Itanagar Tourism And Travel Guide

Itanagar, the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh is breath-taking in its picturesque setting. Surrounded by the lofty Himalayan Mountains and nestled between two hills, this pristine city cannot be matched with any other place. This place flaunts a lush green landscape, dancing waterfalls and a variety of flora and fauna. In addition to the scenic beauty, the tourism of Itanagar offers a variety of attractions such as the Gompa Buddha temple, Ita fort, Rupa, Ganga Lake etc. Best time to visit the place is between October to March. Read the travel guide to Itanagar and make your next plan.

Itanagar is the state capital and well-connected with other major cities of the region. The weather is quite pleasant throughout the year and it is easy to plan a vacation to Itanagar because of its connectivity.

By Air:

Although Itanagar does not have an airport of its own, it is easy to travel by air, because the nearest airport is only 67 km away at Lilabari in Assam. You can take a taxi from there to reach Itanagar.

By Train:

Harmuti in Assam is the nearest railway station; it is at a distance 57 km from Itanagar. This station is well connected by road to Itanagar.

By Road:

It is well-connected by road. The Arunachal Pradesh Road Transport runs buses to the entire tourist destination. You can reach your destination without much of a hassle.

Itanagar has a wonderful weather throughout the year and you can plan your trip at any time of the year. Wind up your stress and leave it back as you hatch a plan to one of the finest destinations of the country.

Summer (April-June):

Although it is a bit hot during summers, it is manageable. The temperature ranges between 20°C -35°C and it is the best time to visit all the indoor places, like the Gompa Buddhist temple, Ita Fort, The Ganga Lake, Namdapha National Park, Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Polo Park.

Monsoon (July to September):

It is a beautiful place to visit during monsoon, but Itanagar experiences heavy rainfall during this season which may hamper your plans. The temperature ranges between 18°C - 29°C, which is quite pleasant.

Winter (October to March):

It is the best time to visit the place as the weather is very pleasant. Please pack your winter clothes when you travel to this place, the temperature is around 15°C - 22°C. You can visit all the major attractions during this time and if you love snow then pack your bags and travel to the nearby Twang where you will get a wonderful view of the snow clad mountain.

There is an abundance of activities you can do in Itanagar. One thing is certain you will not come back disappointed. There are a number of cultural attractions, historical sites and amazing places in Itanagar which you should not miss. Check out the list below to know more in detail:

Ita fort:

It is a historical place built during the reign of Ahom. Itanagar is named after this fort. It is mainly built of bricks and the meaning of Ita is also bricks in the Ahom Language. You will get a beautiful view of the valley from this place.

Gompa Buddhist temple:

The most striking feature of this temple is its yellow roof. Surrounded by mountains and valley, this place is quite magical. You can find a beautiful statue of Buddha here. This place is very good to meditate, relax, and the air is musical. If you visit the temple in the evening, you can enjoy a play in the Siddhartha hall. There is a café and a souvenir shop in the premises.

Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum:

It was inaugurated in 1980 and it is dedicated to the tribal collection of the state. You will get a fair idea about the culture and lifestyle of the people of the state. It has a large collection of the archaeological collection found in Ita fort and Malinithan. Since it has a very unique collection, it attacks a large number of tourists every year. 

Boating:

If you are a sports enthusiast then boating in the Ganga Lake is a must. Since it is not connected to any river the lake is still and it is green. The lake is surrounded by lofty Green Mountain and the view is quite breath-taking. Do not forget to take a camera along to take pictures of aquatic life, lofty mountains and lush green landscape which will be very beautiful.

Itanagar wildlife sanctuary:

The Itanagar wildlife sanctuary is known for its collection of flora and fauna. It has a large collection of rare species like capped languor, slow tori etc. You can take the safari ride which is available in this place.

Any trip remains incomplete without tasting the local cuisine. Although rice is the staple food of the local people in Itanagar, the way it is cooked is quite different; which makes it quite healthy and delicious. Rice is either cooked in a brass utensil or in a bamboo tube. Rice is served with fish curry which is again cooked in a different way or with vegetable stew.

If you want to experience the local food like momos and thupka then head to the roadside stalls. Please don’t miss the local bakery which is known for brown bread and delightful pastries. If you want to experience a fine dining, then head to in-house restaurants in Itanagar which serve a wide range of Indian, continental, and Chinese.

Itanagar is a shopper’s paradise, especially if you love handicrafts. You can see the Tibetian Influence in all the artifacts found here. The small shops and roadside markets are more than enough to make your shopping experience wonderful. Look out for a Tibetian painting called Thangkas. You can also buy a variety of woolen shawls, wooden articles, bamboo baskets, carpets, attractive bangles, bead ornaments, and Sarongs. The city also houses many Handicraft centers and Emporiums housing a large collection of all these artifacts.