Climate of Arunachal Pradesh

The climate of Arunachal Pradesh differs with the elevation. Areas that are at a very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas close to the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate. While below the Upper Himalayas are the Middle Himalayas, where people experience a climate which is temperate. Fruits like apples, oranges, etc are grown here in this region. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation generally experience a humid sub-tropical climate, along with the hot summers and mild winters.

Arunchal Pradesh receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,000 mm) annually, most of it pours down 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.

The climate is highly hot and humid at the lower altitudes and in the valleys covered by swampy dense forests particularly in the eastern section, while it becomes exceedingly cold in the higher altitudes. The rainfall is amongst the heaviest in the country.

The annual average rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh is more than 300 cm! The rainfall varies from 450 cm in the foothill areas to 80 cm in the upper reaches. As can be expected, the vegetation of the whole of Arunachal varies gently in relation to the elevation of the different regions. It ranges from a wide belt of swampy rain forests along the foothills and the low lying areas to tropical and sub tropical. There's a great variety of plantation to be found. There are climbers, and an abundance of cane, bamboo and orchids. The lower altitudes are remarkable for their deciduous forests with patches of ever green tropical vegetation.

The forests of the state are its most important wealth. A huge revenue is earned from them each year. Over 22 million wood sleepers used by the Indian Railways in all the three gauges were supplied by the state. Leasing of the tribal owned forest land to the forest department of the government is a unique system in the state.

In the jungles of Arunachal, a large variety of medicinal plants are also available. The natives utilize these plants for treatment and cure of a large number of diseases. Despite the fact that modern medicine is quite easily available now, the use of herbal medicines is still in vogue. Some of these herbal medicines are really quite effective.