NE India

Malinithan

Exquisite temple ruins at the foot of the eastern Himalaya

Nayan j Nath · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

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Arunachal Pradesh Likabali, Lower Siang History / heritage

At Likabali, where the Siang hills meet the Assam plains, lie the ruins of Malinithan, a temple site dated to roughly the 13th–14th century and associated with the Chutia kingdom. Though only the granite base and a wealth of scattered sculpture survive, the quality of the carving is exceptional — among the finest early stone art in the Northeast.

The site takes its name from a legend linking it to Krishna and Rukmini and the goddess Durga as Malini, 'the keeper of the garden'. Among the ruins are beautifully sculpted images of Indra on his elephant Airavata, Surya, Kartikeya on his peacock, Ganesha, and finely worked panels of dancers and floral motifs, many now gathered in a small on-site display.

Malinithan rewards those drawn to art and archaeology, set against the backdrop of the forested foothills. It is usually visited from the Assam side, near North Lakhimpur, and requires an Arunachal permit.

Photo: Nayan j Nath · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What to see & do

The carved images of Indra on Airavata, Surya and Kartikeya
The granite temple base and scattered sculptural panels
The on-site collection of recovered sculptures
The foothill setting where the Himalaya meets the plains

Plan your visit

Getting to Malinithan

How to reach	At Likabali in Lower Siang, reached from North Lakhimpur (Assam); Lilabari is the nearest airport. An Inner Line Permit is required for Arunachal.
Best time	October to April.
Timings	Daylight hours.
Entry	Nominal.
Good to know	Best for travellers with a serious interest in sculpture and history; combine with a Brahmaputra-side route through upper Assam.