Places To Visit in Itanagar

For someone looking for a place that is rich in cultural heritage, history and natural beauty, Itanagar is an invaluable city. The combination of cultural richness with serene landscapes makes this city ideal for visitors who want peace and adventure. We give you the most comprehensive guide ever on the best places to visit in Itanagar. Our trip in this town doesn’t only entail us viewing its attractiveness but also touching the hearts of its people and living through their culture.

Located in Itanagar, the Ita Fort continues to serve as a historical touchstone that has defied the passage of time. After all, the fort’s name, derived from the Assamese word “Ita” means brick, thereby revealing what it is made of and also providing an etymological root for Itanagar. The famous monument lies just outside the main city and is easily accessible by road from Papum Pare district. Lasting about 16-20 minutes, covering nearly 4km, this drive can also be served by plenty of local transportation.

The origin of this fort dates back to Chutia Kings during their reign in Northeast Indian history. In architectural terms, Ita Fort is known for its large scale and extensive use of bricks amounting to approximately eight million dating back to 14th or 15th centuries. Ita Fort lacks uniformity but has natural ridges together with strategically placed brick ramparts making it more fortified against any invasion attempt. Entrances can be found at three points while steep ridges surround it with hills acting as natural defense.

These include those on the eastern side stretching approximately 500 meters towards Dikrang Valley and those on the west side that are about 1.4 km long along the Senkhi River. Thus, this ancient fort is not only a window to ancient architectural practices but also bears testimony to the rich history of Arunachal Pradesh, thereby making it a must-visit site for historians.

The Itanagar Buddhist Temple not only serves as a religious place, but also as a symbol of peace and tranquility in Arunachal Pradesh’s capital which is located on top of a hill. This Buddha Temple is one of the beautiful Buddhist shrines in India and has a vibrant yellow roof, a feature that seems to stand out against the greenery backdrop of the land of dawn-lit mountains. This structure reflects the significant Tibetan influence on its construction and worship.

A prominent stupa, bearing an image of a monk is found right at the front part of this temple symbolising its devotion to Buddha’s teachings. Moreover, it adds historical importance to this site because one tree was planted by HH Dalai Lama himself, making it important for anyone wishing to connect with Buddhism.

GyakarSinyi, or Ganga Lake as it is known locally, is an undisturbed marvel of nature located in Itanagar. Perched just 6 kilometres from the town’s centre, this calm body of water lies amidst dense leafage and towering heights that make it a befitting venue for relaxation and recreation. This lake lacks connection with flowing rivers as well as streams hence its green appearance gives it a unique look making it mysterious.

As a result, many tourists flock to the place. It provides an ideal spot for picnics in which families can enjoy each other’s company under cool breeze and sunny weather. These features together with ancient forests around and tall trees make up breathtaking scenery that embraces photographers and nature enthusiasts.There are boating facilities available on the lake for those who want some adventure. 

By Air: The nearest airport around Itanagar, North bank of Ganga River in Assam is Lilabari Airport which is approximately 57 km off. Regional Air India flights from major cities such as Kolkata and Guwahati service it.

By Train: Tourists can also use train services to reach closest railway stations Harmuti station in Assam and Naharlagun station in Arunachal Pradesh located at a distance of 34km and 15km from Itanagar respectively.

By Road: For those who prefer using road means, there are well established bus routes connecting Itanagar to its surrounding towns which include Banderdewa, North Lakhimpur, Tezpur, and Guwahati.

Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is nestled in Arunachal Pradesh’s lush greenery, sits there as a trove of nature's treasure waiting to be explored. As dawn breaks over the horizon, the dense forest awakens to the melodious calls of Arunachal Pradesh’s cherished national bird, the Hornbill. Here, you can witness the majestic dance of wildlife, where Elephants, Tigers, and vibrant Orchids coexist in harmonious splendour amidst the serenity of wilderness.

The sanctuary is located in Naharlagun, Itanagar and it stretches across 140.30 square kilometres through different types of terrain. This sanctuary has a rich biodiversity that is bordered by Pam River to its east and Neorochi on its northeast thus it provides a natural haven for game lovers. 

Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary is not all about charismatic megafauna but also a paradise for botanists owing to its dense tropical semi-evergreen and wet evergreen forests. Rare plants such as Duabanga grandiflora (Khokan), AmooraWallichii (Aman) and Toona ciliata (Poma) are some of the amazing plants that can be found in this area.

This park has been strategically placed near Yupia where the visitors could reach within no time from Itanagar which happens to be only 17 kilometres away. Staying around either bustling Itanagar city or quieter Yupia town will offer a myriad range of housing choices for you to select from. The best way for those coming from distant places in India would be flying into Guwahati followed by taking a taxi or bus up to Itanagar. Another option is to get off at Naharlagun Railway Station and then take a state tourism bus or hire a vehicle to the sanctuary.

For a better experience of the sanctuary’s beauty and increased chances of seeing wildlife, visit the site between October to April. The weather during these months is fairly pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25° C.

Between January and December, the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sanctuary charges a small entry fee of less than $1 for Indians and approximately $5 for foreign visitors.

The Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum, located in Itanagar, is seen as an eminent resource centre for the deep-rooted tribal culture and heritage of the area. It was one of two places of this type for forty six years, along with Assam State Museum and one of India’s most valued ethnographic collections ever since. The range includes a vast number of items relating to domestic life, religious purposes, music, weapons such as canes and textiles, all representing diverse cultural lifestyles across different tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.

Amongst others, items on display on the ground floor include traditional art pieces, handicrafts as well as religious artifacts. In addition to this, there are significant historical discoveries up stairs from such sites like Malinithan, Noksparbat and Ita Fort providing insight into the states archaeological past. 

Another interesting thing about this museum is that it offers live experience on making traditional cane products through a workshop where visitors have an opportunity to learn how to make traditional cane products. Moreover, there is a shop that sells these unique objects made by tribesmen thereby enabling people take away their legacy crafted locally within their regions. With its establishment by the State Implementation Committee headed by then Governor RD Pradhan and former Chief Minister GegongApang, today this museum stands for hope in preservation and learning within cultural space.

The enchanting city of Itanagar has a Polo Park, nestled strategically within Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh, which is not only a paradise for botany but also worth visiting. A variety of colourful flowers and rare orchids are seen at the park. The place is lined with bamboo clusters and cane thickets that form a cool retreat for all guests. Apart from this, the park also houses an interesting mini zoo which has among other animals guinea pigs, rabbits and different types of reptiles including snakes. 

Besides going through these beautiful plants, you can visit the Handicrafts Center supervised by the State’s industries department where you will meet their soul in traditional shawls which come with intricate designs on them, woven carpets that have taken their makers’ days to finish, carved caskets and exquisite tribal handcrafted cane-and-bamboo items. In spite of its significance as being a nature lover’s paradise or cultural enthusiast’s pilgrimage destination, Polo Park promises a lot more than that by giving visitors memorable experiences in Arunachal Pradesh full of life. 

Rupa, a scenic hill station situated 20 km from Itanagar beckons visitors to enjoy the untainted beauty of Arunachal Pradesh. Located on the Tenga River, this calm place is characterised by lots of greenery, blue skies and cool mountain air that make it an embodiment of the region’s natural beauty. The most effective way to enjoy Rupa’s enchanting landscape is either driving during the morning or evening hours when the sun is shining softly in the valley painting vivid colours against the background of thick forests.

Famous for its grasslands and undulating slopes, Rupa offers a healing weekend getaway. The other destinations hereabouts include Rupa Monastery which belongs to Gelugpa Buddhism and Shertukpen tribal village where one can experience their rich cultural heritage and lifestyle. In total, all these sites are incorporated into one thrilling experience where tourist will view amazing natural scenery while still partaking in local customs hence making Rupa a memorable mix of beauty and culture.

Another top places to visit in Itanagar is Ziro Festival of Music, a vibrant celebration of culture, community, and creativity. It is nestled in the breathtaking Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh where it brings together indigenous tribes, artists and music enthusiasts from all over the globe. This four day event has many Indian and foreign independent musicians play on its stage while facing serene background of a green valley. Different from others since it emphasises environmental sustainability by building the venue using local bamboo and hiring local artisans to work on it. 

The event also actively involves the community through skills training and outreach programs aimed at empowering youth and artisans in the locality. Blending together harmoniously music, culture and nature makes this festival one to which we shall never forget both as well as providing rich heritage aspects for artistic talents that range from northeast India would be Ziro Music Festival.