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.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Air : The nearest airport is Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) in Assam, 57 kms from Naharlagun and 67 kms from Itanagar.

Rail: The nearest railway station is Harmuty (near Banderdewa check gate) only 23 km from Naharlagun & 33 km from Itanagar. However nearest convenient railhead is North Lakhimpur in Assam, 50 km from Naharlagun & 60 km from Itanagar. Stations are served by No.9 and No.10 Arunachal Fast Passenger Trains and other local services.

Road: (DISTANCE BETWEEN ITANAGAR AND NAHARLAGUN IS ONLY 10 KMS) Itanagar is connected by road to: GUWAHATI- 381 km (Gohpur 79 -Ballipara 110 -Mission Charali 17 -Orang 53 -Baihata Charali 90 -Guwahati 32), SHILLONG- 481 km ( Guwahati 381 -Shillong 100 ), AGARTALA- 980 km (Shillong 481 -Badarpur 211 -Agartala 288), AIZAWL- 901 km (Badarpur 692 -Silchar 29 -Aizawl 180), KOHIMA- 350 km (North Lakhimpur 73 -Jorhat 69 -Dimapur 134 -Kohima 74), IMPHAL- 495 km (Kohima 350 -Imphal 145). (ITANAGAR IS 1,539 KMS FROM CALCUTTA)

WHAT TO SEE

AT NAHARLAGUN

Polo Park:An interesting little botanical garden atop a ridge overlooking the town. Visitors should notice the cane thicket: it looks a bit like a palm, with spines on its stems, but growing as a bush. There is also a small zoo. Handicrafts Centre run by the Industries Department offers a good range of shawls, carpets, carved caskets & the beautiful cane & bamboo work in which the north-east excels. Behind & to one side of the showroom, is the workshop where cane is trimmed, cut and woven by tribal artisans with great skill. Pachin River: This rivulet providing a fine fishing spot passes by Naharlagun.

Zoo: 18 kms from Naharlagun and near Banderdewa police check post. Providing glimpses of uncommon Himalayan fauna.

AT ITANAGAR

The Buddhist Temple: A new, but beautiful, yellow-roofed shrine, it rises in well-maintained grounds behind a stupa bearing the portrait of a monk. At one side is a tree planted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The grounds of the temple afford a good view of Itanagar town.

Ganga Sekhi Lake: The 6 km drive to the lake from Itanagar takes visitors on a rugged road through some superbly primeval jungles : bamboo, orchids massed on tall trees, tree-ferns are some of the vegetation which can be identified by the interested traveller. Stopping at the base of a hill, one has to cross a bamboo bridge floored with a bamboo mat spanning a culvert. This leads to a flight of steps cut into the red clay of the hill. At the top of the ridge one looks down at a serene, green forest lake which one can cross in a row boat. A beautiful picnic spot.