-By Himanshu

If you are the type that looks to have a relaxed holiday, away from the madding crowd and far from the polluted environment, you are sure to love what Arunachal Pradesh has to offer. The land known for its cultural heritage, Arunachal Pradesh is located in a picturesque setting with hills and valleys around. This land is perfect for all types of tour. If you are looking for relaxation and rejuvenation, you will find your spirits soaring and your mind elevated to a new plane in the serene beauty of the land. If you are looking to have action-filled vacation, the land offers wonderful scope to go boating, trekking, rafting and a lot more. Not to mention the wild life sanctuaries that gives you the thrill of your life. For those who are looking to visit places of worship, Arunachal Pradesh is again the destination. Let us see the top 6 attractions in Arunachal Pradesh that you are not supposed to miss on your tour.

1) Tawang

 The beauty of Tawang, which is situated approximately 10000 feet above MSL, Mean Sea Level, will enchant you. Tawang monastery, which is more than 400 year old, is situated here. Apart from being one of the oldest, it is also one of the largest monasteries in India. In a perfectly picturesque setting, the monastery offers stunning views of Tawang. There is a small museum in the monastery. While you are in Tawang, do visit the lakes around Tawang, which offer spectacular sights.

2) Itanagar

Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Here, you can find yourself engaged in a blend of activities. The Ganga Lake offers wonderful sight. Located 6 kms away from the capital, the green forest, orchids and primeval vegetation are feast to your eyes. The Buddhist Temple looks peaceful and you can have a good view of the town from the grounds of the temple. The State Museum is yet another important place to visit in Itanagar. The gallery in the museum reflects on the cultural heritage of the major tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. The botanical garden, Polo Park is worth a visit while you are in Itanagar.

3)  Bomdila

Located 8000 feet above sea level, Bomdila offers stunning views of snow-capped Himalayan mountain ranges. The cool Bomdila attracts tourists in great numbers. The Buddhist monastery reflects the culture of the people. The Craft centre produces excellent carpets with colorful designs. It is open for tourist visits. Dirang valley and Sela Pass offer thrill moments.

4) Ziro

 World Heritage Site’s favorite town Ziro is surrounded on all sides by pine covered mountains. Some of the major tourist attractions here include fish farm, craft centre and pine bamboo groves. Also known as Apatani Plateau, the picturesque beauty of the town spell bounds you. Every nature lover will love the experience of the smell from the mist and the gentle breeze. Once here, one cannot overlook visiting Talley Valley and the Wild Life Sanctuary here.

5) Bhalukpong

This is the right place for nature lovers and adventure seekers. You can engage in various outdoor activities such as trekking, hiking, river rafting and fishing. You can set up a tent while you go trekking in the evening in the surrounding hills. You will love watching the stars sitting by the campfire. Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary (Pakke Tiger Reserve), where you can find Bengal Tiger, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary are the three most famous tourist attractions here.

 6) Namdapha

 This is a place, which you cannot afford to miss during your tour to Arunachal Pradesh. It is situated in Changlang district. For those who love challenges, Namdapha National park has plenty to offer. Spread over stunning range of altitudes that vary from 200 meters to over 4500 meters, the Park stimulates the challenger in you. You will find tiger, leopard, Himalayan black bear, deer and a lot of wild animals here. The spectacular beauty of the place and its lush green vegetation will mesmerize you.

Arunachal Pradesh is rightly called the Nature’s Treasure Trove. Picturesque valleys, dense forests, snow capped mountain peaks and lush greenery never fail to tap the explorer in you. Arunachal Pradesh is a perfect holiday destination if you are planning to experience a blend of scenic beauty, rich cultural heritage and physically challenging activities.

Author Bio:

The author of this article is Himanshu. He loves to read, write and set off for a journey whenever he gets a chance. He has founded an Indian coupon website; Couponlava.com which provides latest and working travel coupons such as Yatra coupons, Makemytrip coupons etc. Although the value of experiencing a new land is always priceless, but Himanshu likes to get maximum discount on the “ticket value” where-ever he can.

On 9^th of November, 2012, NHPC Limited under the aegis of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and in association with Department of Elementary Education, Government of Arunachal Pradesh conducted the State Level Painting Competition on Energy Conservation.

Around 50 students of class IV to VI standard, selected from about 130 participating schools in the School Level Painting Competition took part in the State Level Painting Competition on Energy Conservation. The topics on which the participating children were to draw/paint were:

1. Save Electricity to Energize More Homes.
2. Save energy, Save money and
3. When it is bright, switch off the light.

The first prize of Rs. 10,000/- was bagged by Sourav Jyoti Kachari, a class VI student of V.K.V, Itanagar whereas 2^nd and 3^rd prizes with prize money of Rs. 8000/- and Rs. 5000/- respectively were bagged by Ankita Manna of KV No.-I, Itanagar and Paoncha Rajkumari of R.K. Sarada Mission Girls School, Khonsa respectively. The winners get chance to represent the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the National Level Painting Competition on Energy Conservation at Delhi on 12^th December, 2012.

Sourav Jyoti Kachari receiving the First Prize Award from Chief Guest Mr. Tanga Byaling, Hon’ble Minister of Power, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh

List of prize winners of State Level Painting Competition are given below:

Photos of the event:

Dear President of [put your organisation's name],

Lest you feel that I’m against your organization and invite unnecessary attention to myself, let me make myself clear at the very outset that I’m not writing in to protest or to criticize your organization’s act of repeated call of “Bandhs”. In fact, I’m writing in to show my solidarity and gratitude for your frequent “Bandh-Calls”. You are doing yeomen service to the people of Arunachal Pradesh by calling “Bandhs” and I highly respect and support your cause/s-be it political, apolitical, personal, non-personal, profit, non-profit or even the “Bandh-Call” against “Bandh-Call”, of which I believe that even the Apatani Protagonist would surely agree with.

Had it not been for your “Bandh” call, we wouldn’t have this “quality time” with our family that we forgot in the midst of our daily chores of running around to make our ends meet. Now that you’ve called a “Marathon Bandh” giving us whopping 4 days of “quality time” with our family, we are really indebted to your organization.

The general public is of the opinion that the development of the state has taken a backseat due to your organizations’s frequent “Bandh Calls”. I say, to hell with your opinion. You and your organization are doing great job by letting the public servants of the state avail paid absence from their duty and they are indebted to you and your organization. Their only complaint though, is that two of your organizations are calling the “Bandh” on same day, therby depriving them of one more paid absence from their duty. They would really appreciate if one of your organization defer their “Bandh” call to another day not coinciding with any other organization’s “Bandh” call. Further, they have a request that kindly prepare your annual schedule of “Bandh Calls” and circulate in the greater interest of the salaried personnels so that they can plan their station leave in advance taking into consideration the scheduled “Bandhs”.

The Business Communities of Arunachal Pradesh are complaining that their business are dipping owing to your frequent “Bandh Calls”. I say, are you kidding! What abour the profit made by you during the non-”Bandh” period by charging us above MRP’s in the product/goods, huh! You and your organization are doing great service to the consumers’ by making the business establishment shut down their shutters and letting the consumers’ pay back the businessmen by not letting the consumers’ making any purchase during the “Bandh” period. The consumers’ of Arunachal Pradesh thank you for your kind act.

Elected representatives of Arunachal Pradesh are complaining that their business of developing the state is getting hampered owing to your frequent “Bandh-Calls”. I say, excuse me, sir! But for their organizations’ frequent “Bandh Calls”, you are getting this opportunity to remain absent from your duty and head off to foreign tour or to some farm houses in some exotic location. So, you and your organization are doing great services to our politicos too.

I say, keep-on doing the good work that you are doing and don’t listen to what your detractors have to say about your act. After all, you are doing the act in the interest of the people and the development of Arunachal Pradesh and one day, who knows, you and your organization may bring laurel to the state by making Arunachal Pradesh a numero-uno state in the country in terms of number of “Bandh” calls in a year. Amen.

Long live “Bandh culture”.

Indebtedly yours,

AG