Credentials

Because of the remoteness, the state of Arunachal has not been overtaken by urban ethos. Yet the fine balance between advancement and keeping in touch with ones roots is nowhere as clearly manifest as in this state. Most of Arunachal Pradesh has primary jungles, deep gorges and villages in really remote places. The changing colors provide a constant reminder of diversity and cheerful spirits. Cane bridges, swaying precariously over roaring white waters are often the only means of moving from one place to another.
Arunachal Pradesh, "the land of the dawn-lit-mountains", is one of the last un-spoilt wildernesses. It is situated north of Assam extending eastwards from the high Himalaya near Bhutan towards Burma, with the mountains of Tibet away to the north
Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. One can travel along National Highway 52 and keep branching off to visit places like Ziro, Daporijo, Along and Pasighat. Entering Arunachal, the road to Tawang runs through rugged hills, engulfed by virgin forests, with silver ribbons of rivers far below; a complete contrast to the denuded paddy bowls of Assam, though most of the Himalayan foothills must once have looked like this.
Only very recently, foreign tourists have been permitted to visit Arunachal. This long-standing isolation is partly due to cultural considerations, and partly to political factors, as the border with the Chinese is still under dispute.

Flora and fauna:

The big attraction is the state's dazzling array of flora and fauna, in a habitat that combines glacial terrain, alpine meadows and sub-tropical rainforests. Namdapha National Park, in the northeast, is home to the rare Hoolock gibbon; other animals include the legendary snow leopard, tigers, musk deer, bears, panda and elephant.
The mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine, temperate, and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron, oak, pine, maple, fir, and juniper; sal (Shorea) and teak are the main economic species.
Arunachal also abounds in bamboo and has over 500 species of orchids.


Culture:
Most of the people living in Arunachal Pradesh are either of Tibetan or Thai-Burmese origin. Another 16% of the population are immigrants, including 30,000 Bangladeshi and Chakma expatriates, and immigrants from other parts of India, notably Assam and Nagaland.

The successive river valleys of Arunachal, separated by forbidding north-south ridges, enable distinct micro-cultures to flourish in what can be very small areas. The Monpas, who have a strong affinity with the Bhutanese, occupy the valleys north of Bomdila; their largest town, Dirang, with its dzong (fort), is just before the pass at Sela.
The Sherdukpens live south of the Bomdila Range, in the valleys of the Tengapani, and have close affinities with their Monpa neighbours. They wear distinctive gurdams, or yak's hair skullcaps, from which jut tassel-like projections that serve as guttering - this part of Arunachal sees very heavy rainfall. Traditionally Sherdukpen men wear a sword in a scabbard tucked into their waist or on a strap.

Climate
Areas that are at a very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas close to the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate. While below the Upper Himalayas are the Middle Himalayas, where people experience a climate that is temperate. Fruits like apples, oranges, etc are grown here in this region. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation generally experience a humid sub-tropical climate, along with the hot summers and mild winters.
Arunchal Pradesh receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,000 mm) annually, most of it between May and September.

Roads:
Arunachal Pradesh has two highways; the 336km (205 miles) National Highway 52, completed in 1998, connects Jonai with Dirak. There is another highway that connects Tezpur in Assam with Tawang. Now in 2007, every village is connected by road. Every small town has got its own bus station and daily bus services are available. All places are connected to Assam, which has increased the trading capacity. A National Highway is being constructed on the famous Stillwell Road, which connects Ledo in Assam to Jairampur in Arunachal.