The entrancing land of Northeast India

The breathtaking beauty of Northeast India is one to remember for a lifetime. The natural scenic beauty which ranges from a long stretch of mountains, cascading torrents and waterfalls, billow streams and exotic flora and fauna is one of a kind. The northeast part of India, also known as "The Seven Sisters of India" comprises of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the recent addition of Sikkim to the northeast makes it Eight Sisters of India.

Travellers love to explore new places, experience new cultures, learn about traditions, meet new people and most importantly have an amazing experience. Adventurers cannot settle at home, they need to go out and see the world. If you are here, you love to travel or at least love to know about different places. The enchanting land of the northeast is connected to the Indian mainland by a narrow stretch of land and has managed to captivate every single person who set foot here. Given below are a few of the long list of enthralling places you can visit for a vacation.

1. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Monastery of Tawang (ImageSource)

Located at the bosom of the Himalayas, the small town of Tawang is famous for its serene natural beauty and the 400 years old Buddhist monastery which is said to be the second-largest in the world after the one at Lhasa, Tibet. The best time to travel to Tawang is in the months of March, April and May.
From there you can visit Sela Pass which is at a height of 13,700 ft above sea level. It is covered with a blanket of snow throughout the year and you can get some magnificent views of the Himalayas. The trip to Tawang isn't complete until you visit Bomdila and Bhalukpong which falls on the way to Tawang. Bomdila is a small town famous for its huge number of apple orchards in the winter. It also has some amazing trekking trails for adventure seekers.
Bhalukpong will be your first stop on your way to Tawang from Tezpur, Assam. Adventurers can also go crazy here with white water rafting, hiking, trekking and lots of other outdoor activities which will surely pump adrenaline into your veins.

2. Dzukou Valley, Nagaland

The view from the base camp of Dzukou Valley

'Dzu-kou' translates into cold water. Dzukou valley is named so because the valley gets freezing cold during the night. Sandwiched at the Manipur-Nagaland border, Dzukou has a striking landscape blanketed with dwarf grassland with amazing picturesque views. The colourful carpet of flowers especially Dzuko lily in the summer inspires many travellers to explore and experience its scenic beauty.
To get to Dzukou, you need to travel to Viswema which is about 25 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. From there, motor vehicles can travel up to 8 km after which the trek begins.

Before entering the valley, you have to deposit security for all the plastic items you possess, therefore it boasts to be a completely plastic-free zone. Here you will find some of the best trekking routes which go through a dense forest and the climb is steep but the view of the valley from base camp is simply exhilarating which makes it worth the climb.

3. Gangtok, Sikkim

Gangtok (ImageSource)

The capital of the 22nd state of India is the definition of tourist destination. Away from all the chaos and pollution of the city, Gangtok is a pristine and serene(another word) destination for all the fun a traveller wants. You can go Mountain Biking with a magnificent view, Hand glide/ Paraglide across the valley with the town beneath you, get a Yak Ride at Tsomgo Lake, explore Nathu La Pass which was once part of the famous silk route which connects Lhasa, Tibet to West Bengal. You can also experience the idyllic trek of Goecha La, the southeast face of Kanchenjunga. There is so much to do, learn about the history of and enjoy in Sikkim, you will not get bored for a single moment on this entire trip. A trip to Sikkim is one that should definitely be completed at least once before you turn 30. 

4. Dawki, Meghalaya

Umngot River (ImageSource)

Located at Jaintia Hills, Dawki is a border town between India and Bangladesh covered with lush green hills and crystal clear water of the Umngot river.  The Umngot river has a common shore with Bangladesh and you can go boating, snorkeling or kayaking there. It literally feels like you are flying as you can see the seabed crystal clear.
You can visit Mawlynnong, which is titled "The cleanest village in Asia". Plastic usage is completely banned here, and the management of water, waste and energy is perfect. The village has set an example of how men can co-live with nature in a balanced way. There you will find the Living root bridge which is about 500 years old. Although there are many living root bridges in Meghalaya, not all can be accessed easily which makes this particular one special.
To get to Dawki, you have to travel to Shillong from Guwahati which is about 3 hours' travel by car. From Shillong, you will get buses as well as cars for the Mawlynnong-Dawki route. You will find many natural marvels there Also there is a profusion of waterfalls, the most prominent being Bo Phill falls, Bydraw falls and the Elephant falls which is a three-tier waterfall.

5. Majuli, Assam

Majuli (ImageSource)

The world's largest river island Majuli sits gloriously on the river Brahmaputra which spans over an area of 352 sq. km and is home to over 1,67,000 people. Majuli is also home to many tribes, the most prominent one being the Mising. Not long ago it was around 880 sq. km, it has lost one-third of its land due to erosion. Majuli is rich in numerous cultures and heritage. People are connected to nature and welcome tourists with friendly arms.
You will experience traditional Assamese culture here. Everything is produced in cottage industries or at home. There are many Hindu Satras and Monasteries there, the most prominent ones are Kamalabari Satra, Auniati Satra, Garamus and Samaguri Satra. The masks of Majuli are quite famous and Samaguri Satra is the centre of the mask making culture. Hem Chandra Goswami is an acclaimed worldwide artist known for his life-like masks who was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2018. 
Reaching Majuli is pretty straightforward. First, you have to reach Guwahati, from there you have to travel to a town called Jorhat which is about 300 km from Guwahati. You can easily find public transport or take your private car. Majuli lies 14 km from Nimati Ghat, the ferry point in Jorhat. After an hour ride on the ferry, you will land on a white sand beach which will drain all the chaos from your mind.

We have included just a few places where you can start exploring northeast India but this is just the tip of the iceberg, there are lots of captivating and engaging places which you can visit. Let us know the places which you find worth visiting in the Northeast.

If you are an adventure lover and want the adrenaline to rush through your body or you just love to travel then don't miss out on the opportunity to go on a daunting yet serene endeavor of mother nature.