Things To Do In North East India

A paradise on earth…a dream of every traveller, the North-Eastern part of India is the home to some of the mesmeric natural wonders! From the sky-touching Himalayas to the mighty Brahmaputra, never-ending tea gardens to a floating lake, living root-bridge to the largest river island in the world, one can find all the marvels of the nature in this part of the country.

On a trip to this corridor of India, one can find a plethora of places to visit, things to do and experience as well. From rafting in the Brahmaputra to trekking the lofty Everest Peak, lazing around the evergreen tea-gardens to paragliding, exploring historic places to wildlife spotting, this region is a hub for all sorts of activities.

In case, you haven’t yet visited this part of India, here’s what you have missed so far; reasons to plan a trip to North-East right now:

1.Visit Kaziranga National Park, Assam:

Assam in the North-East is truly a fairy land, and located in this land is the Kaziranga National Park or the only natural home of the endangered One-horned Rhinos in the entire world. On a visit to this wildlife protected area, spot these rare wildlife species from a close hand and make your North-East trip memorable!

2.River Rafting:

For those, who cannot find their adrenaline kicks in the lofty mountains or in the sky, they should visit the North-East at their earliest. Not just one, but this region is the abode of several enticing rivers that offers all the supreme challenges to the river rafter. Brahmaputra flowing through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, the Teesta and Rangit rivers in Sikkim offers some of the furious rapids in the country. Rafters can find rapids ranging from Grade-I to Grade-IV in this part of the country!

3. Biking Expedition:

The narrow yet appealing terrains, the narrow yet scintillating passes, the winding yet lively roads make North East India, a paradise for the bikers. While the lush and picturesque meadows attracts the novice bikers, the sky-touching peaks and mountains in North East entices the hard-core bikers from across the globe. Among all the 8 states, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are the two most popular biking destinations in this region.

4. Trekking:

Home to the glorious Himalayan Ranges, this part of the country is known to be one of the most popular regions for trekking in India. Trekking in North-East India is not just a usual adventure activity, but is also a matter to test your trekking skills and senses! Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya are the home to some of the most enthralling as well as adrenaline pumping trekking routes in the country.

5. Eco Tourism:

For those, who has a fondness towards the Mother Nature, the North East India is indeed one of the best places to visit in India. Starting from Sikkim to Arunachal, all the eight states of this region are known for their opulent and scenic natural beauty and all of them promote eco-tourism like no other Indian tourist destination does!

6. Attend the Hornbill Festival:

During the first week of December, the Kisama Village in Nagaland gets flooded by music and cultural devotees from across the globe. It is during this month, the Naga people celebrates the Hornbill Festival or the ‘Festivals of Festivals’ with high spirit and energy! A meeting point of several cultures, traditions and folk music, it is purely about the heart and soul of Nagaland or the ‘Land of Festivals’!

7. Waterfall Visits:

Meghalaya, also called the ‘Abode of the Clouds’, in North East India is bestowed with several scenic hills and sky-kissing mountains. On a visit to this picturesque state, the visitors can take in the splendour of several stunning waterfalls in the country. To name a few, there are Dainthlen Falls, Nohkalikai Falls, Khoh Ramhah, Kynrem Falls, Nohsngithiang Falls, Elephant Falls, Spread Eagle Falls, Krang Suri and several others.

8. Visit the Largest River Island in the World:

Majuli, a quintessential island surrounded by the Brahmaputra River and the Kherkutia Xuti in Assam, is the largest river island in the world. Easily accessible from the Jorhat city of Assam, this scenic island is adorned with the pristine beauty of the nature and also serves as a home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.

9. Adventure Fishing:

The Subansiri River that originates from the Himalayan Ranges of Tibet and passes through the scenic state of Arunachal Pradesh, is a much sought after destination for angling or adventure fishing. Among the other North-Eastern destinations, the Jia Bharali River flowing through the Nameri National Park is also an ideal destination for this adventurous sport. Golden Mahseer, Trout, Catfish and Goonj are the common game fish found in these regions.

10. Walk over the Living Root Bridge:

Like any other states in the North Eastern corridor, Meghalaya also boasts of its untouched beauty, pristine nature and indigenous cultures. The locals of this state, not only does their best to conserve the beauty of Mother Nature, but also shares a strong bond with it. And this can be seen through their love, bonding and devotion towards the Living Root Bridges. Formed naturally by the roots, braches and shoots of the trees, the locals worship these bridges and considers them as a heavenly gift from Mother Nature.

11.Paragliding:

Who don’t wish to fly someday? If asked this question, the answer will be ‘none’! If you also have a dream of flying, come to Sikkim, the enchanting land of snow-clad peaks, scenic meadows, gurgling rivers and jolly locals and fulfil all your dreams. Fly over these towering peaks, enjoy the bird’s eye view of the pictorial valleys and romance the sky like never before!

12. Visit the Floating Lake:

The Loktak Lake or the ‘Floating Lake’ is truly one of the nature’s wonders in Manipur! Located in the Manipuri city called Moirang, it is the only floating lake in the world. Not just this, it is also the home to Keibul Lam Jao National Park, the only floating national park in the entire world. Words can merely describe the enchanting beauty of this lake; one has to visit this heavenly lake in Manipur!

13. Visit Mawsynram in Meghalaya:

Tucked away amidst the fascinating East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, the Mawsynram village is one of the untouched settlements in the entire of North Eastern India. Well, the reason why this tiny Meghalayan hamlet made it to the record book is due to the fact that it receives the highest rainfall in the entire globe and is the wettest place on earth. P.S: few years back, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya held the same record.

14. Monastery Visits:

In addition to natural beauty, diverse range of cultures and traditions, the North Eastern states also shares a strong bond with spirituality. And this can be easily seen while visiting the Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh and the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. More than religious faiths and beliefs, these sacred monuments are considered as an indigenous identity to the region and is thronged by thousands of visitors every day.

15. Sample Local Cuisines:

After all the adventurous, historic and fun-filled tours to the North Eastern India, it is time to get settle down and enjoy the authentic cuisines from the North-East. Be it the ‘thukpa’ from Arunachal Pradesh, ‘khar’ from Assam, ‘ngari’ from Manipur, ‘sticky rice’ from Meghalays, ‘bai’ from Mizoram, ‘bamboo shoots’ from Nagaland, ‘fermented fish’ from Tripura and ‘thukpa’ or ‘momos’ from Sikkim, North-East is all about a gastronomic journey!