North East India Culture and Nature Tour

Itinerary

• Day 01: Guwahati

  Upon your arrival at Guwahati airport you are met by your tour guide. Then you will be taken to your hotel. After a short refreshment break, we shall visit the most important Hindu pilgrim site – Kamakhya Temple – a majestic temple of the state. This temple is located in the Nilachal hills and one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas.

• Day 02: Guwahati – Tezpur

  This morning we shall head towards Tezpur – lying on the northeast bank of the Brahmaputra River is a small places slouches of lush green tea gardens and the endless paddy fields. Tezpur is also known for its mentioned in the Hindu myths

  Enroute we shall visit the charming weaver home at Sualkcuhi which was established around 17th century the great Ahom administrator Momai Tamuli Barbura. Initially, the village had several cottages industries like oil processing, pottery, gold making etc. other than weaving but eventually, silk weaving became the primary profession of the dwellers. Once you step into the tiny streets you are welcomed by the rhythmic sound of the looms and shuttles, and to see the men and women working together is entrancing too. Predominately, the weaver‘s work on two indigenous – the Muga Silk naturally golden in color and very well known for its durability and becomes smoother and glossier with every wash. Eri Silk also known as Ahimsa Silk‘ as production allows the development of the pupae into adults and then the open–ended cocoon is utilized for silk manufacturing. This silk because of its natural warmth and softness is ideal for shawls etc.

  Next we shall take short de tour to visit is to the ruins of the Madan Kamdev temple complex, whose erotic icnography is given the nick name Khajuraho of Assam‘. It is located on the Dewangiri hillock is steeped in an erotic carpet of sculpted stones. Scattered across a 500 meter area are the bits and pieces of temples with beautiful carving of dancing nymphs and fairs, gods and goddesses, demons and serpents, griffins, animals, flowers and men and women. The ruined garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is a large stone idol of Shiva and Parvati in an intimate embrace posture.

  Your overnight stay will be at Wild Mahseer – Named after one of the toughest game fish in the world, Wild Masheer is unique heritage property in the state of Assam. The property is imbued in history by its located in the country side offering a nostalgic colonial lifestyle with a cozy heritage bungalow and other categories of rooms. The locations and circumambient of the flora fits the saying where nature is your host.

  Distance Covered : 180 kms / 4.30 hrs

• Day 03: Tezpur – Ziro

  Get set for a drive Ziro is known as the Sequestered Paradise of the state locate at 1500 meters. Ziro has hills that are beautifully covered with bamboo and pine trees, surrounded with paddy fields. The town is home to a very friendly tribal group known as the Apatani tribe. A unique fact about the Apatani tribe is that, women of this tribe used to practice a custom of getting facial tattoos!! This was done since they believed that women of the Apatani tribe were so beautiful that they had to tattoo their faces in order to not let men from other tribes steal them away!

  Your overnight stay will be at Ziro Putu Homestay, located in Old Ziro Hillside overlooking mesmerizing paddy fields and community forests is a fusion of modern architecture with traditional touch. Apart from spacious and luxurious bedrooms, the homestay has beautiful traditional kitchen with fireplace in the center so that guests can relax besides warmth of bonfire while enjoying ethnic tribal delicacies

  Distance Covered : 270 kms / 6 hrs

• Day 04: Ziro

  To know more about the inhabitants we shall spend the day visiting Apatani villages as Hong, Dutta & Hari. In these villages, we shall see the houses of Apatani adjoining each other also interact with the locals and especially with the tattooed elder who still leave a very much traditional life. Later visit the Apatani farms. We shall also visit the local market. Later visit to the local market can be informative about knowing more about Apatani culture, customs, eating habits, attires and ornaments. Overnight at Ziro.

• Day 05: Ziro – Dibrugarh

  Your destination today is Dibrugarh – known as the tea capital of Assam, lust tea gardens all throughout the town and also an ideal place to experience an overnight stay in the heritage tea bungalows. For your overnight stay check into Mancotta Heritage Chang Bungalow an iconic bungalow is built on stilts and showcases the colonial tea bungalow architecture to perfection. These structures, supported by stilts, are called "chang ghars" in the local dialect and the present day name of the "Mancotta Chang Bungalow" is derived thus. The majestic Rain Tree overlooking this erstwhile superintending manager‘s residence gives us an exact idea about the age and timelessness of the garden and the bungalow. This bungalow in particular has a unique and rather interesting feature of not having used any iron nail in its flooring. All the nails are made out of wood and are believed to have been handcrafted by traditional Chinese artisans.

  Distance Covered : 240 kms / 6 hrs

• Day 06: Dibrugarh – Day trip to Namphake

  Today we shall visit a village – Namphake – a pristine village by the side of the Buridhining river one of the major tributaries of Brahmaputra River. Major attraction of the village is the Namphake Buddhist Monastery one of the oldest monasteries of Assam. This village is inhabited by lesser known Tai – Phakes community with about 72 house hold. In spite of the small number the dwellers are so much devoted toward preservation of the culture and tradition making Namphake a suitable example. Tai Phakes migrated from Men Mau of South China, across Myanmar and then Pat Kai Hills and then entered Assam in 1775 and then settled in Brahmaputra valley.

  Distance Covered : 55 kms / 2 hrs

• Day 07: Dibrugarh – Mon

  Today we will drive to our tribal destination of Nagaland – Mon.

  The district of Mon is home to the Konyak Nagas who are by far the largest in numbers of all the different Nagas and also the most recognisable. Mon is located near the Indo- Myanmar border, you can enter this far away destination of Nagaland ‗Mon‘ through the wormy dust and gravel roads of Nagaland. The tattooed Konyak, all over their face and hands this tribe is famous for their muzzle loading guns. This divine place offers its best in raw natural beauty and for an adventurer; this place is perhaps an ideal place to visit for exciting activities like visiting the border village between India and Myanmar and encountering the decedent of the legendary head-hunters.

  Your stay is at Helsa Morung - designed along the theme of a Konyak habitat, Helsa Morung is a beautiful homestay run by a village head-woman in Mon, Nagaland. While Morung stands for the bachelor dorm in a Konyak tribal village, Helsa is an acronym made from the first alphabet of the names of the children of the head- woman owner of the property — (H - Hamwang, E - Ethiel, L - Lemnon, S - Suzanne, A - Angam).

  Distance Covered : 140 kms / 5hrs

• Day 08: Mon

  Longwah village in Mon district is one of the best places to see the unique diversity of Naga people. Located on the border of India and Myanmar (not to worry you don‘t need a Myanmar VISA to visit this village), Here we shall visit some of the village inhabited by the Konyak tribe. Most interesting part to see in this village is to see the Village Chief‘s house located on the border line of Indo – Myanmar and passes though his house dividing into two halves. Longwa is quiet and serene place with hospitable Naga people. – Local guide mandatory

• Day 09: Mon – Jorhat

  This morning head Jorhat is the known as the tea treasure house. Jorhat refers to as Jor‘ means join and ‗hat‘ means market. The town is also very well known to have the oldest golf course in Jorhat is the oldest in Asia and the third oldest in the world. 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.

  Stay at Banyan Grove: A colonial building set up in the heart of Gatoonga Tea Estate, With a history more than 100 years, the bungalow exhibit a colonial decor with carpets and sylvan flooring.

  Distance Covered : 145 kms / 6 hrs

• Day 10: Jorhat – Day trip to Majuli

  Cross the Brahmaputra River to reach the Majuli – assumed to the largest river Island in world, which also stands to the cultural capital of Assam ever since 16th century.

  Majuli is located on the river Brahmaputra in Assam and is formed by Brahmaputra in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti joined by the river Subansiri in the north. Making you feel at peace with nature, it is home to many migratory birds. Located 1100 km away from the mouth of the Brahmaputra, Majuli had an area of 1256 sq km in 1991 but due to soil erosion, it has now reduced to 875 sq km. Majuli has been the cultural capital of the Assamese civilization since the 16th century and its main village, Naghmar, hosts all the important events, festivals and prayers. A good learning center for neo-Vaishnavite philosophy, there are 22 Vaishnava Satras in the city, the first of which was established in the 15th century by Sankaradeva, the father of Assamese culture.

  Explore the island by visiting the Anuati sattras (monasteries) & Uttar – Kamalabari sattras (monasteries). Interact with the monks and visit monk‘s quarter. We shall also visit Mishing tribal village a major inhabitant of the island followed by a visit to pottery making village and mask making village.

  Optional : A cultural dance in Majuli can also be arranged in Uttar Kamalabari Monastery.

  Distance Covered : 1 hour by ferry

• Day 11: Jorhat – Kohima

  Set to the capital of Nagaland – Kohima the land of the Angami Naga tribe located with an average elevation of 1261 meters. The name, Kohima, was officially given by the British as they could not pronounce the Angami name Kewhima or Kewhira (Tenyidie for "the land where the flower Kewhi grows"). It is called after the wild flowering plant Kewhi, found in the mountains. The town of Kohima is located on the top of a high ridge and the town serpentines along the top of the mountain ranges as is typical of most Naga settlements. On arrival to Kohima check into your rooms and retire for the day. Overnight stay

• Day 12: Kohima

  Take a tour of Kohima, where we will be visiting the 2nd World War Cemetery – constructed in memory of the officers and men who made supreme sacrifices during World War II. On each grave there are beautiful epitaphs engraved in bronze. The famous inscription written on the War Memorial stone reads "WHEN YOU GO HOME TELL THEM OF US AND SAY, FOR YOUR TOMORROW WE GAVE OUR TODAY".

  Also visit the Kohima State Museum - a platform that exhibits the vibrant culture of Nagaland through a collection of fascinating arts and artifacts. It is not only the major attraction of Kohima but also the entire state, because very few landmarks like the State Museum bring to limelight the culture of Nagas and their evolution through stages. (Closed on Monday and government holidays or may remain close without any prior information)

  Also visit the Kohima State Museum - a platform that exhibits the vibrant culture of Nagaland through a collection of fascinating arts and artifacts. It is not only the major attraction of Kohima but also the entire state, because very few landmarks like the State Museum bring to limelight the culture of Nagas and their evolution through stages. (Closed on Monday and government holidays or may remain close without any prior information)

  Khonoma located at a distance of 20 kms / 1 hrs from Kohima which is the first green village of the Nagaland and estimated roughly to be 700 years old spread over an area of 123 sq. km inhabited by 600 household. Khonoma is known for its rich flora and fauna and a stands to important for its unique form of agriculture, including some of the oldest terranced cultivation in the region. A nationality endangered pheasant ‗Blyth‘s trogapan‘ is reportedly found at Khonoma.

  Over a hundred years ago, the advancing British troops found themselves facing a determined warrior tribe in the highland of Nagaland. The Angmi men at Khona, famed for their martial prowess and strategic skills, fought a resolute battle to safeguard their territory, inflicting the heavy causalities on the foreign soldiers. Khonoma is recorded to have resisted British rules in this region from 1830 to 1880.

  Today the inhabited Angamis, one of Nagaland‘s tribes, has made giant strides in establishing or strengthening systems of natural resource management, conflict resolution, village administration and appropriate development, all coupled with a resolute will to conserve biodiversity and wildlife.

• Day 13: Kohima – Imphal

  This is our last destination of this tour Imphal – the capital of Manipur. On arrival visit the Ima Keithel market – a more than 500-year-old market that is run and managed entirely by as many as 5000 women, making it the largest and one-of-a-kind all women‘s market in Asia

  Highlights : Overnight stay at hotel

• Day 14: Imphal – Day trip to Loktak

  Visit Keibul Lamjao National Park 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. One can take a boat ride to Keibul Lamjao National Park by a country boat. One can visit the fisherman house and Sangai (dancing deer).

  Highlights : On the way back to Imphal visit India Peace Memorial

• Day 15: Imphal – Day trip to Moreh

  Full day excursion to Moreh (Indo-Myanmar border) one way 100 kms 4-5 hrs approx. En-route visit 2nd World War battle place of Imphal, Moreh Bazar and in Tamu(Myanmar) visit Pagodas and Buddhist Temples and Namphalong International market (only if permission granted and Indian vehicle cannot go but they can hire a tuktuk on Myanmar side). We shall return to Imphal by evening.

  Distance Covered : 110 kms / 4 -5 hrs

• Day 16: Imphal

  Your tour end today here is Imphal and according to your flight time you will be dropped at the airport.