Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is a mountainous state in the far northeast of India, the easternmost in the country, where the sun first rises over India. Its capital is Itanagar. Bordering Bhutan, China and Myanmar, it is a remote land of Himalayan peaks, deep valleys and extraordinary tribal diversity.

Arunachal Pradesh is dominated by the eastern Himalayas, with high snow-capped ranges descending to forested foothills and river valleys fed by the Brahmaputra system. It has dense, biodiverse forests and a climate ranging from alpine to subtropical.

The state is home to dozens of distinct tribal communities, each with its own language, dress and traditions, making it one of the most ethnically diverse regions in India. Buddhism and animist beliefs are widespread, and the Tawang Monastery is a major center.

Long inhabited by indigenous tribes and influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, the area was administered by the British as the North-East Frontier and became a full Indian state in 1987. Its border with China remains disputed.