Itanagar, the seat of administration of
Arunachal Pradesh, is a cosmopolitan city situated at the foothills of the
Himalayas, at an altitude of 350 m above the sea level, in
Papum Pare District. Dubbed as 'the Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains', this historic city is the most populated and a major tourist base in the state. Itanagar is 400 km north-west of
Guwahati and east of
Tawang.
The history of Itanagar dates back to the 11th century when the city was the capital of the Jitri dynasty. It was called Mayapur then.
Places of tourist interest include Itafort, Buddhist monastery, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Museum, Polo Park, the Ganga Lake (Geykar Sinyi) and the Zoo. Itanagar also boasts various trekking and hiking trail; boating and canoeing facilities are available on the Ganga Lake while angling on the river Dikrong is a major draw.
The nearest airports are at Tezpur and Lilabari in Assam. There is also a tri-weekly Pawan Hans helicopter service between Itanagar and Guwahati. Harmuti Railway Station (33 km) in Assam is the nearest railway station. National Highway 52A passes through Itanagar.
Indian tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh require an Inner Line Permit. It can be obtained from – The Liaison Officer, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, 4B Chowringhee Place, Kolkata. Tel: +91-33-22486500. or
The Liaison Officer, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, RG Baruah Road, Guwahati. Tel: +91-361-226544.
Foreign tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh need clearance from the Home Ministry at New Delhi and a Restricted Area Permit. A minimum of four and a maximum of 14 tourists must travel together on a tour arranged through an approved travel agent.
The permit can be obtained from - Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi.
