5 Gems of North East India
Be it the rising sun tearing the Arunachal clouds, or the setting sun in the river Brahmaputra, the unspoilt beauty of North East India offers many unexplored regions. If you are planning holidays to the North East this is our ultimate guide to some the hidden gems of the region.
The North Eastern frontier of the Indian subcontinent is an inspiring region with many hidden jewels in its sleeves. One of the finest National Parks in the world, Kaziranga National Park in Assam is located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. This World Heritage Site serves as the home to the great Indian One Horned Rhinos and is also a tiger reserve due to the high population of tigers in the park. Extended grasslands, swamplands, and thick tropical forest forms a perfect ambiance for the existence of the wildlife. This place is a seamless paradise for all nature lovers.
While exploring the wilderness in Kaziranga, you can also explore tribal culture in Manas with an exhilarating elephant ride. Kaziranga is best reached from Guwahati located at a drivable distance of 4 hours .
In the lowlands of Assam, near the banks of River Brahmaputra is where modern tea has been given birth. Jorhat is one of the major tea producing regions of India. Watching tea growing in such vast expanse is a treat to the eyes. And as you walk through the gardens you will witness workers plucking tea leaves, cleaning the gardens, and nurturing plants. These beautiful tea gardens of Jorhat are complimented with imperial bungalows that were built during the British era and serve as great option for accommodation. The Tocklai Tea Research center (India’s largest tea research centre) is also located here on the banks of the river Tocklai.
Jorhat is one of the lesser known tea producing gem of India where an annual tea festival takes place during winters. Assam Tea Festival is also a good time to enjoy golfing in the ‘Jorhat Gymkhana’, the world’s third oldest golf-club that is still in use.
Just 20 kms away from Jorhat, you can explore another gem of the North East, the famous Majuli Island. It is the largest inhabited river island in the world.
India also offers many other royal and attractive gardens of India, where the tea is produced. Read Here.
The Lachung and Yumthang Valley are very famous regions of Sikkim known for their wide variety of alpine flowers. Yumthang, situated at a height of 11,800 feet is popularly known as the ‘Valley of Flowers’, located at a distance of 148 kms from Gangtok. Snow clad peaks, apple trees, streaming waterfalls, Himalayan flowers and fresh mountain air is a paradise for nature lovers. During spring season, wild flowers such as primulas, poppies, and rhododendrons bathe the landscape in rich colours. The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary over showcases about 24 species of Rhododendron flowers which bloom from April to May end. Hot spring located besides the Yumthang river is also popular tourist attraction.
Situated further up at a distance of 16 kms, at an altitude of about 16,000 feet is Yumesamdong, the zero point. The rugged vegetation-free mountains covered in snow mark the end of Yumthang Valley. It is situated very close to China border. Yumthang is closed between December and March due to heavy snowfall.
Lachung is the nearest inhabited centre located along the tributary of the river Teesta. Yumthang Valley does not offer much accommodation therefore one can stay at Lachung valley. It is situated at a height of 8000 feet, only an hour away from Yumthang.
Happiness is the essence of the tribal-lore of North East. With minimalistic needs in life, life is simple here and the tribals prefer it that way. Surrounded by Tibet in the north, Assam and Nagaland in the east and Bhutan in the west, Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in the North Eastern frontier. Hilly region and lush green forest provide a suitable environment for the survival of 82 tribes and sub tribes each having different cultures and dialects. The #‎Zirovalley is home to one such unique ‎tribe of India, the Apatanis. ‎UNESCO has named the Apatani valley a ‎World Heritage site for its “extremely high productivity” and “unique” way of preserving the ecology. The region is famous for its agriculture festival “Dree Festivalâ€Â, friendship festival “Myoko†and the also the annual outdoor music festival.
Tribal tour to Arunachal Pradesh is a parody of culture.
Mawlynnong is a village in the Meghalaya state, India famous for having been dubbed Asia’s cleanest village. Mawlynnong is located about 90 km from Shillong and 92 kms from Cherrapunjee can be reached by road. After enjoying the scenic waterfalls of cherrapunjee you can spend a day in the fresh air of this town. The “Sky Watch” here is an 85 feet high bamboo structure created with bamboo and natural ropes which offer a splendid view of Bangladesh plains.
We hope you like this insightful information on North East and do come back here for some more interesting updates on North East India Tours!!