India is a mosaic of diversity. Any place you visit in India comes with its own set of natural beauty, culture, language, food, and warm people. Take the North East, for instance. This cluster of breathtaking states sits far on the north-eastern borders of India. These states, namely, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Sikkim, all have distinct palettes, which you can only appreciate by visiting them.
These are some of the most understated spots in India, yet they include the country’s most stellar, untouched natural splendours. Here is a rundown of popular tourist places in North East India to check out on your India trip.
Sikkim
Did you know that India’s North East territory has eight states, rather than just seven? Many tag Sikkim as the ‘Brother State’ of the Seven Sisters, despite it not being geographically close to them. Sharing its border with three different Asian countries: China, Nepal, and Bhutan, Sikkim offers a tranquil mountain atmosphere that feels quite distinct from other North East tourist places. It is the second most popular destination among India’s north-eastern states. Most visitors find it peaceful, as it is the least populated state in the country and can be easily combined with Darjeeling tour packages.
Highlights-
Gangtok
To truly capture the essence of this wonderful place, a Gangtok tour package offers the perfect introduction. Its valleys and distant peaks frame the scenery, while attractions like the Rumtek Monastery fuse a hint of spirituality into the ambience.
Khangchendzonga National Park
Image Credit -https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1513/
Taking its name from the mighty Kangchenjunga peak, this UNESCO World Heritage site is home to some of the most pristine nature trails. These paths lead you past glaciers and through forests, ensuring you find astonishing scenery. You may even enjoy rare wildlife sightings, such as wild cats and snow leopards. The park looks gorgeous in springtime, when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom and blanket the region in a riot of vibrant colours.
Tsomgo Lake
For a view that takes your breath away, Tsomgo Lake’s glacial blue scenery, with its backdrop of majestic, snow-capped peaks and alpine forests, creates a tranquil aura that is sure to leave a lasting mark on your mind.
Assam
Nestled amid the Eastern Himalayas and the valleys of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, Assam is the most visited destination in North East India. Shrouded in tea plantations, archaeological sites, and flourishing wildlife, this destination lures in history buffs and nature lovers. Adventure enthusiasts also tag along, as this is where people pursue river-rafting and trekking with a passion and vigour like no other Indian state. The culture, folklore, and festivals all add a splash of fervour to a gentler way of life.
Highlights
Kaziranga National Park
Dedicated to the conservation and safety of the one-horned rhinoceros, this national park ranks as one of the best places to visit in North East India. Watching rhinoceroses grazing, observing elephants walking nonchalantly, and perhaps even spotting a tiger are all on the agenda when you visit this national park.
Dibrugarh
Known as the ‘Tea City of India’, Dibrugarh sits snugly in the valleys of the Brahmaputra River. It is India’s most prominent tea plantation destination. Here, you can enjoy promenades through misty mountains, where vast tea plantations carpet the slopes. Watch the locals pluck the leaves, and even learn to blend and brew the perfect cup of tea.
Jorhat
Discover Assam’s natural splendours by visiting Molai Forest, Majuli (the world’s largest river island), and Kakochang Waterfalls. This is another spot in Assam to lose track of time, particularly while exploring tea plantations such as the Cinnamara Tea Estate.
Meghalaya
Carved out of Assam in the 1970s, Meghalaya is one of the most popular places to visit in the North East. Visit, and you will instantly understand that Meghalaya lives up to its name: ‘Abode of Clouds’. The clouds hug the steeply rising, majestic hills, and their misty, cool ambience forms a perpetual background here. Along its foothills and valleys lie dramatic settings of plunging waterfalls and serene lakes, which offer a challenging trek for adventure lovers. Apart from its natural beauty, Meghalaya is quite famous for its strong rock-and-music culture.
Highlights-
Shillong
Residents affectionately call Meghalaya’s capital city the ‘Scotland of the East’, as it is known for its scenic mountain beauty and colonial remnants. The city’s vibrant culture truly comes alive during festivities, most notably during its famous Cherry Blossom Festival.
Nohkalikai Falls
India’s tallest plunge waterfall will charm you with views of a roaring cascade. The water gushes through a rugged, forest-clad cliff, pooling at the base into a sparkling turquoise pool. Join a trek to watch the falls up close and capture some amazing snaps, all while feeling refreshed in the misty mountain air.
Cherrapunji and Mawsynram
Meghalaya is also home to the wettest places on the planet, Cherrapunji (now known as Sohra) and Mawsynram. This is an exceptional destination for adventurers. You can spend a day trekking across the oldest living root bridges, which feel as though they were woven through time. Afterwards, explore the Mawjymbuin and Mawsmai caves, while spotting wildflowers and hidden streams along the way.
Arunachal Pradesh
Sitting on the edge of North East India, Arunachal Pradesh is the largest of the Seven Sisters states. Travellers fondly call it the ‘Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains’ as you can wake up to the first sunbeams touching the peaks before anywhere else in the country. This sprawling region offers a raw, unfiltered look at ancient traditions and picturesque landscapes. The destination is fascinatingly dramatic. It has more than 50 languages and 100 dialects due to its tribal dynamism, earning it the tag of a ‘linguistic museum.’ Furthermore, the state retains an impressive forest cover and has the largest variety of orchids in the country, making it the ‘orchid paradise’ of India.
Highlights-
Tawang
No trip to this state is complete without a visit to Tawang. It is one of the best places in North East India for stargazing, thanks to its high altitude and low light pollution. These conditions create a perfect canvas on clear nights, when the sky fills with infinite stars, and you can easily spot constellations, shooting stars, and faraway planets. Go camping near Pangateng Tso Lake, where the high-altitude and clear lake mirrors its surroundings. This makes it a mesmerising spot to watch millions of stars reflect in the inky abyss. Tawang also houses the largest monastery in India: Tawang Monastery.
Ziro Valley
Image credit – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziro
Teeming with rolling hills, rice paddies, bamboo groves, pine forests, and meadows filled with colourful floral blooms, Ziro Valley tempts you to whip out your camera and capture every scene it has to offer. The valley is also known for its Apatani tribal culture. Visit Hong Village, which is a popular spot to witness the tribe’s farming and fishing techniques, and get your hands on some of the finest, authentic Apatani craftsmanship. Adventure seekers find trails leading to viewpoints and sanctuaries, where hikes reveal hidden waterfalls and rare wildlife sightings. Ziro Valley is also quite well-known for its music festival, which the locals celebrate with great excitement every September.
The above states have the best tourist places in North East India. The remaining states, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram, also offer pristine and picturesque landscapes along with unique culture and ambience. However, as remote, untouched parts of India, these states welcome those who dare to explore a simple, nomadic life in postcard-perfect hilly regions and are not afraid to take the road less travelled. These places are incredibly beautiful, but the lack of infrastructure makes them difficult to access. Hence, they entice only the curious wanderers who are truly passionate enough to take up the challenge and visit.
Conclusion
The North East of India is proof of the country’s boundless beauty. If you are in India and have not planned a trip to the North East states, you are losing out on some incredible travel experiences. The mysterious allure of India’s northeastern states makes you secretly wish: ‘If only I could go there,’ when you see an image of the breathtaking scenery. It is time you act on that desire and fulfil the wish, for there is nothing more enchanting and soothing than travelling far away from daily city life. For those seeking a break from crowded tourist spots, places in North East India are quiet corners of soul-soothing allure, offering a refreshing change that is sure to steal your heart.
