The history of Aalo is deeply entwined with the Galo people, one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, who trace their ancestry to the legendary first human, Abotani. For centuries, the region remained relatively isolated due to its rugged mountainous terrain and dense forests, allowing indigenous governance systems and animist spiritual traditions—notably the Donyi-Polo faith—to flourish uninterrupted.
During the British colonial era, the area fell under the loose administrative umbrella of the North-East Frontier Tracts, though British presence was minimal and mostly restricted to occasional exploratory and punitive expeditions. Following India's independence in 1947, the region was incorporated into the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Along was established as an administrative center to bring governance and development to the interior hills.
In the subsequent decades, the town grew from a cluster of traditional villages into a bustling district headquarters. The Indian Army and Indian Air Force established a significant presence in the region for strategic border defense, which included the construction of the Aalo Advanced Landing Ground (ALG). In recent years, the town's name was officially changed from Along to Aalo to accurately reflect its indigenous pronunciation and honor the linguistic heritage of the Galo people.
