Itanagar, Capital city in Papum Pare district, India.
Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India and sits at around 750 meters elevation among forested hills. The city combines concrete government quarters with residential areas built from wood and bamboo along winding roads.
The settlement became the capital of the newly formed state of Arunachal Pradesh in 1974 and has since developed into the administrative center of the region. The brick fortress Ita Fort from the 14th century shows that the area was settled centuries earlier.
Residents still speak their local languages and celebrate the harvest festival Nyokum Yullo in February with dance and ritual ceremonies. Many wear traditional dress with colorful bead necklaces and handwoven patterns during festive occasions.
The city is reached through Naharlagun railway station about 15 kilometers away, from where buses and taxis continue onward. December through March offers cooler weather with less rain than during the monsoon months from June to September.
The name means fort of stones in the Nyishi language and refers to the ancient brick fortress at the edge of town. The surrounding forests are home to over 500 orchid species, many of which grow only at this elevation.
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