SIANG

Passighat:
Wildlife Sanctuary where wild buffalo, tiger, samber, deer and wild ducks are found
Famous Ponnung dance of the Adis
Emporium and Villages
River rafting, boating and angling on river Siang
Trekking and hiking

DISTRICT : WEST SIANG

Along
Mithun and Jersy cross breeding farm at Kamki
Villages
Ideal for trekking, hiking and angling on the river Siyom

Malinithan
Ruins of a big temple belonging to the 14th – 15th century have been excavated. The ruins include sculptures of Indra and Airavata, Surya Nandi Bull.
Akashi Ganga waterfalls where people take a bath to wash away sins.
Ideal for trekking, hiking

DISTRICT : UPPER SIANG

Jengging
Namcharna Peak
Nubo Bridge Point
Mouling National Park
High altitude tea garden
Ideal for trekking, hiking and angling 

TOURISM PLUS

Adventure Tourism: There exists enormous scope for many types of adventures in Arunachal. To start with, Bomdila- Tawang area could be the first choice. The most interesting as well as challenging trek in this region is around Tawang Chu. This trek starts from Jong, the bus- head in between Se- la and Tawang. From Jong to Mago the trek route passes through a wonderful jungle studded with magnificent waterfalls. May and October are the best time.

Other interesting trek rounds are

Bomdila - Daimara via Ramlingam and Chakku - approximately 100 km - expected about 6 days.

Bomdila - Seppa - 120 km - expected about 8 days.

Along Mochuka - 85 km - expected 7 days.

Daporijo - Taksing - 250 km - expected 25 days - best time September.

Pashighat - Tuting - 80 km - expected 7 days - best time december - January.

Pashighat - Mariang - 80 km - expected 7 days - best time december - January.

Daporijo - Along - 50 km - expected 4 days.

Interested tourists may try River Rafting along Kameng (Seppa- Bhalukpung), Subansiri (Taliha- North of Daporijo), Siang (entire course), Dibang (Anini- Assam Border).

Flora and Fauna: The wide variety of altitudinous and climatic conditions of the state have given rise to different forest types which create corresponding natural shelter, food etc. to varieties of wildlife.

Rare lesser feline species like the golden cat and marbled cat are found here besides the four major cats- tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard. Seven species of primates, viz. Hoolock gibbon, capped languor, slow Lori, Assamese macaque, pigtailed macaque and stump- tailed macaque have been reported from Arunachal. All the three goat antelopes existing in India, i.e. serow, goral and takin, are found in this state. It is the only place in India where takin is found. Highly endangered species like hispid hare have been reported from the low latitudinal grassy areas.

Among the large mammal’s mittan, which is a cross, buffalo and elephant are found in the plains and adjoining hills. The other high altitude animals include musk deer, bharal, Himalayan black bear, red panda etc. Among the lesser mammals large number of rodents (squirrels, porcupine and rats), civet, mongoose, linsang, shrew and bat species are also found here.

More than 500 bird species have also been recorded, many of which are highly endangered and restricted to this state, e.g. white winged duck, sclater moual, temminck’s tragopan, bengal florican.

It is equally rich in reptiles, amphibians and Pisces. Pythons and snakes of all colours and descriptions merging with their surroundings are commonly found.

Orchids: There are about 450 species reported from this state and many more may yet be discovered. Many are rare, endangered with threatened species in accordance with the Red data Book of India and fall under the category I and II of Cites, listed in the Wildlife Conservation Act of Govt. of India.