Malinithan

Malinithan is a temple situate in ruins. It is situated at the foot of the Siang hills under the Likabali Sub-Division of West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. It is only 1 Km east of Likabali, the nearest governmental centre. Remnants of stone images of Malinithan came to be noted from the early twenties of the present century. In course of series of excavation from 1968 and ending 1971, ruins of temples and valuable scriptures were unearthed at this site. The fame of Malinithan as a holy place of worship draws a large number of visitors and pilgrims.

According to the local legend associated with the place, Lord Krishna carried away Rukmini the daughter of King Bhismaka on the eve of her marriage with Shishupal. Krishna and Rukmini were welcomed here by Parvati with garlands. Parvati thus acquired the name Malini and the place Malinithan.

Placed at Likabali, Malinithan is famous for its excavations of the ruins of temples belonging to the 14th-15th century. The ruins include sculptures of Indra and Airavata, Surya and NandiBull. Also to see are the Akash-Ganga waterfalls about 5 km away from Malinithan where people go to take a bath to wash away their sins. The languages spoken here are Hindi, Assamese and English.