However, Itanagar can be called as "Mini India",
as people from all over the country, lives here in harmony.
As a capital town, Itanagar is well connected with the rest
of the country by road and air communications. Because of
its convenient location near the road and rail arteries
alongside the Brahmaputra River, Itanagar was chosen Arunachal's
capital in the first place. Itanagar has been identified
with Mayapur, the capital of the 11th century AD JItri dynasty.
Prime Attractions
Ita Fort
Itanagar is the capital of India's largest North Eastern
state. Here one can find historical fort called Ita fort,
dating back to the 14th -15th centuries, after which it
is named.
Ganga Lake/ Gyakar Sinyi
The capital houses the Rajbhawan, the official residence
of the Governor has also many worth visiting places in and
around Itanagar. These include legendary Ganga Lake (Gyakar
Sinyi). It is a beautiful picnic spot, 6-kms away from Itanagar,
a green forest lake surrounded by primeval vegetation, orchids
masses on tall trees, tree ferns provides a small taste
of the magnificent forests of the state.
Buddhist Temple
Consecrated by the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist temple, a beautiful
yellow roofed shrine reflects the extensive Tibetan influence
and provides good views of Itanagar and the surrounding
countryside
Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum
Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum provides a kaleidoscope
of Arunachal Pradesh and one can see woodcarvings, musical
instruments, textiles, handicrafts and archeological finds,
while a workshop in the Handicrafts Centre specializes in
traditional cane manufacture. It has a library section also.
Other important places of interest around Itanagar are
Donyi-Polo Vidya Bhawan a Premier Publics School, North-Eastern
Regional Institute of Science and Technology (Nirjuli) -
an engineering insitute providing innovative way of education,
Arunachal University (Doimukh) and Government Piggery and
Poultry Farm (Nirjuli), Indira Gandhi Park.
How to Get There
Air:
The nearest airport to Itanagar, at Lilabari in Assam,
67-km away, and served by connecting buses, is served by
fights to and from Guwahati (2 hr 20min) and to, but not
from Dibrugarh (45 min). There is also a trice weekly Pawan
Hans helicopter service between Itanagar and Guwahati .
Rail:
Fast passenger trains from Guwahati run as far as
Harmuti, 33-km away in Assam.
Road:
Overnight buses connect Itanagar with Guwahati (11 hr),
and Arunachal State Transport run an extensive service throughout
the state. Buses leave for Tinsukia in the evening, arriving
early the following morning, and from there connections
can be made to Namdapha and Parashuramkunda.
PLACES TO STAY
The best bet for accommodation in the state is Itanagar,
varying from luxurious ones to reasonable budget hotels.
