If you want to see nature’s real beauty, then a visit to North East India is a must! Consisting of 7 states, also called ‘Seven Sisters’, North Eastern India has some real surprises for the travelers coming here. Not so much established on the travelers’ map, yet North Eastern India has its own charm that will sweep you off your feet. Here’s why…
Assam
Assam is the most vibrant of the north eastern states. Assam is synonymous with breathtaking natural beauty, teeming wildlife, immaculate tea gardens and warm, beautiful people.
Its strategic location in the northeast of India, and its accessibility from the rest of the country makes it the gateway to the northeastern states. The state has an impressive 35% forest cover and thousands of hectares under tea cultivation.
Assam has five national parks, including the World Heritage Sites of Kaziranga and Manas, and 20 Wildlife sanctuaries. The great Indian one-horned rhinoceros is one of Assam’s most famous denizens.
Over the centuries, people of various ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds have been attracted to the fertile valleys of Assam making it a mosaic of various cultures.
Meghalaya
Separating the Assam valley from the plains of Bangladesh, hilly Meghalaya is a cool, pine-fresh mountain state set on dramatic horseshoes of rocky cliffs.Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram are statistically amongst the wettest places on earth; most of the rain falls between June and September, creating very impressive waterfalls and carving out some of Asia’s longest caves.
The capital is Shillong is known as the ‘Scotland of the East’. There are several falls in and around Shillong.
Shillong Peak is the highest in the state and is good for trekking. It is also known as the “abode of the gods” and has excellent views.
Manipur
Manipur, a little Shangri-La, located in North-East India, is a Jewel indeed. This little corner is a paradise in India.
Least touched and least discovered, Manipur promises to be a great tourist discovery of the 21st century.
A breeding ground for graceful classical dance traditions, intricate art forms, sumptuous cuisine, Manipur sits amid hills, along India’s border. Much of the state is carpeted with dense forests which provide cover for rare birds. An oval shaped valley surrounded by blue, green hills, rich in art and tradition has inspired description of Manipur such as the Switzerland of the East.
Tripura
Far from India’s popular tourist circuits, Tripura is a culturally charming place.
It has a handful of royal palaces and temples.
Tripura is endowed with tourist attractions like archaeological monuments, forest and wildlife, traditional craftsmanship and rich cultural diversity.
Nagaland
Nagaland is a land of folklore passed down the generations through word of mouth.
Here, music is an integral part of life; folk songs eulogizing ancestors, poetic love songs immortalizing ancient tragic love stories or the modern tunes rendered exquisitely to set your feet a-tapping.
A place of primeval beauty, Nagaland’s dazzling hills and valleys are an otherworldly place. Each of the 16 odd tribes and sub-tribes that dwell in this exotic hill State can easily be distinguished by the colourful and intricately designed costumes, jewellery and beads that they adorn.
Nagaland is blessed with salubrious climate throughout the year and one can visit it anytime.
If you are looking for a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, it provides the right ambience; as life here is laidback and slow – providing a tension free life.
Mizoram
Mizoram is a mountainous state nestling in the southern tip of the north-eastern region of India, sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Pristine Mizoram is more of an experiential journey than a tourist destination.
Mizo culture is liberated from caste or gender distinctions making it even more special. Mizos are a gregarious, simple, carefree and peace-loving people.
Endowed with a rich and colourful culture, Mizos are passionately drawn to dance and songs. They have a rich repertoire of community dances and songs reflecting their mirthful nature, which has been handed down for generations.
The climate is pleasant throughout the year and it is a land of great natural beauty having rich variety of flora and fauna.
The scenic landscapes of bluish hills and mountains, steep rocky cliffs, serene lakes and deep valleys of rivers with its spectacular waterfalls make the state an ideal destination for nature lovers.
To the more adventurous spirit, the rugged terrains and swift flowing rivers are ideal for various outdoor sports and adventure activities.
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh, a mysterious, magical and mystical land tucked away in the north eastern tip of India is one of the most compelling holiday destinations in India. Arunachal Pradesh shows up as a giant patch of unexplored green on the country’s map.
India’s wildest and least explored state, Arunachal (literally the ‘Land of Dawn-lit Mountains’) rises abruptly from the Assam plains as a mass of densely forested, and steep, hills, which eventually top off as snow-capped peaks along the Tibetan border.
It is the habitat of the most splendid, variegated, multilingual tribal people of the world.
Its towering mountains and roaring rivers offer numerous opportunities for rafting, hiking & mountaineering.
Arunachal Pradesh has more than 550 rare species of orchids and hundreds of species of rare plants.
Clearly, the Seven Sisters can be the most amazing retreat from your daily life if you give it a chance it deserves.
All of the seven states have the beautiful, unexplored greenery in common,but all of them have something unique to offer as well. Culturally rich and bursting at the seams with all the natural, unexplored beauty it has to offer, we are pretty sure you won’t come back disappointed. Just give it a go!
All pictures from Google Images.
Tags: Arunachal Pradesh Assam India tourism India travel Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland North east India Seven sisters India Tripura
