Itanagar

State capital of: Arunachal Pradesh

Main languages: Local dialects, Tibetan, Bengali and Assamese

 

History:

 

Itanagar is the capital of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. This city is situated on the foothills of Himalayas and is under the administration of the Papum Pare district. Being the capital of the state, this city is well connected to different parts of the country. The city has been the capital of Arunachal Pradesh since 20th April 1974. The city is one of the most beautiful cities in this region and has rich natural resources. A trace of the history of this city has been identified with Mayapur, the capital of the 11th century AD JItri dynasty. The city has an old historical fort called Itafort which dates back to the 14-15 centuries. The city has also been named after this fort.  

 

Geography and climate:

 

Itanagar is located at 27.1° N 93.62° E and has an average elevation of 440 meters or 1443 feet. This city also has rich soil which facilitates the growth of natural flora and various kids of vegetation. This is also one of the reasons for the extensive reliance of economy on agriculture and animal husbandry. The city has a pleasant climate due to its strategic location on the foothills of the Himalayas. The winters here are colder with temperatures dipping as low as 5 degrees. But the summer months provide a pleasant and cool weather. 

 

Demographics:

 

As of 2001 India census, Itanagar had a population of 34,970 with 53% males and of 47% females. The city has an average literacy rate of 69%.

 

Economy:

 

The main sources of economy in this region are agriculture and animal husbandry. There are various administrative offices located in this region due to the city being the state capital. 

 

Tourism and culture:

 

The city has an old historical fort called Itafort which dates back to the 14-15 centuries. The capital houses the Rajbhawan which is the official residence of the Governor. The city has adjoining areas which are the home to Nishis or Nishings, a major tribe in Itanagar area. The region is also called mini India, as people from different parts of the country, live here in harmony. One of the major tourist attractions here is the Ganga Lake or the Gyakar Sinyi which is a beautiful picnic spot, 6 km away from Itanagar. Green forests surround the lake and masses of tall trees and ferns provide a mystique beauty to the area. There is also a Buddhist temple here which had been consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The city has Tibetan influence too. The Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum has some of the oldest wood carvings, textiles, handicrafts, musical instruments and archeological finds. Other places to see here include the  Donyi-Polo Vidya Bhawan a Premier Publics School, Government Piggery and Poultry Farm and the Indira Gandhi Park. 

 

Transportation:

 

The city is well connected with the rest of the country by road and air communications. There is a company here called the Pawan Hans which also provides helicopter service between Guwahati and Itanagar.