Dihang

Dihang is a river in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. In Indian geography, it is commonly regarded as the upper reach of the Brahmaputra as the river flows from the Tibetan plateau into northeastern India. The Dihang enters Indian territory near the border with China, at Tuting in Upper Siang district, and runs southeast across eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It is a major headwater of the Brahmaputra river system, contributing water and sediment to the greater Brahmaputra as it continues toward Assam and beyond. The river is fed by numerous tributaries from the highlands and traverses a landscape of deep valleys, forested hills, and alpine meadows.

The Dihang basin supports diverse ecosystems and is part of Arunachal Pradesh’s rich biodiversity. The valley is home to indigenous communities, including the Adi, Mishmi, and Nyishi, whose traditional livelihoods involve fishing, agriculture, and river stewardship. The river supports local fisheries and irrigation, and its upper-headwater region has been the focus of hydropower development planning within the broader Brahmaputra headwaters in Arunachal Pradesh.

Etymology and nomenclature vary regionally; locally the river name reflects community languages, while on many maps the same watercourse is identified as the upper Brahmaputra. See also Brahmaputra River, Siang River, Dibang River, Arunachal Pradesh, Hydroelectric power in India.