| At
the north-eastern tip of India lies Arunachal
Pradesh, a state with picturesque hills, valleys
and lakes. Mysterious, eloquent and
beautiful, with faces and terrain that change
dramatically ever so often, is how one describes
this enigmatic state of India. Arunachal
Pradesh, one of the landlocked states of India,
shares international borders with Bhutan, Tibet,
China and Myanmar.
Situated
at the foothills of Himalayas, it covers 83,743 km2
of the eastern Himalaya range. It is
surrounded on its northern side by the snow-capped
mountains, that vary in height from 1829 m to
6400m, and by the plains of the Brahmaputra Valley
in its south. Its lush green forests, deep
river valleys and beautiful plateaus are simply mesmerizing.
Green forest covers almost sixty percent of the
state area. When the first rays of sun fall
on its peaks, its a scene to been seen!
Arunachal
Pradesh's earliest recorded history dates back to
the 16th century when Ahom rulers of Assam
extended their kingdom to this region. These
rulers had a tradition of not interfering in the
affairs of the tribes of this region. The
land of Arunachal Pradesh also finds mention in
the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.
The trek to this mystical land starts from the
plains of Siang and leads through a thick forest
area. The state's rich flora and fauna are a
photographer's delight. Due to the wide
variety of altitudinal and climatic conditions,
different types of forest are found here. It
is the only state in India where four major cats -
tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard
are found, as also the other feline species like
the golden cat and the marbled cat. More
than 500 bird species have also been recorded
here, many of which are highly endangered like the
white-winged duck, Sclater, Monal, Bengal
Floricans, etc. A large mammal called mithun,
a cross between the wild gaur and domestic
buffalo, is a majestic animal indigenous to the
state. While trekking we also encountered a
large number of pythons and snakes, which are
commonly found in forests in the temperate
zone. The other high altitude animals are
the musk deer and Bharal. In east Siang is
the Passighat Wildlife Sanctuary. The
climate of Arunchal Pradesh varies with the
altitude. The southern part of the state has
hot and humid sub-tropical climate; the central
region is cooler while there is alpine climate in
the higher altitudes. Rainfall is uneven and
continues throughout the year, though the wettest
months are from May to September. However,
the salubrious climate made sure that we didn't
feel tired at all.
Another
trekking route through the Tipi orchard to
Bomdilla crosses the crest of Sil pass at 14,000
ft above sea level; it runs through a small ridge
and along a placid lake aptly called Paradise.
Quietude simply engulfs you in this area.
The Kamang River, gushing down the hill, provides
an opportunity for angling, trekking and
hiking. This hidden lake is also a spot of
curiosity for tourists. As the name
suggests, it is hidden and one has to trek some
400 meters to view the beauty of this mysterious
lake. The locals think this lake is haunted
due to the formation of strange images in its
unruffled waters.
Another
unique feature of Arunachal Pradesh are its
inhabitants; in fact their diversity is quite
fascinating. There are about 26 main tribes
in the state and they are further divided into
numerous clans and sub-clans, each with a distinct
linguistic, ethnic, cultural and social
identity. The tribes include Monpas
and Sherdukpens in Kameng and Tawang
districts; they came in contact with the Tibetans
in the north and adopted Lamaism of the
Buddhist faith, while Khamtis in Lohit
district, who migrated quite early from Thailand,
practice Mahayana Buddhism. However, a large
number of people practice their ancient beliefs
and follow indigenous religious concepts.
The
tribes are also synonymous with music and dance
and they display a wide array of dances unique to
each tribe. Certain dances have a religious
significance, while others are a thanksgiving
ritual for good crops. Yet many others are
performed for sheet entertainment. Noctis
and Wanchoos have war dances enacted both
before launching an attack or to celebrate victory
in the battle. Pantomime dances are also
very popular among the Monpa, Khamba, Mamba,
and Sherdukpen tribes. These tribals
are very cordial, warm and hospitable. Rice
is their staple diet, which is extensively
cultivated.
Arunachal
boasts of many places of tourist interest.
Its capital Itanagar tells the story of the Ita
Fort built in the fourteenth century by King
Ramchandra of Mayapur. Mallini Than
is another unique site that traces its history to
the 10th and 12th century. It has an ancient
temple that houses idols of the Hindu
iconography. It is thus no exaggeration to
say the Arunchal is a tourist paradise. |
