Likabali

Likabali, a town in the foothills, is the Headquarters of 22nd district i.e. Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh state of India.^{[1][better source needed]}

The town is the headquarters for two Assembly Constituencies namely 28-Likabali and 36-Nari Koyu (Vidhan Sabha constituency). The current Member of Legislative Assembly of Likabali is Shri. Kardo Nyigyor and Shri. Tojir Kadu for Nari-Koyu.^[2]

Akasi Ganga

The town is famous for Akasi Ganga,^[3] a Hindu pilgrimage in Arunachal Pradesh which is located 6 km from Likabali town on the way to Basar in Lower Siang district. Legends have it that one of the body parts of Sati fell in this location. Since then, this temple is regarded as an important holy destination for Shakti worship. According to Hindu mythology, this temple is associated with the story of Lord Shiva, as the story goes; Lord Shiva carried the dead body of Sati and roamed around in the sky and on seeing this melancholy act, Lord Vishnu cut the dead body into many pieces using Sudarshan Chakra which led to the body parts scattering all around India. However, a part of the Goddess Sati fell at Arunachal Pradesh and the place later was built into a sacred temple known as Akasi Ganga for the Shakti worshipers. Besides, the actual Sacred Kund is located 100 meters from the temple and to get there you need to go downwards through the spiral path. On the day of Makar Sankranti, it's a place of pilgrimage. Devotees from far and near come for a bath on the waterfall with the believe that Akashi Ganga washes away all their sins then they offer prayers to Lord Shiva.

References

1. "Likabali". Retrieved 26 October 2015.
2. "Likabali MLA". Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
3. "Arunachal Pradesh: Malinithan temple & Akashi Ganga of Likabali town attract scores of devotees". 31 October 2023.

27°39′32″N 94°41′31″E / 27.659°N 94.692°E / 27.659; 94.692