Yingkiong


Yingkiong is a town and the administrative headquarters of Upper Siang district in the Northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a small town located from Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. It is located east of the Siang River in Upper Siang, Arunachal Pradesh. Yingkiong is located at an elevation of above sea level. To Yingkiong's west flows the Siang River, which is known as the Brahmaputra River in the Assam Region and Yarlung Zangbo/Tsangpo in Tibet. According to the 2011 Census, the town has a population of 8,573.

History

The district of Upper Siang was a part of the East Siang district until 1995, when it split from East Siang.. The administrative district Upper Siang dates back to when Arunachal Pradesh was an independent region. The region was not brought under administrative control of the British or other powers until the Anglo-Burmese war of 1826-1861. After the Anglo-Burmese war and the subsequent Treaty of Yandaboo between Burma and the British expeditionary forces, Burma ceded the North-Eastern region of Assam, Cachar, and Manipur, to the British. However, the British control did not extend to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as a whole, as the British only annexed land up to Pasighat in the East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh. In 1911, after the Anglo-Abor wars, the British gained control of Upper Siang. It fell under the administrative control of the Assistant Political Officer stationed at Sadiya in Assam during the period. Some prominent Assistant Political Officer are Francis Jack Needham, who was appointed in 1882, and Noel Williamson, who was assassinated by locals of Komsing village in East Siang district.

Geography

The topography of Yingkiong is characterised by hilly terrains and river valleys. The town is located at coordinates 28.61037°N 95.047531°E, and sits at an elevation of above sea level. To Yingkiong's west flows the Siang River. The Siang is known as Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet and as Brahmaputra River in Assam region. The Siang River has Tibet to its north, the Dibang Valley to its east, the West Siang district to its west, and the East Siang district to its south. Yingkiong is surrounded by hills, and the Siang River flows on its west. Near the Indo-China border, Tuting, Singging, and Bishing lie north of Yingkiong. Simong, Gobuk, Puging, Pangkang, Gette, Moying, Bomdo, Likor, and Millang, are some villages and hamlets that surround Yingkiong, among others.

Climate

Yingkiong has a relatively warm and humid subtropical climate. The highest recorded temperature in Yingkiong is 39 °C during summer, and 4 °C in winter. The highest recorded annual rainfall of Yingkiong is 3116 mm. The upper parts of the city receives snowfall for most of the year.

Economy

The majority of Yingkiong households practice farming for a living. Of the gross 69 percent of households engaged in agriculture in Upper Siang, Yingkiong township has the highest number of urban agrarian households. Jhum cultivation and terrace farming are the most common farming techniques. Rice, maize and millet are the main food crops. Cash crops like turmeric and sugarcane are commonly grown. Along with agricultural products, handicrafts such as woven bamboo stools known as "Murha" are commonplace at the market. Cultivation of seasonal fruits like oranges and pineapple are common, and during periods of favourable cultivation and surplus output, they are bulk transported for sale in local markets or outside the town in Pasighat. Pisciculture is also common and it is promoted under centrally sponsored FFDA programme to generate employment for locals and revenue for the State. The Adi people are remarked as being skilled at making a distinct type of traditional basket called 'Egin'. It is used for carrying daily household items like rice, wheat, and dried woods. A variety of Black and Red Tea called Siang Tea are also produced at Deki Tea estate at Ramsing Village for export and domestic consumption.

Demographics

As of the 2011 census of the Government of India, the town has a total population of 8,573 people. The male population was 4,381 and the female population 4,192, with 1,139 persons in the age group of 0 to 6. The total working population was 3,787 persons, with the male working population at 2,221 and the female working population at 1,566. The literacy rate of the region is 64%. The female literacy rate is 44.89% and the male literacy rate is 55%. It has a non-working population of 4,786 persons, mostly of dependent age. Adi is the major dialect spoken in the area. The Hindi language is commonly used as a Lingua franca to communicate with people of diverse speech or with people who do not speak Adi.

Religion

The following table shows the population by religion, according to the 2001 census.
Total PopulationHinduismIslamChristianitySikhismBuddhistJainDonyi-PoloNot Stated
Total Population6,5402,0281981,061411703,07557

Culture

Festivals

The locals of Yingkiong celebrate the Solung, Aran, and Etor, Siang River Darshan and Mopin festivals.
The town is connected to the rest of the country and Arunachal Pradesh via National Highway 513 and NH-52 from Pasighat to Itanagar. Modes of transport include sumo services and APSTs bus services. There is no direct aerial connectivity and an earlier one was limited to Mohanbari Airport in Dibrugarh. In 2018, a newly built airport was operationalised in Pasighat town, which is currently the nearest airport to reach Yingkiong. Helicopter services are available from Pasighat, Itanagar and from Assam to reach the town. There are two heliports in the town, one near Siang and the other opposite of the District Collector office in Yingkiong that facilitates helicopter landing services. The nearest railway station is in Murkongselek in the Jonai District of Assam to connect Yingkiong town via Pasighat.

Tourism

Notable tourist spots in and around the town: