Menchukha

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Menchukha is a village in North Arunachal Pradesh, India. The name Men-chu-kha means sweet medicinal water, referring to the waters of a stream in the same valley. The localy population is primarily Monpas, a Tibetan ethnic group.

Menchukha is situated in a forested valley, surrounded by pine trees and thornbushes. A small river, the Yargapchoo flows nearby, and is crossed by hanging bamboo bridges.

Menchukha has recently been connected by road to Along, the district headquarters 70km away, leading to increased development in the area. Mecnhukha has since become a subdivisional headquarters.

[edit] History

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According to local legend the Monpas people were brought to the valley by Guru Nanak who had meditated there for three months. The locals hold a festival on 24 March each year in honour of Guru Nanak's visit. A gurdwara is also constructed at the site where Guru Nanak had meditated.

Prior to the construction of the modern road, the only access to the village was via an airstrip, used by the Indian Air Force to supply the local people.

In 1962, during the Sino-Indian War, two battalllions of Indian Army were surrounded and badly mauled at Menchukha. They were unable to retreat as the hills were covered with heavy snow.

[edit] References

• Dalvinder Singh Grewal, 1995, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, National Book Shop, Delhi. *Dalvinder Singh Grewal, 2001, Travels of Guru Nanak to Himalayan region and Far East, SGPC, Sri Amritsar, Punjab, India