The Capital of Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar is situated at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level in the Papum Pare district. The name is derived from a historical fort called Itafort (Built 13-50 & 15-50 A. D) located at the heart of the capital city.
The capital was earlier stationed at Shillong and shifted to Itanagar on 1st June 1974. The temporary capital was inaugurated by Shri V. V Giri, the then-president of India on 20th April 1974.
The permanent capital was renamed Itanagar and the erstwhile temporary capital was known after its old name Naharlagun.
The foundation stone of the permanent capital at Itanagar was laid down by the then-governor of Assam, Shri B. K Nehru on 7th may, 1973 at the initiative of K. AAA Raja, and approval of the Pradesh council held in February 1972 at Shillong.
The area of the greater capital complex is 476 sq. Km, whereas the actual size of the capital is 132 sq. Km. It is situated at latitude 27°6N, and longitude 93°31’E. According to 2011census, the total population of Itanagar circle is 59,490 (Males: 30,497, Females: 28,993) and Naharlagun circle is 36,158 (Male:18, 090, Female: 18,068).
The capital is well connected by 415 National Highway, Itanagar; a place of scenic beauty and maybe called Mini India.
A separate administration unit for the Itanagar capital complex with a deputy commissioner was formed and effected from 1st October 2008 with its headquarters in Naharlagun.
Top Sightseeings in Itanagar
There are many places to visit in Itanagar for tourists and newcomers to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh.
- The ruins of itafort – One of the most famous tourist spots in Itanagar.
- Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum – The Museum that displays and preserves the rich traditional culture of Arunachal Pradesh’s tribes and historical findings.
- Ganga Lake – The beautiful lake called Gyakar Sinyi in the local language is situated a few miles away from Itanagar and is one of the most attractive and visited tourist spots.
- Indira Gandhi Park – The IG Park is the heart of the capital city, it is open to the public for free entry. The Park is beautiful and well-maintained by the state government.
- Zoological Park: The Zoo of Itanagar is one of the most visited places by locals and tourists to see different rare animal species, endangered flora, and fauna for preservation.
- Gompa – Gompa Itanagar is one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Itanagar you should not miss. It is the center of Buddhist culture and a beautiful Buddhist temple with beautiful art and displays.
Although there are many more places to visit in Itanagar, I have mentioned here only some of them, if you want to know more about the Top places to visit in Itanagar, please read other related articles:
- Top sightseeing in Itanagar
- Best places to visit in Itanagar
Top famous hotels in Itanagar
- Waii International Hotel
- Hotel Pybss
- Hotel Obsidian Blue
- Cygnett Inn
- Hotel Blue Pine
How to reach Itanagar?
There are three ways to reach Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh as Airport, Railway station and inter-state bus services are available for public transportation.
- By Train: Naharlagun Railway Station situated at Yupia is the nearest railway station to Itanagar at a distance of about 15 kilometers. The railway station connects directly to Guwahati daily and Delhi, two days a week (Thursday & Sunday). For train tickets and cab booking, you can get service from ItaMoto Travel by calling helpline No. 8787395780.
- By Air: Donyi Polo Airport situated at Hollongi is the nearest airport to Itanagar at a distance of about 24 kilometers. The airport connects directly to Kolkata and other cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangaluru, etc. by Indigo flights. Please see the flight schedule of Donyi Polo Airport. For flight and Airport Taxis booking, you can get service from ItaMoto Travel by calling helpline No. 8787395780.
- By Road: By taking a bus-sharing ticket or Innova from Guwahati you can reach Itanagar in 6-7 hours. For flight, Airport Taxis booking, and cab & bus tickets, you can get service from ItaMoto Travel by calling helpline No. 8787395780.
How do we get ILP and PAP to visit Itanagar?
If you are a non-Arunachal Pradesh Indian, and planning to visit Itanagar then you need to apply for IPL (Inner Line Permit) and need PAP (Protected Area Permit) if you are a foreign tourist.
How to Apply IPL and PAP?
- The state government has a digital portal or website where you can easily apply for ILP called – eILP online inner line permit system.
- For applying PAP – you need to contact any local authorized Agency for help or you can contact the Tourism Department of Arunachal Pradesh.
- For any need of help related to ILP and PAP, you contact the authorized agency ItaMoto Travel
Frequently Asked Questions About Itanagar
Why is Itanagar famous?
Ans: Itanagar is the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh and is famous for its diverse culture and tribal people. Itanagar is also called Mini India as different tribes and cultures co-exist in the city.
What is the language of Itanagar?
Ans: The capital city is considered an economic, business, and education hub of the state, so different tribal people from different districts come to the city. The common language for communication is “Hindi or English“, there is no such common language for all tribes of Arunachal Pradesh as every tribe has its own different dialects.
Is Itanagar a good place?
Ans: Yes, the one most relevant reason is “Crime rate is low as compared to other capital cities of Indian states“.
Does Itanagar have an airport?
Ans: Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar at Hollongi is the nearest Airport to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh.
What is the Pin code of Itanagar?
Ans: Pin Code of Itanagar is 791111
What is the name of Itanagar Aiport?
Ans: Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar
Which is the nearest Aiport to Itanagar?
Ans: Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar at Hollongi is the nearest Airport to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh.
Which is the nearest railway station to Itanagar?
Ans: Naharlagun Railway at Yupia is the nearest railway station to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh.
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