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] The Galo tribe dominated district headquartered at Likabali was curved out of West Siang and East Siang districts in 2018. The seven administrative circles under Likabali are Koyu-Kora, Nari, Seren, Gensi, Sibe, Kangku and Likabali.

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. The Malinithan temple^[4] complex situated at the foothills of the Siang Hills in Likabali is steeped in religion, history, culture and architecture of this country. Legend has it that when Lord Krishna kidnapped Rukmini daughter of king Bhismaka of Vidarbh, they passed through this beautiful location on their way to Dwarka from Vidarbh. There they found Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi deep in tapas in this dense forest. Devi Parvathi asked them to rest awhile and presented them with exquisite garlands made of sweet-smelling flowers. Lord Krishna touched by this gesture praised Devi Parvathi and gave her the title of Sucharu Malini. This temple derives its name from the word Malini. The site has an intricately designed and decorated plinth of a temple, stunning animal motifs, carvings, sculptures of Gods and Goddess, floral patterns, four sculptures of lions on two elephants at the four corners of the ruins of the temple, columns and panels. The granite sculptures which were unearthed here by the Archeological Survey of India are Indra on Airavata, Surya on a chariot, Lord Karthikeya on a peacock, Lord Ganesh on a mouse, a massive Nandi, Shiva Linga and others. A sculpture of a woman without a head unearthed is believed to be of Malini, who is considered to be the lover of Lord Shiva. Maithuna sculptures in erotic poses were also discovered revealing the prevalence of tantrism. The sculpture of Goddess Durga found here is known as Pupane meaning ancient Mother indicative of the Shakti cult practiced in this region in earlier times. The Malini temple is accessed by a flight of steps and another 400m hike towards the top of the hill leads you to Rukmini Mandir. There is an archeological museum which houses statues and other objects unearthed in the excavations in the area.