Arunachal Pradesh

,state,NE India,bordered on the north by the Tibet region of China and on the east by Myanmar. The capital is Itanagar. Formerly the North-East Frontier Agency special territory,Arunachal Pradesh became a union territory in 1972 and a state in 1987. A remote region,it includes part of the E Himalayas and extends through mountainous highlands to the plains of Assam. Its border with Tibet,disputed by China,is known as the MacMahon line. It was established by the British,with the agreement of Tibet,in the early 20th cent.; the Chinese claim more than 90% of the territory. In Oct.,1962,the Chinese launched a massive offensive against the area,and by November they had advanced far into Indian territory. On Nov. 21,however,the Chinese proclaimed a unilateral cease-fire and withdrew behind the MacMahon line. Arunachal Pradesh is inhabited by people of Mongoloid stock,most of whom practice animism. The state is governed by a chief minister responsible to a unicameral legislature and by a governor appointed by the president of India.

Location of Arunachal Pradesh 
Capital Itanagar
27.08� N 93.4� E 
Largest city Itanagar 
Abbreviation IN-AR 
Official languages Adi,Nishi,Monpa 
Area 83,743 km� (14th) 
Time zone IST (UTC +5:30) 

"Arunachal Pradesh" means "land of the dawn-lit mountains" or "land of the rising sun" . ("Pradesh" means "state" or "region".)

Arunachal Pradesh is a region administered by India as a state. It is part of what are called the Seven Sister States of the Northeast of India. Arunachal Pradesh borders the state of Assam to the south and Nagaland to the south east. Myanmar lies to the east of the state,Bhutan to the west,while the McMahon Line separates it from the zone of control of the People's Republic of China to the north. Itanagar is the capital of the state.

Arunachal Pradesh was administered as the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) until 1972,when it became the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh. It was given full statehood in November 1986 after taking into consideration the security situation in the east and Sino-Indian tensions.

Climate

The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with elevation. Areas with very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas near the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate. Below the Upper Himalayas come the Middle Himalayas,where people experience a temperate climate. Fruits like apples,oranges,etc are grown. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation experience a humid sub-tropical climate,with hot summers and mild winters.

The state receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,000 mm) annually,most of it falling between May and September. The mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine,temperate,and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron,oak,pine,maple,fir,and juniper; sal (Shorea) and teak are the main economic species.

Sub-divisions

Arunachal Pradesh is divided into fifteen districts,each administered by a district collector,who see to the needs of the local people. Especially along the Tibetan border,the Indian army has considerable control over the territory due to the continuing concern about Chinese intentions. In the Northern areas and areas near the Indo-Burmese border and Nagaland,where Naga-Christian militant groups have been alleged of harassing the local people,special permits are needed to enter the area.

Districts of Arunachal Pradesh:

Changlang 
East Kameng 
East Siang 
Kurung Kumey 
Lohit 
Lower Dibang Valley 
Lower Subansiri 
Papumpare 
Tawang 
Tirap 
Upper Dibang Valley 
Upper Subansiri 
Upper Siang 
West Kameng 
West Siang 

Economy

Agriculture is the primary driver of the economy. Jhum,the local word for shifting cultivation,which was widely practised among the tribal groups has come to be less practiced. The forest-products are the next most significant sector of the economy. Among the crops grown here are rice,maize,millet,wheat,pulses,sugarcane,ginger and oilseeds. Arunachal is also ideal for horticulture and fruit orchards.

Its major industries are sawmills,plywood (these two trades however have been stopped by law),rice mills,fruit preservation units and handloom handicrafts.

Transport

The state's airports are located at Itanagar,Daparjio,Ziro,Along,Tezu,Pashigat. However,owing to the rough terrain,these airports are mostly small and cannot handle many flights.

Tourism

The unspoiled environment of Arunachal Pradesh has attracted tourists from many parts of the world. There is also significant locally arranged tourism to see the cultural diversity of Arunachal Pradesh,places from Bomdila and Tawang to Tirap.