GENERAL INFORMATION
Arunachal Pradesh means the” land of the rising sun “ it is one of the seven northeastern states of India. Arunachal Pradesh borders the state of Assam to the south and Nagaland to the south east. Myanmar lies to the east of the state and Bhutan to the west. Right at the top of north-eastern India, crowning its six clustered sisters like a protective helmet, is Arunachal Pradesh, the `Land of the Dawn-lit- Mountains.' This is the first Indian soil to greet the morning sun. Dawn first illuminates Arunachal's border with China: a long border which stretches all the way from its east, over to its northern boundaries and down to its north- western edge where it merges with Tibet. To its west is Bhutan and on its southern end it touches Assam, Nagaland and Burma before sweeping up to China.
TOURISM IN ARUNACHAL
Arunachal Pradesh attracts tourists from many parts of the world The greatest attraction of Arunachal is its varied and interesting people. Visitors should note also that the Arunachal's Namdapha National Park covers the world's greatest range of altitudes; from 200 m to 4,500 m Arunachal Pradesh is proud of having more than five hundred rare species of orchids. The rivers of Arunachal Pradesh are ideal for angling, boating, rafting and its rugged terrain is suitable for trekking, hiking and holidaying in a serene atmosphere.The Sela lake near to bomdila and the bamboo bridges hanging over the river attracts tourists from many parts of the world.
WILDLIFE IN ARUNACHAL
Primeval Wilderness It is now a legally protected area having been designated in 1983 as the Namdapha National Park under Wildlife (Protection) Act. The same year, it was also declared as a Tiger Reserve under project tiger. With a total area of 1,985-sq-kms, this is the largest national park in the Northeast and one of the larger protected areas in the country. The farthest part of India in the northeast is named after the rising sun. Rightly so, because it is here every morning that the first rays of sunlight strike the Indian subcontinent heralding a new dawn of activity and expectations. This is the state of Arunachal Pradesh endowed with natural and cultural attributes, which make it verily a fantasyland. Here, forests and wilderness predominate in exuberance, extent, density and diversity, which is indeed rare and unique. While the whole setting is fabulous, one area stands out far above the rest on account of its natural beauty and supreme wilderness. This is the area at the extreme end of Changland district In Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Myanmar (Burma) on two sides and watered by the Noa-Dehing and Namdapha Rivers.
The Uniqueness Of Namdapha Certain aspects of Namdapha make it truly unique. The first is the altitude, which varies around 200 metres (nearly sea level) in the valleys to more than 4,500 metres with snow covered mountain peaks. Perhaps no other national park in the world can boast of such phenomenal altitudinal variation. As a result, the climate conditions inside the area are equally varied and unpredictable. Though located at 27 degrees north of the equator and hence being in the sub-tropical zone having a tropical climate, the higher parts of the reserve, which are mountainous, and rugged experience cold and temperate conditions round the year. Similarly, rainfall is very variable - excessive in the tropical part and scanty in the higher reaches.
Himalayan Background Another unique feature of Namdapha is its location at the junction of the Indian subcontinent's bio-geographic region and the Indo-China bio-geographic region. The whole area is part of the eastern Himalayas, which were formed, in the tertiary age across the gateway linking the Indian landmass with the pale Artic and the Indo Malayan realms. It was through this gateway, prior to the formation of the mighty Himalayas that several faunal elements from both the aforesaid realms gained entry into the Indian subcontinent in the remote past which has undoubtedly added to India's spectacular biological diversity. Besides, its location at the farthest end of the country where it forms the national border with Myanmar on two sides, gives a certain strategic significance, which is on going and will always remain so.
Bio Diversity Namdapha's amazing biography is matched by the tremendous variety of life forms found there, the sun total of which, in scientific language, is called biological diversity, in short bio-diversity. Both the floral and faunal aspects of Namadapha's bio diversity are rich, varied and dazzling. For instance, the vegetation varies from the wet evergreen tropical and sub-tropical forests to temperate and alpine forests. About 150 species of trees have been identified which include Dipterocarps like the Hollong growing up to 50 metres. The floral species' richness and composition are very impressive indeed and show density, variation and endemicity, which may have few parallels. This includes a rich gene pool of indigenous crop plants along with their wild relatives and ecological variants such as the wild banana, citrus and mango. A formidable list of medicinal and ornamental plants including the wild orchids can be also be made. It is to be noted that all this information is based on what is known so far, which is undoubtedly far less than what is not known to science so far. Considering the fact that most of the Namdapha national park is inaccessible and unsurveyed, the secrets of botanical wealth that lie hidden there is anybody's guess. This factor has to be kept in mind always and cannot possibly be under-played.
Fauna The faunal assemblage in Namdapha is equally staggering. Of a total of 135 kind of land mammals found in India, as many as 75 kind are represented in Namdapha which no other reserve in the country can match. An admixture of several Indo-Chinese and some Palearctic elements is clearly evident. Perhaps the richest assemblage is in the order carnivora with 22 kinds identified in Namdapha and it is surely the only protected area in the world having four big Cats- Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard. In herbivores also, the variety is amazing considering that apart from several Deer species, Namdapha is home to the bison as much as to the Himalayan Tahr and the Bharal. Besides, it has all the three Goat Antelopes found in India - Goral, Serow and Takin.
Primates Amongst primates, it is the habitat of the rare and endangered Hoolock Gibbon, the only Ape species found in India. The different species of flying squirrels include one that is endemic which has been named as the Namdapha Flying Squirrel.
Avifauna The bird life in Namdapha is easily the most dazzling with numerous beautiful species of Avifauna. Some notable ones are the great Indian Hornbill - Arunachal's state bird - the rare white winged wood duck, several colourful Pheasants and other species. This is Nature and wilderness in its pure, pristine form, which must be safeguarded for posterity under any circumstances. The plain truth is that there is no other Namdapha and no human ingenuity can possibly remake even an iota of it if any part is lost or destroyed.
ATTRACTIONS OF ARUNACHAL
TAWANG MONASTERY
Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso founded the famous "Galden Namgyal Lhatse", popularly known as Tawang Monastery in the year 1860-61. The monastery stands on the spur of a hill, about 10,000 feet above sea level and has ravines in the south and west, narrow ridge on the north and a gradual slope on the east. It offers a commanding and picturesque view of the Tawang-Chu valley. From a distance it appears like a fort as if guarding the votaries in the wide valley below. Tawang monastery is the largest of its kind in the country and 2nd largest in Asia. Though it has the capacity for housing about seven hundred monks, the actual number of resident Lamas (Monks) at present is a little more than 300. This monastery is the fountainhead of the spiritual life of the people of this region.
Approach And The Entrance The approach to the monastery is from the north along the ridge. Just near the entrance to the monastery there is a building housing the "Dung-Gyur Mani" from where the water is fetched for use in the monastery. To the south of it is the 'Kakaling', the entrance gate. The Kakaling is a hut-likestructure with its two lateral walls made of stone. It serves as a gate. The ceiling the Kakaling is painted with Kying-khors (Mandalas). The inner walls are painted with mural of divinities and saints. After passing through the Kakaling there is a big gate further south which is without any door. Further south stands the main gate of the monastery, which is fitted with huge doors and is set in the northern wall of the monastery. The eastern wall starts from the open outer gate and encloses the entire eastern side of the monastery. It is about 925 feet long and the height varies from about ten to twenty feet. There is another gate near the southern and of this wall. It is fitted with a huge door. Near it there are two slits in the wall to see out through and for placing muzzle-loaded gun to fire upon the approaching enemy. A narrow path runs all along the outer side of the eastern wall connecting this gate with the Kakaling. It is said that the yarn given by the Vth Dalai Lama to Merak Lama enclosed the area bounded by the four walls.
The Court A paved path runs from the main gate toward rear of the monastery and leads to a stone slabs court. Religious dances and outdoor ceremonies are held in this court. The entire eastern half of the monastery is covered with sixty residential quarters called "Sha"(hut) for housing the resident monks. Each of these dormitories has been constructed by a group of villagers on voluntary basis. They also carry out the repairs and are responsible for its maintenance. A three storied building stands on the western side of the court. It is the "Par-khang" (Library). All the Holy Scriptures including a long two-storied building flanks the southern side of the court. A part of this building is used as store for the provisions of the monks. The Dra-tsang buk and his entourage occupy the other part. A two storied building, on the eastern side of the court is called "Rhum-khang", which is used for cooking the food-offerings for the rituals as well as refreshments for the monks on ritual days.
Assembly Hall - Dukhang The most imposing building of the monastery is the assembly hall known as "Dukhang". It is a three-storied building standing on the northern side of the court and houses the temple and the "Labrang" (The establishment of the Abbot). The inner walls of the Dukhang are painted with murals of various divinities and saints. The altar occupies the entire northern wall of the hall. On the left of the alter is the silver casket wrapped in silk containing the Thankas (also spelt as Tankas or Thangkas) of Goddess Sri Devi ("Palden Lhamo") the principal deity of the monastery, which was given to Merak Lama by the Vth Dalai Lama. The Thankas was painted with blood drawn from the nose of the Vth Dalai Lama. The said painting came to be known as "Ja-Droi-ma", which means it had warmth of a bird, which symbolized that the Thanka was of a living type. A colossal richly - gilded statue of Lord Buddha occupies the middle of the northern side. It is seated on a platform and its body, rising up, terminates in a huge head above the first floor. It is the largest image of the monastery and is about 26 feet high.
A Buddhist Cultural Centre The monastery also has a Centre for Buddhist Cultural Studies where young monks are taught Arithmetic, English, and Hindi besides traditional monastic education. In brief, this monastery is simply awe-inspiring and majestic in its appearance and grandeur. A visit of Tawang Monastery is most spiritually refreshing experience.
URGELLING MONASTERY
About 5-km to the south of Tawang Township stands the Urgelling monastery. It was first of the three monasteries built by Urgen Sangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pempalingpa, the famous Treasure-Revealer. It was built sometime before the year 1489. It was here in 1683 Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama was born.
Legends Related To The Birth Of Dalai Lama He was the son of Lama Tashi Tenzin of Urgelling, a descendant of Terton Pempalingpa. His mother was Tsewang Lhamo, a Monpa girl hailing from a royal family of Bekhar Village. Royal mother experienced a few miracles before the birth of Tsangyang Gyamtso. One day in the first month of her pregnancy she was husking paddy in the stone mortar and to her surprise water started accumulating in the mortar. On another occasion, when she drank water at a near by place, milk started gushing out in place of water. Since then this stream came to known as "Oma-Tsikang" (milk-water). In the course of time, she gave birth to a boy who was named Sangey Tenzin by his grandfather and Nawang Norbu by his father. It is said he would not drink his mother's milk for these day after the birth. One day when his face began to swell with an infection and he could hardly open his eye, two local diviners were summoned. They prescribed purifactory rite and said his name should be changed to Ngawang Gyamtso. His recovery was credited by the regent to the intervention of the Dalai Lama's own guardian deity, Dorjee Dakpa. The grandfather dreamt that the child was constantly being protected by heavenly beings. The mother dreamt, as she took a rest from her weaving, that a great company had arrived to take him off. His parental grandmother dreamt of two suns shining in the sky.It is also said that when the party from Tibet came to take him to Tibet, after establishing that he is the incarnation of the Dalai Lama, the boy was playing with his playmates at a place about a kilometer east of Urgelling Gompa. When he heard his mother shouting for his immediate return he with his finger wrote on a stone slab the words "Lama Kheno" (God Knows). These words got miraculously inscribed on the slab and are still standing on the slab.
Restoration Of The Monastery After his enthronement, Desi Sangye Gyamtso, the regent entrusted Chong-gye Gonpo Rabten with the work of restoring and enlargement of the monastery in the year 1699. The new structure included a double storied main temple, and eight pillared assembly hall, a four pillared altar room, a two-pillared chapel of protective deities, a residential quarters for the sixth Dalai Lama, a Ka-gyur house, a chapel for the practice of new Tantra, a big courtyard with twenty pillars and twenty rooms for monks' quarters.
Destructed Through Invasion Unfortunately Lajang Khan deposed the sixth Dalai Lama in 1706 ad in 1714 one of the Lajang Khan's forces sent against Bhutan invaded from the direction of Tawang. During this campaign, they destroyed the Dalai Lama's restored and enlarged monastery at Urgelling as an attempt to obliterate his memory. Another version has it that the destruction of all Nyingnapa Gompas including Urgelling was carried out by Sokpa Jomkhar, a Mongolian warrior who was averse to non-Gelugpa sect. Whatever the reason may be for its destruction, all valued possession of Urgelling monastery like scriptures, statues and other objects were made to Tawang Monastery. It was during this time that the Ka-gyur written out in gold and silver was received by Tawang monastery. Today there is only a modest temple present at the site.
HERITAGE
found Historical attractions of Arunachal Pradesh include malinithan in lekhabali and rukhmininagar near roing, place where rukhmini,the wife of iord Krishna used to live.Parshuram kund is situated in Lohit district of Arunachal it was here that Parasuram washed away his sins.It is the state where Vyasa meditated, Bhismaka founded his kingdom, Lord Krishna married his consort, Rukmini, king Balinarayana drew men for his armies from among the hardy people. The sixth Dalai Lama was born on the soil of Arunachal Pradesh and the 13th refuge and safety here.
CULTURE
Arunachal is a densely forested state, sharing a border with China, and its people are as varied as its terrain. There are; the gentle & cultured Monpas, the Thongi who have had treaties with the authorities in the valley for more than a thousand year, the warriors of the Bangni-Nishi & the Tagin; the Apatanis whose methods of rice cultivation have drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. Most of the people living in Arunachal Pradesh are either of Tibetan or Thai- Burmese origin. Another 25% of the population are immigrants, including Bangladeshi and Chakma expatriates, and immigrants from other parts of India. Arunachal Pradesh has a vibrant craft tradition and every tribe excels in craftsmanship. Cane and bamboo is an important craft of this area, and the workmanship is of a very high order.The main festivals of Arunachal are Reh, ojiyale, Tamiadu, Khan, Sanken, Mopin and Mol.
CUISINE
Food culture in Arunachal Pradesh is much different from what we see in rest of India. And it is largely the same in other six northeastern states Inhabitants of Arunachal are basically non-vegetarian. Even if they cook vegetable they will add non-vegetarian to the same dish. Dishes prepared from ducks, bamboo shoots etc are very much popular in Arunchal Pradesh
CLIMATE
Rainfall in Arunachal the time period is May to September, even on can say the time is for heavy rainfall. The climate of Arunachal varies with elevation.Areas with very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas there is alpine or Tundra (low temprature)climate. Below the Upper Himalayas come the Middle Himalayas, where people experience a temperate climate. In the Sub Himalayan region (which are near to the sea level) summers are hot and humid and winters are somewhat chill.
State Capital – The capital of Arunachal is Itanagar.
Area Covered - 83,743 Sq. Km
Languages Spoken - Hindi, Assamee, English
Best Time to visit – October to March
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