Itanagar
Itanagar | |
|---|---|
From top, left to right: Donyi Polo Airport, Ganga/Gyakar Sinyi lake, Lake at Itanagar, Ita Fort southern gate, Shatabdi Express from Itanagar station to Guwahati, Jawaharlal Nehru Museum, Itanagar, Rajiv Gandhi University | |
| Nickname: Capital of Arunachal | |
  Itanagar Location of Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh  Itanagar Itanagar (India) | |
| Coordinates: 27°06′N 93°37′E / 27.1°N 93.62°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Arunachal Pradesh |
| District | Itanagar |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Itanagar Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Likha Nari Tadar (BJP)[1] |
| • Deputy Mayor | Tok Tabin Camdir (BJP)[1] |
| • Lok Sabha MP | Kiren Rijiju (BJP) |
| • MLA | Techi Kaso (BJP) |
| Area | |
• Total | 51.69 km2 (19.96 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 320 m (1,050 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 59,490 |
| • Density | 1,151/km2 (2,981/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Itanagari |
| Languages | |
| • Official | English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PINs | 791111, 791112, 791113 |
| Vehicle registration | AR-01, AR-02 |
| Sex ratio | 1.05 (♂/♀) |
| Literacy rate | 85.17% |
| Website | imc |
Itanagar (/iːˈtɑːnəɡər/, Hindi: [iːʈaːnəɡəɾ] ⓘ) is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The seat of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the seat of government of Arunachal Pradesh, and the seat of Gauhati High Court permanent bench at Naharlagun are all in Itanagar. Being the hub of all the major economic bases, Itanagar, along with the adjacent town of Naharlagun, comprises the administrative region of the Itanagar Capital Complex Region. This stretches from the Itanagar Municipal limit at Chandranagar Town, until Nirjuli Town, and is a major hub of cultural, economic, fashion, education and recreational activities.
Etymology
[edit]Itanagar derives its name from Ita Fort, the 'fort of bricks' situated in the heart of Itanagar. The fort has an irregular shape, built mainly with bricks, dating back to the 14th-15th century[2] of the Chutia kingdom.[3]
History
[edit]The area of present-day Itanagar formed part of the wider medieval frontier zone between the Brahmaputra valley and the eastern Himalayan foothills. Historian Nityananda Gogoi included the Itanagar area in his reconstruction of the Chutia kingdom, stating that under some of its rulers the kingdom included parts of the hilly region of present-day Arunachal Pradesh, "inclusive of Itanagar". He connected this wider territorial reconstruction with archaeological similarities between sites at Sadiya, Buroi and Naksaparvat, and with fourteenth- and fifteenth-century inscriptions of the Chutia rulers.[4]
The principal medieval monument of the city is Ita Fort, a brick fort generally dated to the fourteenth or fifteenth century. The district administration of the Itanagar Capital Complex states that it was probably constructed by rulers of the Chutia kingdom.[5]
Demographics
[edit]As of 2011[update] India census,[6] Itanagar had a population of 59,490. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Itanagar has an average literacy rate of 66.95%, lower than the national average of 74.4%: male literacy is 73.69%, and female literacy is 59.57%. In Itanagar, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Religion
[edit]A majority of the tribes are worshipers of nature, with Tani Tribes being descendants of the Forefather Abotani, being followers of Donyi-Polo. According to the 2011 census, 40.94% of the population is Hindu, 29.51% Christian, 21.17% Donyi Polo, 4.52% Muslim and 2.88% Buddhist.
Languages
[edit]According to 2011 census, Nishi was the most spoken language in Itanagar with 17,896 speakers, followed by Bengali at 8,125, Adi at 8,102, Apatani at 4,256, Nepali at 3,721, Hindi at 3,641, Assamese at 3,538 and Bhojpuri at 1,987.
Geography
[edit]Itanagar is located at 27°06′N 93°37′E / 27.1°N 93.62°E in the southern foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. It has an average elevation of 320 m (1,050 ft). The city occupies an undulating landscape of forested hills and intervening valleys, with the terrain descending southwards towards the Brahmaputra Valley in neighbouring Assam.[9]
Itanagar forms part of the wider Itanagar Capital Complex, an administrative jurisdiction that also includes Naharlagun and Banderdewa.[10] The Capital Complex covers an area of approximately 200 km2 (77 sq mi).[11]
Around 6 km (3.7 mi) from the city centre is Gekar Sinyi, commonly called Ganga Lake. It is a naturally formed lake enclosed by hard-rock banks and surrounded by trees, ferns and orchids. Its Nyishi name is commonly translated as “confined water”.[12]
Culture
[edit]As the state capital, Itanagar is a multi-ethnic urban centre inhabited by communities from across Arunachal Pradesh. These include the Nyishi, Adi, Apatani, Galo and Tagin, among others. The city's diversity is also reflected in its languages: the 2011 census recorded Nyishi, Adi, Apatani, Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, Assamese and Bhojpuri among its widely spoken mother tongues.[13]
Festivals associated with the different communities of the state are publicly celebrated in the capital. These include Nyokum Yullo of the Nyishi, marked by communal rituals, traditional dances and feasting, and Losar, observed by the city's Buddhist communities.[14]
A major institution documenting the cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh is the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum. Its collections include traditional textiles, weapons, household objects, handicrafts and archaeological material representing the state's different communities. The Craft Centre and Emporium displays local handloom products, traditional clothing, wall paintings and objects made from cane and bamboo.[12]
The Centre for Buddhist Culture, commonly known as the Gompa, is situated on a hill above the State Museum and serves as one of the city's principal Buddhist religious and cultural landmarks.[15]
Itanagar has a number of tribes, i.e., Nyishi, Adi, Apatani, Tagin, Galo, etc.
Education
[edit]
Universities and colleges
[edit]- Dera Natung Government College
- Don Bosco College
- Himalayan University
- NERIST
- National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh
- Rajiv Gandhi Government Polytechnic
- Rajiv Gandhi University
- Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences
- Indira Gandhi National Open University[16]
Media and communications
[edit]Television
[edit]DD Arunprabha is the state-owned television broadcaster of Arunachal Pradesh.[17]
Radio
[edit]Radio stations of Itanagar are: All India Radio, RadioCity Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh's first community radio) and Big FM 92.7 (India's largest national radio network).
Newspapers
[edit]- The Arunachal Times
- Echo of Arunachal
- Dawnlit Post
Places of Interest
[edit]- Ita Fort, one of the most important historical sites in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The name literally means "Fort of bricks"( brick being called "Ita" in the Assamese language). The Ita Fort was built as early as the 14th or the 15th century. The fort is mainly built with bricks, forming an irregular shape. The total brickwork is of 16,200 cubic meters, which has been identified by some scholars with the Chutiya kingdom. The fort has three different entrances on three different sides, which are the western, eastern, and southern sides.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Museum, Itanagar is also known for showcasing the rich tribal culture of the state.
- Gekar sinyi (Ganga Lake) is a beautiful natural lake which literally means confined lake in the Nyishi dialect. It is surrounded by a landmass of hard rock. Primeval vegetation, orchid masses on tall trees and tree ferns contribute to its popularity as a hot picnic spot and recreation hub. Boating facilities and a swimming pool are available at the site.
- Buddhist monastery [Gompa mandir]
Transport
[edit]Road
[edit]National Highway 415 connects Itanagar to the rest of the country. Regular bus and taxi services are available from Guwahati.
Railway
[edit]Naharlagun railway station is the nearest railway station, which is nearly 15 km away from the city. Taxi and bus services are easily available from the railway station to Itanagar. Donyi Polo Express can be availed, which runs on all days of the week from Guwahati, and Shatabdi Express is available thrice a week from Guwahati. The Arunachal AC Superfast Express runs between Naharlagun and Anand Vihar Terminal twice a week, which is the only direct train that connects Arunachal Pradesh with the national capital.
Air
[edit]Regular helicopter service is available from Guwahati to Naharlagun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Itanagar Airport at Hollongi on 9 February 2019. It has been named as Donyi Polo Airport, and was inaugurated on 19 November 2022, with flight services operated by Alliance Air, IndiGo and FlyBig airlines.[18][19]
Climate
[edit]Itanagar features a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa), with dry, mild winters and hot, humid and wet summers.
| Climate data for Itanagar | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.2 (81.0) |
30.0 (86.0) |
33.9 (93.0) |
33.7 (92.7) |
40.5 (104.9) |
35.8 (96.4) |
38.0 (100.4) |
36.6 (97.9) |
35.2 (95.4) |
35.6 (96.1) |
31.3 (88.3) |
28.9 (84.0) |
40.5 (104.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) |
25.0 (77.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
29.0 (84.2) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.9 (89.4) |
31.6 (88.9) |
31.5 (88.7) |
30.3 (86.5) |
28.1 (82.6) |
25.2 (77.4) |
28.8 (83.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
25.9 (78.6) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.6 (81.7) |
27.6 (81.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
25.3 (77.5) |
21.0 (69.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.8 (51.4) |
11.2 (52.2) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.8 (64.0) |
20.8 (69.4) |
22.8 (73.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.2 (68.4) |
13.8 (56.8) |
10.7 (51.3) |
17.7 (63.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
8.8 (47.8) |
13.6 (56.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
20.0 (68.0) |
20.5 (68.9) |
21.3 (70.3) |
17.4 (63.3) |
15.6 (60.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 33.7 (1.33) |
67.6 (2.66) |
106.1 (4.18) |
226.8 (8.93) |
468.7 (18.45) |
633.2 (24.93) |
577.7 (22.74) |
503.0 (19.80) |
492.3 (19.38) |
241.6 (9.51) |
19.2 (0.76) |
11.3 (0.44) |
3,381.2 (133.12) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 2.5 mm) | 2.5 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 12.2 | 14.4 | 19.7 | 20.5 | 16.4 | 16.2 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 125.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 85 | 77 | 71 | 75 | 78 | 84 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 86 | 82 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department[20] | |||||||||||||
Sacred Heart Church, Naharlagun suburb of Itanagar
Centre for Buddhist Culture, also known as the Gompa Temple
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "IMC led by millennials: Likha Nari Tadar named new mayor, Camdir deputy". The Arunachal Times. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ↑ Raikar, Y. A.; Chatterjee, S. (1980). Archaeology in Arunachal Pradesh. Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. pp. 26ff.
- ↑ "Itanagar Capital Complex". Arunachalpradesh.nic.in.
- ↑ Gogoi, Nityananda (1994). Historical Geography of Medieval Assam (PhD thesis). Gauhati University. pp. 21–22.
During the days of his successors, this kingdom[Chutia], at times, included besides the regions as mentioned above, also a part of the hilly province of present Arunachal Pradesh inclusive of Itānagar, its present capital, and its adjacent territories in the Brahmaputra valley as far west as to the river Bargāng near Biswanath in the Sonitpur District. Similar marks on stones found in the old archaeological ruins in Sadiyā, on the bank of the Buroi River and in the Naxāpāhār at the confluence of the Bargāng and the Dikal rivers inside Arunachal Pradesh, support this belief. Moreover, the inscriptions like the Dhenukhanā Copper Plate of Satyanārāyan of Śaka 1314 (1392 A.D.), the Barmutiyā Bil Copper Plate of the prince Dharmanārāyan a son of Satyanarayan of Śaka 1314, the Ghilāmorā Copper Plate of Laksminārāyan of Śaka 1323 (1401 A.D.), the Chepākhowā Copper Plate of Śaka 1350 (1428 A.D.) and the Pāyā-tāmreswari Temple Inscription of Mukta (Yuva) Dharmanārāyan of Śaka 1364 (1442 A.D.), also confirm that this line of kings had their capital at Sadiyā or Sadhayāpur and they ruled once an extensive country comprising a part of Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, at least in the last part of the 14th century and the first part of the 15th century A.D.
- ↑ "Ita Fort". Itanagar Capital Complex. Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ "Census of India 2011: Data from the 2011 Census, including cities, villages and towns(Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ↑ "Population by Religious Community". Census of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ↑ "C-16 Population by Mother Tongue". Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ↑ "About District". Itanagar Capital Complex. District Administration, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Block & Circles". Itanagar Capital Complex. District Administration, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Itanagar Capital Complex". District Administration, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Itanagar". Arunachal Tourism. Department of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "C-16 City: Population by mother tongue (town level), Arunachal Pradesh—2011". Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Itanagar". Incredible India. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tourist Places". Itanagar Capital Complex. District Administration, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ IGNOUHelp (24 August 2023). "IGNOU Itanagar Regional Centre, Contact Number & Address". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ↑ "DD Arun Prabha to meet aspirations of people: Official". The Indian Express. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "PM Modi inaugurates first greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh". The Hindu. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ↑ "Arunachal gets 1st greenfield airport. Here's why it is significant: Top 5". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ↑ "Climate of North Eastern States" (PDF). Climatological Summaries of States Series - No. 19. India Meteorological Department. December 2013. pp. 270–274. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
External links
[edit]
Itanagar travel guide from Wikivoyage
Places adjacent to Itanagar | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
