Overview
Changlang district is an administrative district in the south-eastern part of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The district headquarters is located at the town of Changlang. It is one of the older districts of the state, carved out of the erstwhile Tirap district, and is known for its ethnic diversity, its forested terrain in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, and its historical association with the Stilwell Road of the Second World War era.
Key facts
| State | Arunachal Pradesh |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Changlang |
| Region | Eastern Arunachal Pradesh |
| Parent district (former) | Tirap district |
| Neighbouring districts | Tirap, Longding, Namsai, Lohit (Arunachal Pradesh); parts of Assam and Nagaland |
| International border | Shares a boundary with Myanmar |
Geography
Changlang district lies in the transition zone between the plains of upper Assam and the higher ranges of the Patkai hills. The terrain rises from low foothills in the west to densely forested mountains in the east, where the district shares an international border with Myanmar. The Patkai range and its spurs dominate much of the landscape. Major rivers and streams of the district drain westwards into the Brahmaputra system through the Buridihing and other tributaries.
The district contains Namdapha National Park, one of the largest protected areas in India and a biodiversity hotspot known for being one of the few places where four large cat species — tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard — have been recorded.
Administration
Changlang district is divided into administrative subdivisions and circles, with Changlang town serving as the seat of the district administration headed by a Deputy Commissioner. Important towns and administrative centres in the district include Changlang, Miao, Bordumsa, Diyun, Jairampur and Nampong. The district is part of the wider parliamentary and assembly constituency framework of Arunachal Pradesh.
People and culture
Changlang has a varied ethnic composition. The principal indigenous communities include the Tangsa, Tutsa, and Singpho, along with smaller groups such as the Lisu (Yobin) who live in and around the Namdapha area. The district is also home to a sizeable settlement of Tibetan refugees at Miao and to communities of Chakma and Hajong settled in areas such as Diyun. Major festivals observed in the district include Moh-Mol of the Tangsa, Pongtu of the Tutsa, and Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi of the Singpho.
History
The area now constituting Changlang was historically part of the Tirap Frontier Tract during the colonial period and later of Tirap district under the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). With administrative reorganisation in Arunachal Pradesh, Changlang was constituted as a separate district by carving territory out of Tirap. Subsequent reorganisations of districts in the state, including the creation of Longding district from Tirap, have shaped its present boundaries.
During the Second World War, the district lay along the route of the famous Stilwell Road (Ledo Road), which ran from Ledo in Assam through Jairampur and Nampong onward into Myanmar (then Burma) and China. Memorials and a wartime cemetery at Jairampur recall this history.
Economy
The economy of Changlang is largely agrarian, with shifting cultivation (jhum) and settled wet-rice farming both practised. Tea is grown in parts of the district, particularly in the foothill belt. Forest produce, horticulture, and small-scale trade contribute to local livelihoods, while tourism centred on Namdapha National Park and the Stilwell Road heritage has growing importance.
Places of interest
- Namdapha National Park — a tiger reserve and biodiversity hotspot near Miao.
- Miao — gateway to Namdapha and home to a Tibetan refugee settlement and handicraft centre.
- Stilwell Road / Pangsau Pass area — historic Second World War route near Nampong leading to the India–Myanmar border.
- Lake