I felt ecstatic considering the fresh surge in number of tourists in North-Eastern states of India. The increase signifies that people from across the world have begun to recognise this ‘pristine fairy land’, which I feel will also help in the region’s development.
The fascinating splendour of North-Eastern states remained hidden and unexplored for long due to security reasons and limited mode of transportation. However, the region has seen a dramatic rise in tourists recently - thanks to the initiatives by local governments, travel companies and airlines.
According to an English daily report, North-Eastern states, famously known for their greenery and cultural diversity, emerged as the new hotspot for tourists both domestically and internationally.
The report says that while Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland have recorded 20%-29% more foreign tourist arrivals, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are getting 36%-41% more domestic travellers.
Even as
all states show a remarkable rise in the inflow of travellers, Manipur and Tripura registered a 39% jump in foreign tourists’ inflow last year whereas Nagaland witnessed a massive 41% rise in the number of domestic travellers.
With eight states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim, the region can be an ideal choice when it comes to choosing your holiday destination, especially for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
The breathtaking grassy valleys, hilly streams, lush green forests, snow-capped mountain peaks and mighty rivers are definitely worth seeing. Besides, travellers can have a glance at diverse tribal cultures, vibrant fairs and festivals of the region. The indigenous foods served in varieties are sure enough to make your taste buds diluted. Further, the local cuisines are not just delicious but are also extremely healthy.
I used to wonder why citizens chose foreign lands over this travellers’ paradise where one can enjoy the real taste of greenery and much more. The region may lack in terms of comfort accommodation but it is easy on the pocket and offers a lot of budget adjustment.
One of the best things about the place is that locals are hospitable, helpful and innocent. The tourist guides won’t charge you the wrong price.
Perhaps, choosing any particular destination in North-East India is quite tough, but there are a few ‘must-see places’ for vacationers. They are:
-Assam tea gardens, Kaziranga National Park (known for famous one horned rhino) in Assam.
- Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, the only place in India where there’s just one season- the monsoon. This faultless land with ever-lasting beauty had earned the coveted place in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the wettest place on the earth in the past.
- Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur - the only floating national park in the world where you can catch a glimpse of the endangered ‘Sangai’, also called the ‘Dancing Deer’ in this wetland.
- Loktak Lake in Manipur - the largest freshwater lake in North-East India, is also called the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various stages of decomposition) on it.
- The Dzükou Valley, located at the border of Nagaland and Manipur, is a romantic valley known for its natural beauty, seasonal flowers and the overall flora and fauna. Situated at an altitude of 2438 m above sea level, the rare Dzükou lily is found only in this valley. The valley offers excellent trekking spots and is extensively known as the trekker’s paradise. Trekkers can see the budding flowers of Dziikou lily in the spring season. Both the states have been staking claim to this ‘Valley of Flowers’ of the North-East for long.
- Trekking tours in Sikkim can be a lifetime memory for trekkers with so many enchanting and alluring treks to find out. The Dzongri-Goecha La Trek is the most popular trek. Other popular treks of Sikkim include Monastic Trek, Rhododendron Trek, Khangchendzonga Trek, Coronation Trek, Khedi Trek, Singalila Trek, Kosturi Orar Trek, Samartek Trek, Rinchenpong/Soreng Trek, Himalayan Trek, Tosha Lake Trek, Chewabanjyang Trek, Meanam Hill Trek and Tendong Hill Trek.
- Kohima War Cemetery, Khonoma Green Village, Japfu Peak, Ghosu Bird Sanctuary etc are some of the amazing places to visit in Nagaland.
- Tawang Monastery, also known as ‘Galden Namgyal Lhatse’ is famous Buddhist monastery which was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the year 1860-61 AD. Itanagar, Bomdila Monastery, Talley Valley, Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary are some of the other tourist attractions in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Phawangpui (also known as the Blue Mountain) in Mizoram is famous for orchids and rhododendrons where travellers can see a perfect view of blue hazed hills and vales. Other interesting places include Aizwal, Tamdil Lake, Pukzing Cave, Dampa Sanctuary etc.
- The Kamalasagar Lake, Rudrasagar Lake, Trishna Wild Life Sanctuary, Ujjayanta Palace, Kunjaban Palace, Kamalasagar Kali Temple, Jampui Hill,Agartala etc are some beautiful places in Tripura.
With each state having its own diverse beauty, the region is also an ideal place to de-stress from hectic city life. So, the next time you plan a trip, make sure that the North-East states are included in your travel list and experience the real and charismatic magic of greenery to cherish for lifetime.
