Essay on Arunachal a tourist's delight
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ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Arunachal Pradesh is home to many monuments and archeological sites, each one has a rich history. Places of worship and pilgrimages like Parasuram Kund, the 400 years old Tawang Monastery and Gorsham Chorten draw a large number of pilgrims every year. Similarly archaeological excavations in Malinithan , Itafort, Bhismaknagar , Vijayanagar and Nakshaprabhat etc., are a historian’s delight.
Perched atop a hill, overlooking the ridge and surrounded by thick clouds, the legendary 17th century Tawang Monastery is the fountainhead of spiritual life for the followers of the Gelukpa sect of the Mahayana School of Buddhism. The building is about 113 feet long and 80 feet wide and houses valuable antiquities, books and manuscripts – handwritten and printed.
Malinithan, home to relics of stone ruins of temples and valuable sculptures, is associated with the legend of Lord Krishna. It is believed that on the way to Dwarka from Bhismaknagar, Krishna & Rukmani rested here and Goddess Parvati in the form of Malini offered them the choicest flowers.
Bhismaknagar is a hill fort made of burnt bricks situated in lower Dibang Valley district. The ruins of the hill fort dates back to circa 12th century A.D. It is related to the Mahabharata period when its king Bhismak had a very beautiful daughter named Rukmani, who later became wife of Lord Krishna.
Parasuram Kund is a place of great sanctity attracting large numbers of pilgrims from all over India for a dip in the Kund during Makar- Sankranti Mela every year. Here, according to the legend recorded in the Kalika Purana, Parasuram washed away his sins of killing his mother, in the waters of Brahma Kund.
Moreover, the recent discovery of the World War II Cemetery in east Changlang district has led to renewed interest in the famous Still Well Road built by Allied forces linking Ledo in Assam to Kunming in China. It was the only road communication that existed during pre- independence days. The discovery drew international media attention and attracted historians and archaeologists to Arunachal Pradesh. The research and tourism departments are making efforts to preserve and develop this site as a historical monument and centre for tourist attraction.