Itanagar
Itanagar 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, extended until Nirjuli Town, and is a major junction of cultural, economic, fashion, education and recreational activities.
Etymology
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 of Mayapur of Ramachandra, a king of the Jitari Dynasty.Geography
Itanagar is located at. It has an average elevation of 320 metres.Climate
Itanagar features a humid subtropical climate, with dry, mild winters and hot, humid and wet summers.Culture
Itanagar has a number of tribes, i.e., Nyishi, Adi, Apatani, Tagin, Galo, etc.Demographics
India census, 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
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
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.Education
Universities and colleges
- 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
Media and communications
Television
DD Arunprabha is the state-owned television broadcaster of Arunachal Pradesh.Radio
Radio stations of Itanagar are: All India Radio, RadioCity Itanagar and Big FM 92.7.Newspapers
- The Arunachal Times
- Echo of Arunachal
- Dawnlit Post
Places of Interest
- Ita Fort, one of the most important historical sites in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The name literally means "Fort of bricks". 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 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