The Capital City of Arunachal Pradesh is Itanagar. It is one of the seven sisters of North East India and its beauty thrives along with its people in the Himalayas! Itanagar means the “Land of the Rising Sun,” and the Arunachal Pradesh is the “Land of Dawn-Lit Mountains.” Moreover, the Capital City of Arunachal Pradesh is loathed in the southwestern part of the state and Itanagar is the largest town in Arunachal Pradesh. Read on to learn more about the what is the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar.
Table of Contents
What is the History of Itanagar?
When it comes to Itanagar’s history, one can say that it is rather young as compared to other Indian cities.
- Before the 20th century, the region was mostly inhabited by indigenous Adi tribes.
- Furthermore, the British set up a permanent outpost here in 1912, thus naming it Ita Fort.
- After India’s independence in 1947, the town was renamed Itanagar and was the headquarters of the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).
- In 1972, NEFA was renamed Arunachal Pradesh, and hence Itanagar officially became the Capital of the newly formed Union Territory.
- Lastly, Itanagar got full statehood status in the year 1987, thereby solidifying its position as the political and cultural heart of Arunachal Pradesh.
Demography of Itanagar
The Capital City of Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar’s population is about 83,000 in 2024.
- The literacy rate of Itanagar is 85.17%. Moreover, 79.58% is the female literacy rate and 90.51% is the male literacy rate in Itanagar.
- Additionally, Itanagar has many ethnicities present, with the Adi tribe being the majority. Other notable communities are Nishi, Bengali, Nepali, and Assamese.
Geography of Itanagar
Itanagar is on the foothills of the Himalayas and has an elevation of around 750 meters or 2,460 feet above sea level. Moreover, the geographical coordinates are 27.1° North and 93.62° East.
- Summers are from April to June and are warm and humid with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C.
- The monsoon season is from July to September and brings heavy rainfall with temperatures dropping to 25°C.
- Winters are from October to March with temperatures around 10°C to 15°C.
Also Read – What is the Capital City of Bihar?
Economy of Itanagar
The economy of Itanagar runs mainly on the sectors of tourism and agriculture. Handicrafts and in particular, wood carvings and textiles made by local tribes are also important contributors to the local economy. In addition, tourism is a growing industry as most visitors are attracted to Itanagar’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and adventure activities.
Culture of Itanagar
The Culture of Itanagar is a mixture of tribal traditions, Buddhist influences as well as modern trends.
- The Capital City of Arunachal Pradesh celebrates many festivals throughout the year.
- The Solung Festival which is celebrated by the Adi tribe shows their cultural heritage through traditional dances, music, and archery competitions.
- Moreover, the Reh Festival by the Nishi tribe is a harvest festival celebrated by colourful celebrations and community gatherings.
- Itanagar’s lively bazaars give a peek into the local way of life, with their stalls selling traditional clothing, handicrafts as well as regional delicacies.
Also Read – What is the Capital City of Mizoram?
Why is Itanagar famous?
The Capital City of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar is famous for the following reasons:
- Itanagar’s location at the foothills of the Himalayas, along with the nearby Brahmaputra River, thus creates a spectacular scene.
- The surrounding hills and forests provide opportunities for trekking, camping, and river rafting which are all ideal for adventure enthusiasts.
- Itanagar also has the admired Ita Fort temple which is a Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Goddess Durga. Moreover, the Gyakar Gompa which is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, is another place of spiritual significance.
- Unlike many Indian cities, Itanagar is well-planned with spacious roads, clean streets, and well-defined sectors.
FAQs
The other name of Arunachal Pradesh is the Land of the Rising Sun and the North Eastern Frontier Agency.
The old name of Itanagar is Mayapur.
There are many languages spoken in Arunachal Pradesh as there are many of them are tribal languages such as Adi, Dafla, Nyishi, Gallong, Miji, Mohpa, Tagin, Tangsa, Wancho, Hill Miri, Nocte, Aka, Khamti, etc.
Relevant Blogs
That is all about what is the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh! If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our general knowledge page!