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10 Reasons to visit North East before you die

Adventura — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 08:29:21 +0000

Away from the hustle and bustle of city life and tucked in the midst of cloud touching hills and mountains which is carpeted by dense tract of forestry and inhabited by tribes dwelling on the forest resources, is the “Land of the Seven Sisters”, comprising the North-Eastern state of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and the Himalayan state of Sikkim.

North-East is connected with the rest of India by a narrow “Siliguri corridor” and shares about 90% of the international boundary with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. The official languages of the region are Assamese, Manipuri, Bengali, Bodo, English, Garo, Khasi and Kokborok. Given below are the 10 reasons for visiting North-East India.

To get close to the native of the land:

A land or a region is known by the people living in it. North-East being extensively covered by sheet of lush green hills is habited by nature loving tribal people. Among the numerous tribes, the prominent tribes having a substantial population are the Nagas and their many sub-tribes, Apatanis, Bodos, Karbis, Mizos, Khasis, Garos, Hmars, Dimasas, Bhutias. Besides the tribal of the hills, there are also people dwelling in the plains, like the Manipuri, Assamese, Nepali and Bengali.

To know the roots of the enriching tradition:

The rich culture of numerous indigenous ethnic groups is sustained by its diverse tradition. One can witness the traditional art of tattoo making among the Apatani tribesmen. There is also the tradition of martial arts, practiced by many ethnic groups, most famous being the world renowned “Thang-ta”. Matriarchal lineage is common among the Khasi people of Meghalaya.

To live in the traditional values of North-East:

A true confluence of culture, North-East has a very rich heterogeneous socio-cultural history. Harmony with the environment; and tranquillity between the tribes are the two founding pillar of North-Eastern culture. As diverse as it can get, one has to make an objective study to get to the roots of its socio-cultural background. The people of North-East practice religion in the form of Hinduism (Bodo, Dimasa, Tripuri, Assamese, Manipuri), Animism (Apatani, Karbi), Buddhism (Chakma, Lepcha), Christianity (Khasi, Garo, Hmar, Mizo, Naga) and Islam (Assamese, Bengali and Manipuri Muslim).

To taste the delicacies of the region:

Food enthusiast, get your tummy empty because North-east is going to stuff your tummy until it explodes. Just Kidding! Well, honestly speaking, North-eastern cuisine is among the lesser known cuisines of India. So, it will definitely open a new window to your taste buds which is also a healthy option. Momos of Sikkim, Iromba of Manipur, Thukpa of Arunachal Pradesh, Smoked Pork of Nagaland, Tenga Fish of Assam, Awan Bangwi of Tripura, Bai of Mizoram, Jadoh of Meghalaya are one of the best delicacies of its respective states.

To witness the diverse fauna of North-East:

About 60% of each of the states of Northeast India is covered by forest resource, and the region boast over having a number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Kaziranga National Park is renowned all over the world for its Rhino, Manas National Park have well established itself as one of the best Tiger Reserve. National Parks (Of Manipur) has the most precious Sangai. Sepahijala have a considerable population of clouded leopard. Red Panda, Western Hoolock Gibbon, Phayre’s Leaf Monkey are the endangered species of the region.

To unleash the beast of adventure:

Designated as the hub or paradise for adventure sports. Northeast have over the years proved beyond excellence that is one of the best destinations for adventure junkies. North-East can offer all that you demand, be it paragliding, river rafting, etc.

To listen to the music that’ll touch your soul:

The music of North-East is quite refined and can be divided into Folk music and Urban music. Both are in sharp contrast with each other while maintaining the equilibrium of melody. The presence of folk music with traditional bamboo instrument is felt in the countryside where as the urban music of genres like Rock, Pop, Jazz and Hip-Hop have always remain in the urban scene. North-East in the recent years have become a rising platform for indigenous and international bands.

To get a panoramic view of the raw natural beauty:

God’s own creation North-East is blessed with raw natural beauty. From the calmness of the Gurudongmar Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, in Sikkim to the ferocity of Krang Suri Waterfall in Shillong, from the emerald island of Loktak of Manipur to the living root bridge in Meghalaya, North-East is renowned for its raw natural beauty.

To spend some days in the high altitude:

Planning for a romantic holiday with your loved one, then you have reached the right destination as North-East being surrounded by verdant hills, is bestowed with romance evoking hill-stations. Shillong, Haflong, Tawang, Gangtok and many other hill-stations with breathtaking views are scattered across the region.

To get indulged in the festivities of North-East:

Festivals are an integral part of our life. It reflects the culture, tradition and folk music of the Native people of North-East. In short, all the seven colours of the North-East is reflected by its festivals. So get along with your family and indulge yourself in the most colourful festivals of the region like the Hornbill festival of Nagaland, Bihu festival of Assam, Wangala Festival of Meghalaya, Torgya Monastery Festival of Arunachal Pradesh, Laiharaoba Festival of Manipur, Kharchi Puja of Tripura and Anthurium festival of Mizoram.

North- East is a land of diversity and in this diversity one can find simplicity of livelihood. But North-East has more to offer than just that. So I advice you to keep your eyes open and get prepared to be mesmerised by the dazzling natural beauty and warmth of the people.

List of top ten sites for Camping and Trekking in North East India

Adventura — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 08:15:51 +0000

The endless blanket of lustrous green pastures, the perilous mountain ranges, the incomprehensible sandy beaches of the river banks, the ageless forests and the raw exquisite valleys makes Northeast one of the most ridiculously coveted yet astonishingly unexplored places in the world for adventure tourism. If you are one of those cotton mouthed adventurers then Northeast is the place you must choose to quench your thirst for adventure.

Here is a list of top ten sites for camping and trekking in the Northeast:

Namdapha Rain Forest Trek:

Located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh Namdapha National Park is recognized as one of the richest areas in biodiversity and is also the third largest national park in India in terms of area. This trek takes you through the dense evergreen rainforests where you can lose yourself to the wilderness.

Eagle Nest Trek:

The Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh hosts one of the finest birdlife assemblages that India has to offer. The sanctuary adopted its name from the Red Eagle division of the Indian Army. Trekking starts from Bhalukpong( 260kms from Guwahati) around Kameng/JiaBhorelli river to Eagle’s Nest,a 120kms journey through the forests rising from 500m to 3200m altitude .

Trek to the Beyul of Pemako:

After trekking for about 8 days and covering a distance of 300kms from Tuting you’ll reach Pemako. At Pemako you’ll be left astounded by the indescribable beauty of the Beyuls .Beyuls are hidden valleys encompassing hundreds of square kilometres. Pemako is located in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. This place one of the best places in Northeast for trekking as it will test the limit of any adventurer. But the end result is more than worthwhile as you become one of the few people on earth to witness the unbelievable beauty of the Beyuls.

Bornodi Wildlife Sanctuary Trek:

This sanctuary is situated on the foothills of Himalayas bordering Bhutan in the north and in Udalguri district and Baksa district of Assam. With the picturesque Bornodiriver flowing on its western part the sanctuary is a great place for birding. Trekking , Camping and Rafting are allowed inside the sanctuary once you get permission from the Forest Office.

Trekking at Pobitora:

Pobitora National Park is one hour drive from Guwahati city. The park is famous for one horned rhinos but trekking on the banks of the river Brahmaputa is an experience one should never miss . It is a one day trek that starts from Mayong to Hiloikhunda spotting hornbill and river dolphins.

David Scott Trail:

Blessed with mesmerizing natural elements like cascading waterfalls,crystal clear streams gushing down from mountains, scenic valleys covered with green pastures and forests groves this route is one of the most popular trekking routes in Meghayala. This trail route is separated into smaller trekking routes. The one day route in David Scott Trail expands up to 16kms and can be covered in four hours. The whole route is spread in over 100kms and takes five days to get covered on foot.

Dzukou Valley Trek:

Situated at the border of Nagaland and Manipur at an altitude of 2438m above sea level the Dzukou valley is popularly known as the “Valley of Flowers of the Northeast”. Famous for its wide range of flowers in every season it can be reached in five hours of trek from Mt. Isii of Senapati district of Manipur.

The Bailey Trail Trek:

This trek in the high eastern Himalayas of Western Arunachal Pradesh offers an experience through some breath taking landscapes of virgin pine , oak and rhododendron forests. You’ll be crossing high mountain passes ,high altitude lakes, glacial streams and tribal villages of the fascinating Monpa tribe.

Dibru-Saikhowa Trek:

Trekking in Dibru Saikhowa is an experience you should never miss as you get to pierce through the dense and scattered forests on foot witnessing nature in its most purest and untouched form. It is a 15-16kms of trekking and on your way you can rest under the magnificient age old trees. You can also spend your day in the interspersed island playing beach volleyball.

Trek to the Shiroi Kashong Peak:

The Shiroi Hill in Manipur is blessed with rare and endangered species of Shirui Lily(Siroy Lily). 100 kms from Imphal the height of Shiroi Kashong is about 2986 meters. From the peak one can see the panoramic view of Myanmar, Ukhrul Town and Saramati Mountains of Nagaland. The sweet perfume of the flowers cover the entire Kashong hill range and its surroundings.

P.S: The challanges to Manipur Siroy the habitat of the Siroy lily is threatened with the intensive tourists activities. The State Forest Department as well as different NGOs are working hard to save and conserve the habitat. Even plucking a blade of grass from the valley is prohibited and fined. So lets do our part as tourist and help them conserve this paradise of a place to conserve its beauty.