Northeast India: A Journey Through Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland & Manipur 2024

Day 1 & 2: Delhi/Kolkata – Kaziranga National Park Arrive in Guwahati where you will be met and driven to Kaziranga (230km/4-hours). to the stunning Kaziranga National Park. A paradise for the greater one-horned rhino, as well as a haven for birders, the area comprises of 860 square km and is rich in flora and fauna. It is one of the places with the highest population density of the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic elephant, Asiatic Wild Buffalo and Swamp Deer. Other species include sambar, hog deer and hoolock gibbons. We will check into our lodge, our base for the next two nights, and go for a leisurely walk along the banks of Diphlu River. On our second morning, we will rise early and head to the entrance of Kaziranga, where we will take a safari on elephant back through the Central Range area of the park, which is very good for mammal sightings as well as birds (Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Great Hornbill, Rufous Woodpecker). After lunch we will begin a jeep ride in different range of the park. The Western Range has the highest density of rhinos, as this part is swampier with extensive Haemarthia compressa stands. It is also good for grassland birds and raptors (Swamp Francolin, Pallas's Fish-Eagle). Smooth-coated otters are sometimes seen fishing in the ox-bow lakes. Day 3: Majuli via Jorhat (110 kms / 3 hrs + 1½ hrs ferry) After breakfast we drive to Neamati Ghat near Jorhat to take a ferry to Majuli Island. This island is the largest inhabited river island in the world and the seat of Vaishnava culture in Assam. The Mishing are the riverine plain tribes of Assam, which is the second largest group of scheduled tribe of the state. As a riverine tribe they construct their houses on stilts about five feet from the ground which is about 30 – 40 meter in length. In the evening we walk around a nearby Mising village. Overnight in Majuli Island. Day 4: Majuli Island Today we will spend a full day around Majuli, where we will visit villages known for pottery and mask making. We will drive to visit the ‘satras’ and interact with the monks and may get the opportunity to also witness a satra dance performance demonstrated by the monks. Later we will also explore around the shoreline in a boat to view birds and see the sunset on the river. Overnight in Majuli Island. Day 5: Ziro This morning we will venture to Ziro, in central Arunachal Pradesh, where en route we will visit villages inhabited by the Nishi tribes. The Nishis are a proud hill tribe, considered independent, and turbulent during the British “Raj”. They live in “long houses” and each may shelter up to 20 families. They are individualistic – the society has no chiefs, and no council of elders. They have a strong belief in different spirits – good and evil, each with assigned habitat. The spirits are placated by sacrifice of animals. Ziro is home to the Apatani tribes and it is located in an extremely picturesque valley called Apatani Plateau, surrounded by pine-covered mountains. The Apatani tribes themselves are Ziro's greatest attraction. The older men-folk tie their hair in top-knots and tattoo their faces. Apatani women wear wooden nose plugs and also tattoo their faces. However, a new generation of Apatani men and women have stopped this since early 1970s, so the elder generation are primarily the last surviving people that practice this tradition. The Apatani are good cultivators and practice both wet and terrace cultivation, and the field work is done entirely by iron hoes, digging sticks and batons. Later in the evening we will visit an interesting local market. Overnight in Ziro. Day 6: Ziro We will explore the Ziro valley by visiting the villages of the Apatani tribe. When walking through the streets of Hong, Hija, Bula, Hari or Duta we will see the rows of terraced houses and meet the locals to learn about the people and their customs. The highlight of the day will be arts and craft – The Babo and lapang, the totem and animist ritual sacrificial altars and totem poles, the cane backpack, the head gears of Apatani tribe. Later we will visit a local museum and emporium. Overnight in Ziro. Day 7: Daporijo This morning we will begin our long journey to Daporijo (160km / 7 hours) where along the way we will visit the remote Hill Miri and Tagin villages, the main tribes of this area. The Tagins are very volatile and independent people, and had a history of massacring outsiders (the last of which was in 1953). They are known to grow tobacco and are habitual smokers as well as expert hunters and use poison from plants for arrows. Selling of land is considered taboo, as they believe the presiding spirit is likely to be annoyed and bring misfortune. On arrival in Daporijo, and after dinner, we will have the evening at leisure to relax or stroll the town after a full day. Overnight at the Hotel Singhik in Daporijo. Day 8: Aalo Today we will be heading to the land of the Adi tribes, meaning “hill man” or “man of hill”, is one of the largest tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and a very prosperous tribe who still prefer to live in traditional broad huge houses made of bamboo, cane and wood and the are known for their unique architecture and designs. The religion of the Adi is centered on Donyi-Polo, the Sun-Moon god, who is regarded as the eye of the world. They believe in the world of spirits, and perform ceremonies to appease malignant ones to ward off the evil. Aalo is set amid a brilliant surroundings with impenetrable forests, wide rivers, deep gorges, beautiful villages and a plantation. Overnight in Aalo. Day 9: Aalo After the previous long day of travel, we will have a relaxed and enjoyable day focusing on exploring the villages around this fascinating area and meeting the unique tribal people, as well as visiting a local market. Overnight in Aalo. Day 10: Dibrugarh (220 kms + ferry / 7 hrs) Today we start our journey to Dibrugarh, known as the "Tea City of India", where along the way we will cross the mighty Brahmaputra River by ferry, one of the major rivers of Asia. Overnight at the Mancotta Tea Bungalow in Dibrugarh. Day 11: Mon via Sibsagar (180 kms / 6 hrs) After breakfast we will drive to Sibsagar, the old capital of the Ahoms who ruled Assam for 600 years before the arrival of the British into these parts. A number of old monuments built by them remain; the most significant being the huge man made tank ‘Sibsagar’ from which the town got its name. We will also visit Shiva Dol – a popular temple with a nearby tank build during the Ahom reign. Later we will continue on to Mon. This district is inhabited by the Konyak tribe, who are are seen as the most traditional of the sixteen Naga tribes. They have given up their head-hunting ways, but still lives in a very traditional lifestyle. Overnight at the Paramount Guesthouse in Mon. Day 12: Mon & Longwa Village We will head towards the border of India and Myanmar to Longwa. The traditional lifestyle still prevails in this village. Konyak are adapt artisan and skilled craftsman; here you can find excellent woodcarvings, guns and gunpowder, head brushes, necklaces and other bead ornaments, bone carvings, and tribal weapons such as decorated machete, muzzleloader guns and spears. Overnight at the Paramount Guesthouse in Mon. Day 13: Mokokchung (270 km / 7-8 hours) Today we will make our long and scenic drive to Mokokchung in the north-central Nagaland. This district is inhabited by the Ao Naga tribe. Overnight in Mokokchung. Day 14: Mokokchung After breakfast we will head to nearby villages of the Ao Naga tribes, where we will visit the Ungma, Longkhum and Settsu villages. Racially the Ao Nagas are Mongolians, therefore all Mokokchung villagers are Mongolians and is believed to have migrated from the Far East. There are five clans within the village — Pongener, Longkumer, Jamir, Atsongchanger and Kechutzar. Overnight in Mokokchung. Day 15: Kohima via Touphema (175 kms / 7 hrs) A long and interesting day is ahead today as we journey to Kohima. En route we will visit the villages of the Angami Naga in Touphema. Kohima is perched at an altitude of 1444 above sea level, a pretty and unspoiled hill station, with panoramic views of the rugged Naga Hills. It is the land of the Angami Naga tribe, which is one of the major tribe in Nagaland. Angamis were traditionally warriors, and in the past the Angami men spent majority of their time in warfare with hostile villages and taking heads. Kohima had witnessed the fiercest fighting during WWII. Overnight in Kohima. Day 16 & 17: Hornbill Festival We will begin our morning with a visit to Khonoma village and the war cemetery. Later we will spend the rest of the day enjoying the exotic Hornbill Festival. Overnight in Kohima. Day 18: Loktak Lake (196 kms / 6-7 hrs) After breakfast we will begin our long journey to Loktak Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in India and is known as the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis (which is a mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various stages of decomposition) on it. Because of this unique feature, this is also home to the endangered Sangai or Manipur brow-antlered deer. In the evening we will enjoy the beautiful sunset over the lake. Dinner and overnight at the Sendra Resort at Loktak Lake. Day 19: Loktak Lake & Keibul Lamjao National Park Today we visit the Keibul Lamjao National Park (the one and only floating national park in the world) early in the morning to have the best possible chance in sighting the highly endangered Sangai Deer - also known as "Dancing Deer of Manipur". Later we will visit Indian National Army (INA) Museum in Moirang before boarding our boat to explore the various parts of Loktak, especially the people living on phumdis, and also visit Karang - a lake island village where we will explore the life and traditions of the local people. Overnight at the Sendra Resort at Loktak Lake. Day 20: Imphal via Andor In the morning we will head to the village of Andro, one of the oldest in Manipur, where we will visit the Cultural Heritage Complex. Here the practice of fire worshiping is still continued in the temple of Panam Ningthou. It is prepared in turn by every house-hold member of the village. The community of Andro has occupied a major portion in the map of traditional pot making culture. They still preserve the traditional rituals and norms relating to the process of pot making. Moreover, the villagers are nature loving people and always maintain a good relation with nature to keep a pollution free ecosystem. In brief, we can call the village as the living heritage village. Interact with the villagers and see pottery making. Return to Imphal. Time permitting also visit Kangla Fort. Dinner and overnight in Hotel. Day 21: Imphal and departure This morning we will visit the Shree Govindajee Temple, the Imphal War Cemetery, which has 1,600 Commonwealth burials of World War II, and the 150-year-old Ima Keithel (Mothers' Market), which is managed entirely by 3500+ women and where Manipuri women sell traditional wares sitting on raised platforms. Later we will transfer to Imphal International Airport for a flight to Delhi or Kolkata.