ARUNACHAL PRADESH

About: Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most pristine areas in India. The history of Arunachal Pradesh is a virtualtreasure trove of myths and fascinating traditions, but the recorded historyof this state is available only from the 16th century onwards, when the Ahom kings began to rule Assam. Since 1947, it was a part of the NorthEast Frontier Agency and was later made a Union Territory. Arunachal Pradeshwas made a full fledged state on 20th February, 1987.

The greatest attraction of the state is its dazzling array of floraand fauna, in a habitat that combines glacial terrain, alpine meadows,and sub-tropical rain forests. Places of tourist interest in the stateinclude Bomdila, Tawang and the nearby Buddhist monastery, which happensto be the largest in India. Itanagar is famous for its excavated ruinsof the historical Ita Fort, and the attractive Gyaker Sinyi or the GangaLake. Malinithan and Bhismaknagar are the two important archaeologicalsites in the state, and Parashuram Kund is a prominent pilgrimage site.Namdapha Wildlife sanctuary in the Changlang district is home to the rareHoolock gibbon.

Arunachal Pradesh is skirted by Bhutan on the west, China on the north- east, Myanmar on the east and by the Indian state of Assam on the southernside. It mainly consists of verdant mountainous ranges sloping to the plainsof Assam, and has the largest area in the north-east region.

94 percent of the population in the state lives in the rural belt. Agricultureis the main occupation of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The principal crop of this area is rice, and other important crops include maize, millets,wheat, pulses, potato, sugarcane and oilseeds. The ecological conditionsare suitable for horticulture and fruits like pineapple, orange, lemon,papaya, plum, pear, guava, cherries, walnut and peach thrive here.

Arunachal Pradesh is well endowed with an abundant forest cover, mineral,and hydel power resources. Deposits of dolomite, limestone, graphite, quartzite,kyanite, mica, iron and copper are also reported to be found here.