North East India

Northeast India is an exotic land where you get the best of dense forests, ancient monasteries, snow-capped mountains, pristine valleys, glistening lakes, and cascading waterfalls, every bit of North East India feels like magic. I can vouch for the fact that Northeast India is unique and a land full of surprises. In this context, I will cover principally Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Mawlynnong, Dawki altogether I will be taking you all one step closer to heaven. Every person who’s a traveller by heart must go on a North-East trip at least once in their lifetime to unravel the secrets of North East India.

In order to witness these tempting places, I and my family started our journey from Guwahati in Assam. This is the largest city in the state of Assam and also the largest urban area in North-east India which is situated on the banks of the mighty river Brahmaputra. You'll also discover various ancient Hindu temples within the city. It also inhabits exotic species of wildlife such as Asian elephants, pythons, tigers, rhinoceros, gaurs, primate species, and endangered birds. Another reason that Assam is marked as the best tourist place is for its lovely tea industries and its famous Silk Bazaar.

Places to visit - Kamakhya Temple, Chandubi Lake, Nehru Park, Assam State Zoo, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Saraighat Bridge

How to reach

• By train: Guwahati Railway Station, which is just 5 km away from the city centre

• By Air: Guwahati Airport, or Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, situated 25 km away from the main city

• By Road: The city of Guwahati is well-linked with several adjoining cities via a number of Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and other private buses

Best time to visit ??

Owing much to its stunning location wherein North-East India shares its borders with the neighboring countries of Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, the whole region is dominated by hills and mountains to a large extent. Due to this, the climate in North East India generally remains cool while winters do get extremely cold.Having said that, it is advised that traveling to North-East regions should be avoided in the rainy season from May to September-end. Hence, the best time to visit North East India is from the months of November to April, which also happens to be the peak season for travelers. The weather is at its best at this time, which also makes it perfect for heading out and witnessing the true charm of the states.

If you are here at the right time of season then you can get an opportunity to visit Kaziranga National park which is the only natural habitat in the world with such a large number of one-horned Rhinoceros. It was our bad luck as it was closed when we tried to visit this park. So the next day we hired a taxi for our next destination i.e Shillong which is in Meghalaya. It is home to numerous waterfalls, mesmerizing mountains tops, enchanting lakes, and many other places. Shillong is called the Scotland of East. Trust me the road to the Shillong was of the next level we were literally travelling blindly under the influence of dense fog that too in the valley. It was around 110 Kms that took 3 hr to be approx. I will suggest pre-booking the accommodation as being a tourist place you will find it very difficult to get good accommodation in a short time. In the evening we reached our resort and guess what it was all raining which this North East is famous for next we had a light dinner and the next day we were ready to witness the lush greenery around Shillong. The next two days we spent visiting local places and hunting local cuisine. I will be describing a few places to which I will refer everyone to go.

Umiam Lake

Umiam Lake is a reservoir situated on the slopes 15 km toward the North of Shillong. The beauty around Umiam resembles the lakes of Scotland.it is likewise a well-known destination for water game and adventure trips such as scooting, kayaking, water cycling, and drifting. The sunrise at the lake is a treat to watch and shouldn't be missed.

Shillong Peak

Now let's climb up to the hills to witness more beauty. At a distance of 13 km from Shillong Bus Stand, Shillong Peak is an enchanting vantage point located in the Laitkor area of Shillong. Situated in the outskirts of Shillong, it is one of the popular viewpoints in Meghalaya and among the prominent places to experience Shillong Tourism. A telescope is available for an enchanting 360-degree view of the entire Shillong city.

Elephant Falls

This place is one of the most visited tourist places in the entire North East where you can enjoy mesmerizing views of lucid water dropping in layers and verdant greenery

Don Bosco Museum

Hailed as Asia's largest Museum of Indigenous Cultures, the Don Bosco Museum is the house of the beautiful culture and tradition of North East India. It is conveniently located in the Mawlai area, near the Police Bazaar. The museum is located in the premises of Sacred Heart Church and is a seven-storey building with seventeen different galleries

Other places like Laitlum Canyons, Police Bazar, Mawphlang, ward's lake, Laitumkhrah Church, and much more can be on your list.

Foods ??

Northeast India is heaven for food lovers, especially for non-vegetarians. You would be amazed to get the most relishing platter of cuisines across the Northeastern states. The authentic dishes like Tangy Fish Curry and Aloo Pitika (mashed potatoes ) from Assam. Those who eat Pork then this place will be their favorite adding to it you will be overwhelmed with the variety of delectable local dishes in this part of India and yeah don’t forget to try Momo. Apart from that, you get a variety of fruits in the local markets.

Cherrapunji

After spending two great days in Shillong we were ready to go to Cherrapunji which is probably the wettest land in the world. This place is mainly famous for natural falls and other such stuff which I will describe later. On the go, we visited a viewpoint, Arwah caves, Mawsmai, Dainthlen Falls. During the ride, the driver took us to Arwah Lumshynna Caves. At the initial stage, we thought it to be a normal cave but it was all different. The way to reach the entrance was mind-blowing. Mist covered the whole area. It was the first time when we were going to experience a walk inside a natural cave. Water flowing inside the cave covering our feet and also water drizzles from the top. We initially followed the places where lights were placed. We ended up with an awesome experience with mostly wet. Actually, the cave was to display the shells of the extinct species i.e fossils adding it we found a lot of limestone structures inside the cave. The serenity of the surroundings makes this place a worthwhile retreat. Next, we kept on visiting more natural falls and finally returned to Shillong as the fog and rain across the valley were surging.

Places to visit- Nohkalikai Waterfalls, Mawsmai Nongthymmai Eco Park, Wakaba Falls, Seven Sisters Waterfall,Dainthlen Waterfall, Mawsmai Cave, Arwah Lumshynna Caves, Mawsmai Falls

WHAT ALL THINGS TO CARRY ??

The weather in Northeast India is totally unpredictable. You can be welcomed by rain anytime anywhere. So it is advisable to carry a raincoat and umbrella with you always. If you are planning to travel in the winter season, don’t underestimate the cold in this region. In some of the places, it gets ice cold.So don’t forget to carry heavy woolens, a cap, hats, gloves, woolen socks, two pairs of walking shoes, etc. You can’t afford to miss mosquito repellent in your bag. Also, since you will be traveling to the protected areas in Northeast India you must carry your Identity proof as you can be stopped anywhere for checking your documents and yes I don’t need to remind you of the basic travel essentials :)

So now we were about to cover the most awaited clusters of places that we couldn't dare to miss. The next morning we set off early for these clusters. The path to these destinations was like travelling into a lush green valley with open high-intensity falls.

Mawlynnong

A tiny hamlet nestled in the craggy peaks of the Khasi range is famous for its almost insane levels of hygiene making it Asia’s cleanest village. Smoking and plastic use isn’t allowed, and all the waste is collected in bamboo bins, which is then used for manure. The cleanliness and beauty of the village make you feel like you are in paradise.

Living Root Bridge

Perhaps the most striking feature of this tourism is its fascinating Living Root Bridges which are only found in the vicinity of this Cherrapunji. Deep in the dense tropical forest of Meghalaya where most of the time it is under influence of heavy rain. The root bridges provide a stable alternative to wooden bridges.

Dawki

After spending a few hours at the living bridge we were ready to move more closer to the Bangladesh border. Dawki is a picturesque town in the district of West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. Snuggled between the borders of India and Bangladesh. Unmngot river which flows into Bangladesh gives you a chance of boating into its crystal clear water. In order to find these mesmerizing beauties you need to be in the perfect season at least, you must avoid the rainy season due to which we missed this opportunity.

After detoxing our body for more than a week it was time to get back to the land of pollution. We returned to Guwahati and took a flight to New Delhi.

Tips for this trip

• Must Carry a valid ID proof

• Keep extra Clothes with Rain Gear

• Carry Medical Kit along with you with the most important mosquito repellent

• There are very few working ATMs around these areas so carry some extra cash

• It would be a good idea to bring a guidebook to understand more about the region you are checking out

• Mobile connectivity is one challenging aspect of Northeast India so better carry multiple operators sim