Places to Visit in Arunachal Pradesh

Popular Travel Destinations in Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang

This place is situated in the Western part of Arunachal Pradesh at an altitude of 3048 metres above sea level and 320 kilometres from Bomdila. It has a beautiful monastery built in Tibetan style with unique artwork on the walls and ceiling called Thangka's. This monastery was originally built by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1680 and later on renovated by the 6th Dalai Lama in 1752.

This place is also famous for its natural beauty with enchanting pine forests and lush green meadows covered with snow in winter. It has very few inhabitants due to difficult terrain and course climate which makes it an ideal destination for adventurers willing to explore the hidden treasures of nature.

Tawang Valley

The Tawang Valley is one of the most beautiful places in Arunachal Pradesh. Its location is in the very far corner of the state in West Siang in Tawang District, but it attracts a number of tourists because of its beauty and vastness. It has many Buddhist monasteries like Galden Namgey, Taktsang Monastery and others. The Samudra Aru valley is the main attraction of the Tawang valley.

Tawang Snow-Point

It is a small yet enchanting site near Tawang monastery. At this place, tourists can witness snow at a height of about 2000 metres above sea level which they cannot see anywhere else in India except Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

Itanagar

This place is the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh which also contains famous attractions like Jawaharlal Nehru Museum, Rajiv Gandhi Park, Mahatma Gandhi Park etc. A number of government offices are located here. It is located on the banks of river Brahmaputra at a high altitude of 4700 feet above sea level and has thick green woods all around. The State Legislative Assembly building, huge stadium and Pragya Kendra are some of its major attractions.

Nameri National Park

This Park has an area of 56 square kilometres and it lies between two rivers Jia Bhorelli and Jiabharali on the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Sonitpur District. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife including Tigers, Leopard, Civet cats, Serow, Barking deer, elephants, Gaur, Wild dogs etc.

Bhalukpung

Another gateway to Arunachal Pradesh, Bhalukpong situated at a height of about 780 metres above sea level on the banks of river Kameng, attracts tourists because it has a thick pine forest which offers various adventure sports like river crossing, mountaineering etc., It also offers hot water springs 36 kilometres from Bomdila via Pakhui road. It is one of the 27 districts of Arunachal Pradesh with an area of 2217 square kilometres. Tourists can find scenic spots like Fakim village museum, Bhismaknagar Fort and Balphik Hot Spring here.

Seppa

Another famous place is Seppa which has many Buddhist monasteries including Deopani Monastery built by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1690 A.D. It also contains the Japfu river which is the main source of irrigation for paddy fields.

Tirap

This place is a border town of Arunachal Pradesh and has many famous tourist attractions like Khonsa, Rima falls, Yarlong waterfall, Yagiyam fort etc.

Malinithan Temple

The Malinithan Temple of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most magnificent architectural sites in India. It was built by Chutia kings between 14th and 16th century AD during the reign of Mahendra Prava, who ruled from 1350 to 1400 AD. A large number of tourists travel from different parts of India as well as abroad to visit this temple.

Kanak Maya Devi Temple

It is a very famous spiritual centre on a hillock near Itanagar. Legend has it that an old lady (Mata) who was believed to be a goddess and lived in this area gave shelter to Mohan Das, the founder of the Saraiki community, for three days during his escape from enemies. So he named her Kanak Maya Devi.

Namdapha National Park

This Park is home to a variety of wildlife species and is located in Tirap District in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh. It has an area of 157 square kilometres with evergreen forests, meadow grasslands and alpine shrublands. The Park also provides shelter to Wild water buffalo, Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Giant Golden Cat, Serow etc. There are various tribal communities like Singpho, Tangsa etc living near the Namdapha national park which tourists can visit.

Bomdila

This is another beautiful place that has won many hearts because of its natural beauty, Buddhist monastery and pleasant climate. Bomdila is located at an altitude of 1600 m in the West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. It lies on the foothills of the Eastern Himalaya Range and offers a spectacular view of Mount Kangchenjunga (the third highest mountain in the world). It is often said that nature has blessed this region with one of the most stunning panoramas to be seen anywhere in India.

Fugeipar

Fugeipar is another beautiful region of Arunachal Pradesh situated in West Kameng district, on way to Tawang town. It is at an altitude of about 10000 feet from sea level and rich with flora & fauna. The region also has an ancient monastery called Galden Namgey which is widely visited by tourists coming to the Tawang valley.

Parshuram Kund

This is a Hindu pilgrimage in Siang, East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh. Parshuram Kund is a famous Hindu pilgrimage in India. It has been mentioned again and again from the time of Vedas. It is located on top of a hill at an altitude of 2205 metres surrounded by lush green pine forest with an alpine climate which provides relief from hot summer during July to September. The best time to visit this place falls between June and August before monsoon season when the water levels are low and pilgrims can walk up to the site rather than taking a raft ride daily.

The Holy Shrine

Many people come here just for sightseeing but there are some people who do a pilgrimage or a parikrama here. The religious belief of this place is that you can be relieved from your sins by taking a holy bath in the Parshuram Kund. It has been mentioned from time immemorial that those who take a dip here will be liberated from their sins and attain Moksha after death.

Rangapahar

Rangapahar is a high mountain in the West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh. The whole region surrounded by jungle and covered with blue pine trees and lush green meadows give you an unforgettable experience of nature at its best. It also has an ancient Buddhist monastery called as Siddha Cave Monastery which can be visited from here to have a glimpse of Buddha's life history.

Mayudia Temple

Mayudia temple is one of the famous temples in Arunachal Pradesh situated at Pasighat town in East Siang District. This beautiful red coloured temple attracts thousands of devotees from all over the state every day irrespective of caste and creed. People come here to get blessings from the Goddess "Mayudia" who is believed to be a powerful goddess. In fact, there are many stories about the power of this temple which attracts people from far and wide.

Ganga Lake

Ganga Lake is one of the most beautiful picnic spots in Arunachal Pradesh situated on the outskirts of Joram valley on Doimara Nallah in Tawang district at an altitude of 9619 feet and covers about 110 km sq. It also has Lhon-Kha-Chu Monastery, Chulung Hermitage and others. The lake borders India and China so one can witness China forts while taking a boat ride here. People come here to enjoy boating amidst all shades of green. Kayaking, angling and rafting are some adventurous activities here.

Bomdila Monastery

Bomdilla monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Arunachal Pradesh situated on the road to Tawang at an altitude of 1600 metres above sea level. This beautiful Buddhist monastery is a storehouse of information about the history and culture of Tibet and India because it was a very important centre for Buddhism coming from Tibet in the remote past. It also has a museum containing many beautiful things about the history of Buddha's life including rare manuscripts written by monks themselves. For this reason, it attracts a large number of tourists from all over India as well as from around the world.

Chango Waterfall

Chango is a small village located on way to Sela pass from Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh. This wonderful waterfall originates from the Namgia river and falls 600 feet down with a thundering sound filling one with awe and wonder. It is named "Chango" because the shape of the flow looks like a "Chango" fruit. It is located in the midst of thick forest and lush green meadows with enchanting scenic beauty. That's why it has become a much sought-after picnic spot attracting hordes of tourists every day.

Dirang

This place is situated at an altitude of 1950 metres above sea level on the foothills of the Himalayan ranges, about 100 kilometres from Tawang towards the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. Here one can spot many species of birds including redstarts, peafowls etc., apart from wild asses, monkeys etc.

Changlang

This is a beautiful valley situated in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh and shares its boundaries with Myanmar (Burma). It's one of the most unexplored places which attracts many adventure lovers because it has thick tropical rainforest, snow-clad mountain peaks and deep gorges. It also consists of 2 ranges known as Patkai and Naga.

Kameng

Kameng is a district in the central part of Arunachal Pradesh. It has many tribal settlements scattered all over this place making it much more accessible than other parts of Arunachal Pradesh. There are various activities like river rafting, angling etc., available here to enjoy amidst nature's beauty and make one's trip to Arunachal Pradesh all the more memorable.

Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh is a dense tropical rainforest covering an area of about 1800 square kilometres. It also has a historic Buddhist monastery in its southern part which was initially built by Lama Tsultim Nima at the end of the 19th century and restored in the year 2004 after it had been destroyed during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In northwest part of this wildlife sanctuary is situated Mechuka, a small town near the Indo-China border that attracts thousands of visitors from all over India.

Pasighat

The capital city of East Siang district is situated along the banks of river Siang at a height of about 80 metres above sea level, Pasighat is no doubt a beautiful town with lush green paddy fields and swaying bamboo groves. It's also an important commercial centre as it has many rice mills and plywood factories.

Shangshak

This small town is situated in the south of Mechuka on way to the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh which attracts tourists because of its enchanting beauty surrounded by deep gorges, thick forests and snow-clad mountain peaks. It also has an airstrip built during the Second World War for easier communication with Assam.

Sela Pass

This pass is situated at a height of 4,278 metres and can be reached via Se-La village in West Kameng district which is the highest motorable road in this part of India. It's an important route for defence forces as it connects Tawang with Assam.

Sela Waterfall

This wonderful waterfall originates from the river Bomdila which flows through Sela village and falls from a height of about 24 metres. The view it offers with its majestic flow is simply enchanting.

Sela Lake

This lake is located in the Sela village and is surrounded by dense forests, snow-clad mountain peaks and rolling hills. It's a popular picnic spot and offers activities like boating, angling etc., to its visitors.

Namgia Waterfall

Apart from "Chango" waterfall, there is another lovely waterfall named Namgia waterfall in Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh on way to Tawang. It's situated at a height of about 20 metres and consists of three streams which offers the most delightful view during monsoon.

Miao

This place is situated in the Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh and is mostly known for its picturesque beauty. It has lush green paddy fields around it, mountain peaks covered with snow, gorges etc. It also holds great historical importance after being occupied by the Indian Army during the 1962 war between India and China.

Deomali

Deomali is a scenic hill station located in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh and offers a mesmerizing view of snow-clad mountain peaks. It's one of the highest towns in this part of India situated at a height of about 2,500 metres. This is situated in the extreme east of Arunachal Pradesh on the border with Myanmar at an altitude of about 2100 metres thus making it a good hill station. It attracts many adventure lovers because of the dense forest, deep gorges, rivers and lakes around it.

Ziro

Ziro is a small town which is located in the Lower Subansiri district at an altitude of about 610 metres above sea level. This place offers scenic views like lush green paddy fields, deep gorges, swaying bamboo groves etc., which makes it a beautiful town.

Shyok River

The Shyok river is one of the main tributaries to the Indus River originating from the Tibet region of China. It flows for a long distance in Ladakh before entering Indian territory. It's a challenge for adventure lovers as it runs over huge boulders, deep gorges and local tribes living along its banks for shelter for many days together at a stretch.

Lohit River

The Lohit river is almost equally important as the Brahmaputra and a major tributary of it. Originating from Tibet, this river passes through Assam before entering Arunachal Pradesh where it meets Siang. Lohit has a total length of 744 kilometres and is one of the strongest rivers in Asia.

Dibang River

It's one of the most powerful Himalayan Rivers which flows for a long distance in the Tawang district. It also forms the boundary between India and China along with some parts of its course thus making it an international border river.

Pratap Singh Ganga River

The Pratap Singh Ganga River is an important tributary of the Ganga which originates from Tibet and flows for a long distance in Arunachal Pradesh.

Brahmaputra River

Originating from Tibet, this river passes through Assam and enters Arunachal Pradesh near Sadiya. It's one of the major rivers in India and has a total length of 2,900 kilometres.

Formosa River

This is another tributary of the Brahmaputra which originates from Burma (Myanmar) and confluences with it as Dibang at Pasighat in East Siang district. After confluence, its name changes to Lohit.

Siang River

The Siang River is also called Tsang Po and is one of the three main tributaries to the Brahmaputra River originating from China. Its confluence with Lohit takes place at Pasighat in the East Siang district.

Arunachal Pradesh offers much water-based boating, angling sports which are not easily available in other parts of India. Also, this state offers beautiful landscapes with scenic views which attract tourists from all over the world.