Things To Do In Itanagar

Itanagar, a city in the North-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, offers a relish for all. Whether you are an adventure lover, a photographer, nature admirer, or an explorer, it has activities for all. If you love adventurous sports then Itanagar and surroundings are the places you should not miss. You can indulge in many adventurous activities like trekking, rafting, mountaineering, boating and fishing. Not only that, if you are a wildlife enthusiast then you can take part in jungle safari and bird watching. There are many festivals celebrated in Itanagar like the Tamladu festival, Reh festival and Losar (the New Year). If you plan to be there during this time, you can get to know the taste and culture of this part of India. These are the things to do in Itanagar.

Itanagar is known for its wonderful Handicrafts like the Thangkas (Buddhist paintings on cloth with vegetable dye and gold), woodcarvings, shawls, local dress, carpets etc. You can see the influence of Tibetan artwork in all items found here. It will be a wonderful gift for your loved ones back home if you can pick a few of these items.

It is one of the most popular water sports here. It brings adventure junkies from far and wide to Itanagar, year after year, to indulge in rafting over river Siang. It is evident that Itanagar is an ideal place for rafting; not only for the mighty river but also for the stunning beauty you get to experience along the way. It will prove to be a thrilling experience. But rafting here is not for beginners since the tides are of grade 3 level and above. Tour packages for river rafting and Angling are also available.

Fishing is another activity you can explore when you visit this place because there are many rivers in Arunachal Pradesh. There is a good opportunity for you to opt for angling and fishing. Fishing can be done in many places like Pasighat on river Siang, Tezu on the river Lohit and Tipi on river Kamang.

It is better to visit any place during the local festivals to know the local culture and to enjoy the local food. Itanagar celebrates many festivals with great fanfare and gusto by the various tribes who reside here. A few of them are:

Losar Festival:

It is a New Year festival celebrated by the local tribe of Monpas. It is celebrated for 5 days in the month of February. They hoist religious flags on top of their homes, read religious books and the city is quite colourful during this period. They also clean their home completely to get rid of ill health.

Reh Festival: 

In Itanagar, Reh festival is celebrated by the Idu Mishmis for six days, in the month of February, to please their principal goddess Nanyi Inyitaya. One of the major attractions of the festival is the priest dance. The Festival is celebrated in good spirit with great enthusiasm.

Itanagar is a place, which will not disappoint any tourist. Few of the must visit places you should not miss are listed below.

Gompa Buddhist Temple:

It is one of the best places in Itanagar. The main feature of this temple is its yellow roof and well-maintained garden. It is built by Dalai Lama and you can see the Tibetian architecture in this temple. The statue of Buddha is very beautiful.

Itanagar Wild Life Sanctuary:

It is one more place you should not miss. It is rich in flora and fauna. Known to be a bird watcher's paradise, you will also be able to spot some of the rare species that are unique to this part of the region. Gear up with a pair of binoculars and brush your knowledge on this before you plan the safari.

Ita fort:                                                                                                       

Itanagar is named after this fort from ancient times. The meaning of this fort is “fort of bricks”. It is unique because you will not see many forts built in this region.