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Voykit pocket guide · India
Itanagar
इटानगर
Spend 1–2 days in Itanagar: see the lake, museum and temple, then head to Tawang or Ziro.
Itanagar, capital of Arunachal Pradesh, sits at the foothills of the Himalayas. Main sights are clustered near the city centre and can be visited in a half‑day; a second day allows a relaxed pace or a short trek to nearby Ganga Lake.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- इटानगर
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy rain)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire and ambulance 101 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (local café) | ₹30–₹80 |
| Meal at a mid‑range restaurant | ₹200–₹400 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹150–₹250 |
| Entry to Jawaharlal Nehru Museum | ₹20–₹50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HGI · Donyi Polo Airport
- Daily flights from Dibrugarh, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pasighat and Ziro
Typical fares
- HGI → Itanagar (taxi)
- ≈ ₹350, 30 min (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw city centre
- ₹150–₹250 per ride
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxi or shared bus from Naharlagun railway station (≈15 km (9.3 mi)). Local auto‑rickshaws and city buses serve the lake and museum area.Taxi or shared bus from Naharlagun railway station (≈9.3 mi (15 km)). Local auto‑rickshaws and city buses serve the lake and museum area.
See and do
Known for
- Ganga Lake
- Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum
- Buddhist Temple
- Indira Gandhi Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga Lake | Local bus or auto‑rickshaw, 5 min from city centre | ≈15 min |
| Tawang | Bus to Naharlagun, then shared taxi, total ≈6 h | ≈7 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok
- Doubles from ₹2,700; central, heater and restaurant
- Hotel Arun Subansiri
- Rooms from ₹700; basic amenities
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| Where is the nearest bus stop? | सबसे नज़दीकी बस स्टॉप कहाँ है?sabse najdeeki bas stop kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Inner Line Permit required for all visitors; obtain at Arunachal Bhavan (Delhi/Kolkata) or border checkpost.
- Roads can be slippery during monsoon; plan travel before heavy rain.
Itanagar is generally safe for tourists; keep permits handy, avoid night travel on unlit roads, and watch for sudden rain.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Itanagar yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ganga Lake
- Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum
- Buddhist Temple
- Indira Gandhi Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Arunachal Pradesh official portal: www.imc.arunachal.gov.in/
- Wikivoyage: Itanagar, revision 5293087 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5293087
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/itanagar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.