Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian State located in the northeastern part of the country; the city of Itanagar is the capital. The state's name means "land of the drawn lit mountains" and/or "land of the rising sun". It's bordered by the Republic of China, Burma, Bhutan and the Indian States of Assam and Nagaland. It's the easternmost state in India and the state's population consists mostly of people with Tibetan or Burman origins. A large number of people from other regions of India have migrated here. A famous road known as the Ledo Burma Road runs through the state and was an essential transport route for China during World War II. The northern border lies on the McMahon line, which was founded in a controversial treaty between Britain and the Tibetan Government, but the division was never accepted by China. In 1914, a treaty called the Simla Accord was developed in India between British and Tibet, which established the McMahon Line. This all occurred during India's modern history.

Most of Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the Himalayan MOuntains. The southeastern part of the state includes the Brahmaputra Valley Forests and the state's elevation increases dramatically moving northwest towards the Himalayas. Like most of northern India, the climate varies by elevation. There's an Alpine climate in the upper Himalayas, a temperate climate in the Middle-Himalayas, and a humid, tropical climate in the sub-Himalayan areas, closer to sea level. Overall you could say the state's geography influences the climate. Arunachal Pradesh receives rainfall between 80 and 160 inches each year and most of it happens between May and September.

The state's economy is mostly driven by agriculture and the primary foods grown are rice, millet, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, ginger, oil-seeds, and various types of fruit orchards. The region's economy sees some income from handicrafts, which are sold around India at Handloom Stores; these are a chain of stores that specifically sell hand-made crafts.

An unfortunate amount of corruption occurs in Arunachal Pradesh; which prevents the economy from thriving the way that it could. The state is beautiful and would make an excellent tourist destination, but strict local state government does not allow many outsiders to visit.

More than thirty languages are spoken here, they have derived from various tribal elements. Most dialects spoken come from the Tibeto-Burman language family. The state can be easily broken into mini cultural areas: the Tibetan area of Bhutan in the west, the Tani area in the center, the Mishmi area to the east, the Tao/Singpho/Tangsa area along Burma, and the Naga area to the south.

Religions here are different from many other India states. Around thirteen percent are Buddhists, twenty percent Christians, and a large, but uncertain number of people are animists, meaning they follow tribal-shamanistic animal religions. A growing number are now practicing Hinduism.

There are three airports scattered around the state and a few major highways. Education wise, the state struggles, but is working to improve its status. There are educational and religious schools, such as Pali Vidyapith. There is also a major University in the area called Rajiv Gandhi University. There are seven government colleges, and the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology too.

The limited number of tourists who are able to visit Arunachal Pradesh come to see a beautiful Buddhist monostary in the city of Tawang, to enjoy cultural festivals in Ziro, to see the Namdapha tiger project in Changlang, and Sela Lake near Bomdila, with its famous bamboo bridges. In religious stories, Lord Krishna's wife had lived in Rukminiager, near the area of Roing.

Rafting is also quite popular here, but make sure you get a government permit to do so when visiting so you can have fun and not get in trouble!

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