The largest state in the North-East region of India, Arunachal Pradesh is also the abode of the mighty Himalayas. Literally, the name means “land of the dawn-lit mountains” and indeed, the first rays of the rising sun hit the Himalayan peaks in Arunachal Pradesh before any other part of the country. The 1,500 mile (2,400 km) long Himalayan mountain range ends in the Brahmaputra valley in eastern Arunachal. Entry into the state till the recent past was restricted and some regions could not be visited at all by outsiders. But now, tourists can visit the region after obtaining restricted area permits from the government.
People
Many people in Arunachal Pradesh still follow their ancient tribal culture and customs, even down to their attire comprising of bamboo hats with hornbill beaks, necklaces with claws of wild cats and the ‘Dao’, a kind of machete. There are 66 major and sub-tribes spread out across the state and there are at least 30 different languages spoken in the state, not to mention the different dialects. Some of the tribes practice the Donyi-Polo faith where the Sun and Moon are considered as Gods, while others practice Hinduism and even Buddhism. All tribes form their own unique institutes and also select leaders according to their age for distinct social functions. The experienced leaders of the tribal groups are revered for their position in the community. The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh have an excellent heritage of artistic craftsmanship. Their aesthetic essence of tribal art can be seen in their pottery, wood carving, basket making. Weaving, Wood and bamboo crafting are some major professions of these tribes.
Terrain
If there is one thing that will be an ever-lasting memory for you, it will be the ever-changing raw beauty of the state. The north is dominated by the Himalayas and the south by the mighty plains home to several rivers. Most of Arunachal Pradesh is thickly forested, and surging rivers merge with each other to become part of the 1,800 mile (2,900 km) long Brahmaputra, one of the biggest rivers in the world. River crossings, jungle tracks, mountain roads and rocky river beds will be encountered in abundance during the tour.
Weather
The Himalayas also contribute to the heavy rainfall in the state. North- east India, of which Arunachal is a part of, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the world. Monsoon is between the months of May and September. November and December are usually devoid of any rainfall. Temperatures range between 5 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius in the months of November and December across the route we are covering on the tour. But most of the time, the weather should be sunny and pleasant.
Flora & Fauna
Hunting being one of the traditional practices of the indigenous people, wildlife is not easily sighted outside of the National Parks. Even then, the state has the highest diversity of mammals in the country. The forest cover is quite thick in places and orchids grow abundantly all over the trees (November & December are outside the flowering season, though). The state animal, the Mithun, is easily spotted on our route but the state bird, the hornbill will be a rare sight.
For more detailed information on Arunachal Pradesh, visit the official website or the Wikipedia page.
Tour Arunachal Pradesh with us on One Crazy Ride.