Coordinates 27°04'N 93°22'E? / ?27.06, 93.37Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn lit mountains"[2] in Sanskrit. It is also known as "land of the rising sun"[3] ("pradesh" means "state" or "region") in reference to its position as the easternmost state of India. Most of the people living in Arunachal Pradesh are either of Tibeto-Burman or indigenous tribal origin. Another 16% of the population are immigrants, including 30,000 Bangladeshi and Chakma expatriates, and migrants from other parts of India, notably Assam and Nagaland.[4] Part of the famous Ledo Burma Road, which was a lifeline to China during World War II, passes through the state.
The earliest references to Arunachal are found in the era of Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Vedic legends. Several characters, such as Princess Rukmini, King Bhismaka and Lord Parashurama, were referred to as people from the region in the Mahabharata. According to traditional accounts Princess Rukmini was born in the family of Bhismaka. (Mahabharata Adi 67.156). Rukmini was the daughter of King Bhismaka of Kundil in Upper Assam (now Sadia). Krishna fought against King Bhismaka in his bid to marry Bhismaka's daughter Rukmini. Bhismaka was the vassal of King Jarasandha of Magadha. The Dibang Valley lying to the extreme north of the state is close to the Chinese border. It was the ancient kingdom of Bhismaka where Rukmini was given in marriage to Lord Krishna. Malinithan a small town has strong historical links with Lord Krishna and his consort Rukmini. Parashuram was born to Saint Jamadagni and Renuka in Lohit valley and Parshuram Kund in Lohit district, which is believed to be the lake where Parshuram washed away all his sins.
The first ancestors of the tribal groups migrated from Tibet during the prehistoric period, and were joined by Thai-Burmese counterparts later. Except for the northwestern parts of the state, little is known about the history of Arunachal Pradesh, although the Adi tribe had legendary knowledge of the history. Recorded history was only available in the Ahom chronicles during the 16th century. The tribal Monpa and Sherdukpen do keep historical records of the existence of local chiefdoms in the northwest as well. Northwestern parts of this area came under the control of the Monpa kingdom of Monyul, which flourished between 500 B.C. and 600 A.D. This region then came under the loose control of Tibet and Bhutan, especially in the Northern areas. The remaining parts of the state, especially those bordering Myanmar, came under the control of the Ahom and the Assamese until the annexation of India by the British in 1858.
